Sophia's POV.
Stephanie smiled mischievously at Steve, as she stood up from her seat, her breathing unsteady.
“Oh, Mr Harrison. I see that you have finished your glass of wine, so I thought you might like to taste mine.”
Her expression changed from a mischievous drunk smile into a frown. “I don't give two shits if you're my best friend's co-boss or whatever other shit, however, you don't go around insulting my boyfriend in front of me. Do you read me?”
I panicked and quickly turned towards Steve. His eyes were wide and his full lips had parted a little, indicating his shock.
“I-I'm so sorry! Goodness! She's just drunk. Please don't be angry.”
“It's okay. It's okay.” Steve muttered. His tone for the first time was not cheerful.
I angrily walked over to Stephanie and grabbed her hand. “I'm taking you to your room, miss.” My tone left no room for argument as she willingly came with me.
But before we took a step, Steve stood up and walked towards Stephanie. “Thank you very much for the delicious wine, Miss Stephanie. You have no idea how delighted I am that you are concerned about my drink.” The mischievous smile was back on his face.
My best friend's cheeks turned a shade of red, which is something very rare to see in Stephanie.
What's going on here?!
We walked off without a backward glance at either of the men.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that.” Stephanie said as I helped her into bed. Andrea was nowhere to be seen as she was still at the party that didn't seem to be coming to an end.
“Please just get some sleep. We can talk later.” I said.
I was still upset at what she did. I didn't want to talk about that now, not while she's still tipsy.
Once I was done with Stephanie, I walked over to my room, too exhausted to go back to the party, and to Alex.
Where the hell was she?
***
Alex's POV.
I looked around again and a thought came to my head.
Blake?
Where was he? I couldn't find him either.
Excusing myself from everyone, I tried calling her but she wasn't answering her phone. I searched everywhere but couldn't find either of them.
My blood boiled at the thought of him laying a single hand on her.
I walked through the hotel corridors to our room.
To my relief, she was there.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Sophia's POV
The voice caused me to jump in fright as I turned around and placed my hand over my chest. “You scared me,” I said.
“Why did you leave like that? I was looking all over for you. And where's Blake?” He seemed furious and I wondered if he had come across Steve.
“Blake? I don't know.” I frowned. “Why are you asking me?”
“It's nothing.” He said, walking fully into the room. “Never mind.”
I frowned at him, pondering for a moment before deciding to ask him a question that had been on my mind since I walked into the room.
I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak. “What happened between you and Harvey Hamilton?” His eyes whipped up to look at me.
The coldness in them was momentarily replaced with curiosity.
He walked over to sit at the dressing table and entangled his fingers together.
His jaw twitched for a moment, in preparation to say whatever he was thinking of.
“How do you know him? Did he do something to you? Is that why you left the party?” He finally voiced.
The word ‘you’ came out as if the last thing he expected on earth was for me to question him about this particular person. I wet my lips.
I knew something was going on between Harvey Hamilton, Steve Harrison, and Alexander Hayes and I was determined to find out.
“No! He did nothing to me and that's not the point. What's between the both of you? I asked first!” I pouted.
I won't let him distract me from the point I want to know.
They knew each other.
And I can almost swear that what connects them is not just common knowledge. It was a grudge and from the looks of it, a mutual one.
But what was there? What happened between them? And what's the connection of Steve to the subject? His eyes darkened and a muscle in his face twitched.
“Then how do you know him?” He repeated, annoyance a bit clear in his voice as he took off his heavy black watch from his hand.
He eyed me, his eyes freezing.
I took a deep breath and my voice came out low and uncertain.
“Please don't lie to me. I could've asked Steve about the whole thing or even Harvey himself.” I continued slowly.
“But I didn't,” I stated simply.
I wet my lips again and fidgeted as I saw him examining me intently.
“Answer me first.” He stated authoritatively.
“He's Stephanie's boyfriend,” I explained. “They've been dating for a short while now.” His silent aura was louder than any other sound in the room.
“She should leave him.” He finally stated.
His voice was as cold as the heart of an iceberg. It was emotionless.
“H-huh?! What....” I couldn't form words.
“You too. You shouldn't get much involved with him.”
I gulped and my breath hitched. It sounded like a warning.
“Wh–why?” I finally managed to get out. He stayed silent. I came closer to the desk.
“Why.” I echoed again.
He continued to ignore me. Just what is going on?
I sighed, exasperation washing through me. I hate it when he distances himself away like that and becomes unreachable.
I closed the distance between us and slammed my hand loudly on the table.
“It's not going to work this way!” I snapped. “How can I obey something that I don't have a full explanation for? I asked you why, just say something!” I half yelled at him. I couldn't hold my anger anymore.
Why would he ask me to stay away from Harvey? Why should Stephanie leave him? Could she be in danger? Is he a bad dude? A player? Bloody why!?
He looked down at my hands and then up to me, standing up.
“You said you wanted me to be honest.” He hissed, his tone developing new levels of frostiness.
“I will be honest in what I wish to answer, and shall not lie in what I wish not to. Ergo, I won't answer.” He explained as he walked off towards the bathroom.
Dang him!