Sophia's POV.
Who was this?
“No.” I shrugged.
“Alright, I do. So I'll guess something about you okay? If I'm right, I'll give you a rose and if I'm wrong, you'll give me one.”
I didn't see any rises around but I nodded in amusement anyway.
“Okay.” He rubbed his hands together excitedly and focused on my face, pretending to read my mind.
“The odds of you having a boyfriend is pretty high.” He spoke. I laughed inwardly. Is this a trick?
I almost said I didn't have one but quickly remembered Alex. Was he my boyfriend? Well, in his parent's eyes, he was but I was not willing to commit to him anymore.
It was complicated so I decided to stay quiet about it.
“That's not mind reading. That's assuming.” I pointed out.
“Well, everyone loves a pretty girl who's also smart. So either way,” He pulled out a rose from his side pocket and handed it over to me.
Taking it from him, I brought it up to my nose, breathing in its scent.
Where did he even get this fresh rose from?
“It was nice meeting you, Sophia. I hope to see you again.” He gave me a charming smile.
“Likewise Blake.”
Giving a little salute, he retraced his steps. My phone buzzed. It was Stephanie.
“Soph?”
“Where the hell are you? I've been waiting for you in the lobby.” I frowned.
“I was in my room listening to Colin whine on the phone about us going on a vacation without him.” I imagined her rolling her eyes at this.
I chuckled. “Poor guy.”
“Listen, are you wearing those black heels right now?”
“The ones I borrowed from you? No. Why? You want them back?” I asked.
“Yes. They'll go well with my outfit.”
“Alright. Go on to my room and I'll see you there in a bit.” “Sure.”
I checked my Facebook while waiting in the elevator. Colin had poked me and tagged me and Stephanie in betrayal memes. I laughed out loud.
The elevator pinged open and I walked over to my room.
“Aw. Alex gave you that?” Stephanie said, eyeing the rose in my hand. She was already in the room.
“No—”
“That's sweet of you boy.” She muttered to Alex, who had just opened the door without knocking again. And was staring back at us in confusion until his eyes landed on the rose in my hand.
“Finally learning how to be a gentleman, Alexander?” Stephanie teased, smirking at him. He raised a brow at me. “Sophia—”
“We just came up here so I could return Stephanie's heels.” We walked past him and I quickly retrieved them from the floor and handed them to her.
“Great! I'll see you in the lobby and then we can go.”
I nodded and once she had left, I shut the door and turned around.
“I didn't give you that,” Alex said.
“I know.”
“Well, who did?” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Oh, just this guy I met in the lobby.” I waved my hands dismissively and placed the rose on the dresser.
Before I could move, he was right behind me, his hands on either side of me, trapping me against the dresser. His blue eyes locked with mine through the mirror.
“Are you serious right now?”
I gulped at our position. “Y–yes.”
I cursed myself inwardly for stuttering. I didn't want him to think he still had any effect on me that way.
His eyes suddenly seemed distant and he frowned at nothing in particular. Then, he pulled away from me, taking the rose along.
I turned my head to raise a brow at him. “What are you doing with that?”
“What would you be doing with a rotten rose anyway.” He replied.
“What? It's not—” I gasped when he snapped its stem in half and threw it in the nearest bin.
“You just killed a flower. You're a monster, Alexander Hayes.”
His eyes followed me as I headed for the door and he suddenly stepped in front of me to block my way. “And what did you just call me?”
I swallowed. “A monster?”
He took small predatory steps in my direction. “Not that.”
What's he talking about?
“Alexander?” I whispered.
He took in a sharp breath, his eyes fervently moving across me and then I got it.
I remembered him saying he loved me calling his full name when I thought we were a thing. I wouldn't have called him that if I had remembered earlier.
I didn't want to give him any ideas.
“Sophia?” His voice was husky. “Yes?” I gulped.
His eyes shut for a moment and I could see that he was trying to hold back something. “You were going to the beach?” He reminded me. Silly me!
I blinked. “Um..yeah. I'll see you in the evening at the party.”
“Okay.” He nodded.
I left the room and finally met Stephanie in the lobby.
The Beach was just a ruse. I was instead going gift shopping for Alex. I wanted to at least do something nice for him on his birthday.
I also didn't know what to get as a gift that's why I had to bring Stephanie along. She has a sense of these things and could maybe help me get a good birthday gift.
Once we had bought a few items, we went back to the hotel and I placed the gift in my suitcase. Thankfully, Alex wasn't in the room when I arrived.
I pulled out the beige lace gown that Mrs Hayes had gifted me.
From the looks of the dress, I knew it was very expensive and didn't want to accept it in the first place but she insisted on giving it as a thank you for making her son happy.
If only she knew!
And when she started saying that she considered me like her daughter, I just couldn't refuse.
It would be like breaking her heart.
Letting out a breath, I sat down on the bed waiting for Stephanie knowing that when she came, she would March around hurrying to get us both ready. It was going to be a long night!