Sophia's POV.
We reached our destined table, and the two guys occupying it stood up to greet us.
One of them was Harvey. I had never really met him before but I recognized him from the images Stephanie showed me on her phone. He was tall, with shoulder-length hair and brown captive eyes.
I didn't find guys with long hair my type exactly but I'd give it to this Harvey fellow. He is hot!
I figured the other guy must be Jack. Jack was a cutie. He was not exactly the bulky and muscular dude but he had a boyish grin and a lean figure.
Unlike a certain figure you've slept with!
I slapped myself mentally. I successfully managed to knock the thought of Alexander Hayes’ figure out of my mind, as I smiled a bit shyly at the men on the table.
Stephanie directly took her place next to Harvey, winking at me to sit next to Jack.
I tried my best to keep up with the very brief conversation that went on, before Stephanie turned to Harvey and well, forgot about me. Just then, the waiters served us food that wasn't to my taste.
I looked in front of me and saw a plate of crab placed neatly in a butter sauce with parsley sprinkled all over it. I grimaced.
It wasn't such a good idea to allow the men to do the ordering.
Well, I might have said the plate looked appealing and inviting had seafood been a favorite of mine.
I used to eat fish occasionally because it was my mother's favorite type of food. But then, I would never touch a plate containing any other type of seafood be it crabs, shrimps, octopus, and the like. Honestly, now, I felt my stomach quiver just by looking at them.
I started getting the vibe that this date was not going to be very memorable for me.
Even while eating, the Jack fellow didn't seem to possess any ounce of table manners. He spoke non-stop and acted overly friendly.
“So Sophia, is it? The last time I met a woman with such a name, we had a ‘good’ time together. Want to have a good time after we finish dinner?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me in what he hoped would be a seductive manner and I rolled my eyes.
“I'm sorry but I have work to attend to, so I'll need to leave early,” I stated firmly.
“Urgh! Lame.” He smirked at me. “Come on, it's just some extra fun hours.”
I pursed my lips, rudely turning away from him. He was beginning to get annoying. Stephanie turned towards us, frowning at Jack. “Hey Jack, stop bullying Sophia, okay?” As if that was the only thing that was annoying me!
Everything about this double date was annoying. My dress was kinda uncomfortable to sit with. To add more, the smell of seafood was nauseating. I could feel my stomach hurting and now, this Jack fellow.
Jack chuckled. “Why Stephanie, why'd you get us such a buzzkill!”
I frowned, fidgeting.
Oh really?
I bit my lips. “Why, excuse me for not meeting your standards for being a fun mister.” I snapped as I decided to just busy myself with my phone.
From beside me, Jack eyed me with slight curiosity, and then amusement covered his features. “Nah, don't worry, you're pretty feisty in your way though.”
I decided not to retort, still busy with my phone. He'd gotten on my bad side.
He didn't seem to get the hint though, as he took a sip from the drink before him, smirking at me in the process.
“It's rather interesting, women like you who are quiet usually have a lot of perks and kinks about them. No?”
And something dirty glinted in his eyes at this. And that was it. A total no.
I stood up, grabbed my bag, and turned towards the exit. I don't care if the date just started, he's making me uncomfortable. And I'm not bargaining for my comfort.
But just before I started walking, he grabbed my arm.
“Easy there, tiger.” He said, looking into my eyes. “I was only just joking. Now please, sit down.” I struggled to make him let go of my arm but he didn't.
“Your jokes do not agree with my view of humor, mister. Kindly let go.” I answered, dryly.
Stephanie shifted at this, her expression mirroring anger. “Jack, you bastard! I warned you not to anger my Sophia.”
I looked at her, pleading with my eyes for us to just leave.
Stephanie looked at me apologetically. “You want to leave now?”
“Oh, yes, I want to,” I stated rudely.
It was then that even Harvey stood up. “Easy dudes, let's try to enjoy the rest of the night together guys, without fighting. Okay?”
“We're leaving, Harvey.” I was surprised when Stephanie said that with a grave tone. I looked at her.
“Huh? This soon?” Harvey exclaimed.
“Sophia is not comfortable anymore. I'm sorry I forced her into this.” Steph looked truthfully guilty and full of regret.
I suddenly felt as if I was the guilty one.
It was her only chance of seeing Harvey so soon and for me to just ruin it so selfishly?
I sighed and sat back down.
Steph looked at me. “Huh? You're sitting?”
I breathed. “I don't want to be the one to ruin your date,” I said softly.
After we sat back down, the mood of the table seemed to brighten up a bit, basically because Stephanie and Harvey decided to pay more attention to us. We chatted more and surprisingly, I even laughed at some of the jokes Jack cracked at times. I admit he could be a little funny when he jokes decently.
Then more drinks were served again, wine and whiskey.
“Which one, Cheri?” Jack said, wiggling his eyebrows at me as he smirked.
His tone seemed playful and I decided to play along. I mean, I should at least try to fit in! “You're being silly just to anger me, aren't you?”
He winked. “Who knows? I suddenly feel like mocking you is fun. You are fun.” There was something weird about his voice.
He suddenly became a lot calmer and seemed a bit.... self-conscious.
He held out a glass of wine and another of whiskey, with either of his hands. “So aren't you going to choose, Missy?”
I shook my head slowly. “I don't feel like drinking.”
On the other hand, Stephanie's soberness went downhill as she drank more. “Hey, by the way, Soph..*hiccup* why not tell them about your new boss. Harvey, you should *hiccup* know him.”
I looked at her, then at Harvey. Well, he was the son of the CEO of an important company. I'm sure she mentioned something like that before.
That aside though, I didn't plan on reminding myself about the roller coaster that accompanied my work at Hayes Industries.
But I guess Steph had different plans.
I sighed. “I'm working at Hayes Industries as a secretary to the CEO.”
Cold chills ran down my spine at the weird expression that crossed Harvey's features at this. Something flashed in his eyes. Something indecipherable.
I gulped, suddenly feeling uncomfortable at this table again.
He managed a perfect fake smile though as he took a sip of his whiskey, swallowed, and glanced at me.
“I see. Well, who doesn't know him? Alexander Hayes is an outstanding business figure, after all. You must be happy working under him.”
I felt sweat droplets forming on my forehead and I wet my lips, preparing to answer.
But apparently, he had more to say.
“But it must be uncomfortable as well, eh? He's known for that...” he fixed his eyes at me just then, as though testing for my reaction. “Nasty and rude attitude.”
My gaze shivered in curiosity. “You seem to know him well, I see.”
He went silent for a moment, his smile still the same darkened one. “He's a known figure, my dear.”
I just eyed him with unease.
“And Steve Harrison? Does he still work there?”
I blinked, my eyes widening at the question. “You know him as well?”
Harvey chose not to answer that, as he sipped from his whiskey glass, and his lips twitched in a smooth smile.
“Ahh, the whiskey they serve here is excellent.”
I eyed him suspiciously, knowing that he purposely changed the subject, but I chose to just ignore the subject.
Turning towards Stephanie, Harvey held her gently in his arms, fixing her with a gentle expression.
“I think you drank a bit more than you should, love. I prefer you to go home tonight.”
Drunk, Stephanie eyed him dreamily. “No! I am fine *hiccup* don't treat me like a child, Mr Harvey Hamilton.”
Even though she was drunk, she said it with complete childishness and in a mocking manner, and at the mention of his full name, Harvey, for only a second, gave Stephanie a dark look, creepy enough to give me shivers.
I doubted anyone else saw it as I was watching them intently. For it was seconds later masked with an angelic smile.
“I prefer you go home for the night. I refuse to take advantage of your weak state.” His voice was sweeter than strawberry.
As I took his smile in, I somehow felt that he couldn't be a bad person. I was probably just overthrowing things and making something out of nothing.
I looked to see Jack once again staring at me without flinching. The longing looks again in his eyes. He seemed as if he had words to say but could not.
I smiled at him, hoping that might help.
Unfortunately, it did not. Rather, he clenched his teeth and stood up abruptly.
The customers around us eyed him suspiciously as Harvey looked at him in a questioning manner. Stephanie simply smiled like an idiot somewhere in dreamland.
I, for my part, raised an eyebrow at him and whispered. “What are you doing? Everyone is looking at us!”
Is he drunk or what?
His head jerked to me, staring. He gripped my wrist and forced me to stand up as he led me behind him.
“Huh?” I tried protesting.
“Hey, Harvey, Sophia, and I will wait for you outside as we talk. Take your time.” Did he just indirectly ask them to leave us alone for some time?