Sophia's POV.
I left Alex after he finished cutting his cake and started talking with his dad.
I turned my head around in search of Stephanie. I hadn't seen her since she left me to go with Hayes'.
Just then, I spotted her smiling sheepishly at...wait a minute. Harvey? What was he doing here? Did Stephanie invite him and didn't let me know? Of course, she couldn't have invited him. She had no real power to do so.
I matched off purposely in their direction.
“Harvey,” I said, immediately I got within earshot.
“Oh, Sophia! You can't imagine how excited I am to find Harvey here!” Stephanie chirped, smiling from ear to ear.
“I didn't even know he was acquainted with Hayes. He said he wanted to surprise me.” She smiled sheepishly at the last sentence.
“Sophia, it's good to see you again,” Harvey said.
I immediately got the same uneasy feeling about him, like warning bells shooting off in my head.
I wanted to pull my friend away from him but instead, I forced a smile and shook the hand he extended.
“Likewise,” I said, with a tight lip.
We proceeded to a round table to sit.
A server passed by just then with a tray filled with glasses of red wine and we each took a glass, sipping as we chatted. Or rather, Harvey and Stephanie chatted.
I just sat there sipping my wine and nodding when a topic was passed my way.
“Oh Harvey, have I told you before the reason why I call Sophie my bunny?” A bubbly Stephanie questioned a smiling Harvey.
I turned my head instantly at this. My attention was completely focused on them.
Bunny? When has she ever called me that?
She barely calls me Sophie but bunny? She has never called me that.
Just how much has she had to drink? Why can't she control her drinking around this Harvey guy?
Harvey smiled at her and it was obvious he could tell she was drunk.
He slowly shoved a lock of hair away from her face. “No, love. Do tell me.”
Damn him!
“Well, Sophie is a bunny because.....” she grinned a bit then continued woozily. “b–because(because) she's a bunny—”
“Oh cut the crap, Stephanie. We both know I'm no bunny.” I said, cutting her off.
“She's hilarious when she's drunk,” Harvey said. My head snapped towards him.
“I'll tease her a bit.” He said, winking at me.
He can't be serious.
“Harvey (Harvey) don't argue with me. She's a bunny. A bunny.” Stephanie assured. I frowned.
“Okay you two, that's just enough!” I stated a bit furiously but Stephanie didn't give me much attention.
“Harvey, tell her.” She whined.
What's the problem with her?
“Dear, I don't think—”
“It is I who can tell you what exactly this young lady is.”
Our heads whipped towards the speaker. “She's a kitten and not a bunny.”
I gazed at the figure that just emerged before me. His playful look is as mischievous as it has always been.
“Steve!” I finally exclaimed. Finally! A familiar face.
He kept his smile intact. “Hey there, Miss Kitten.”
“What are you doing here? I haven't seen you all day. I thought you wouldn't be present here.”
“And miss my best friend's birthday? Not in this world.” He said, laughing.
I smiled at him genuinely. “Care to join us?” I gestured at an extra empty seat at the table.
He kept his smile and turned towards Harvey and Stephanie. It was surprising to note that his eyes did not even rest on Harvey for a second as he utterly and completely ignored the guy.
It was totally unlike him.
“Ah! You must be Stephanie.” He said smiling as he extended his hand towards Stephanie for a handshake. “I think I'll stay for a quick drink then.”
Stephanie frowned at him and turned her head away. Rude! I wanted to shout out to her.
It was then I noticed Harvey giving Steve a dark and mysterious smile, which I'd never seen on him before.
A completely fake and forced smile.
“Oh, I have to disappoint you, Mr...... Stephen Harrison?” he sounded unsure. “Correct me if I got the name wrong.”
At this, Steve's eyes darkened and yet, he maintained a perfect smile. “No, you got it perfectly.”
“Anyways, my Steph is already taken.” His tone was meant to be humorous but I could tell it was not. “Better luck next time, hmm?”
Not waiting for any further reaction, Harvey stood up, his voice came out low and intimidating.
“Harvey Hamilton, it's a pleasure, Mr Harrison.” He extended his hand.
Steve seemed taken aback for only a moment and he seemed hesitant about shaking Harvey's hand.
“Steve?” I whispered, confused.
He blinked, his hesitant expression replaced by a perfect fake smile.
My eyes widened at the coldness surging in his eyes.
I shifted uncomfortably.
Steve then extended his hand and the two men's hands hardened around each other. They were practically shaking hands with a murderous force.
I was convinced there was something wrong going on as the hand-shaking ended. Steve took a seat beside me. His smile was back to its casual nature.
“Now tell us about you, Mr Stephen. You're an interesting business figure yourself. I see you in a lot of magazines.” Harvey mused, composedly.
Steve eyed him for a moment, taking a smooth sip from his drink. “Trust me, Mr Hamilton. There's nothing much to know about me.”
I eyed Stephanie, noticing the look she gave Steve before turning towards Harvey. “I agree with Mr Harrison, Harvey. I'm not interested in knowing anything about him.”
I looked at her with wide eyes, noting that the alcohol must be having its effect on her.
One thing about Stephanie is that she tends to be the sassiest person when she does not feel comfortable around you.
But Steve is such a nice guy. Why wouldn't she feel comfortable around him? I just don't get it.
Must be the alcohol.
I noticed that Steve seemed unaffected by her show of dislike towards him, as he simply smiled playfully in her direction, somehow too confident in his charms.
Was this a spark I detected between them? A negative spark but there was a spark all the same.
Harvey seemed to notice this too as he tightened his grip on her shoulders and talked as if addressing them both.
“Well, my dear Steph. I was asking because of some certain rumors I heard about the Harrison family.
The rumors said you were the...um..excuse my language,” he looked at Steve, his lips twitching in the process. “underdog of the Hayes.”
My eyes widened and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, wishing I was anywhere but here.
Harvey, however, did not seem to be done at that. His smile widens as he fixes his eyes on Steve.
“You know, the famous aristocrats who are known to clean up the shit behind the Hayes, despite being of high social status themselves.
The whole table fell silent. Even Stephanie seemed to be taken aback by her boyfriend's statement.
Steve's features hardened for a second and then, he immediately regained his composure. Although his hand was still holding tightly around his glass.
I was afraid he was going to break it with just his bare hands.
Fury surged through me at Harvey's words as well. “What the heck are you saying? Such rumors are—” I was cut off by Steve placing a calming hand on my shoulder.
“It's only normal for the Harrison family to have many haters. Rumors are everywhere.” He sipped from his glass and I noticed his jaw twitching. “Speaking of rumors, I believe I have heard rumors about the heir of the Williams Enterprises, who was ruined by a certain peak company years ago.” Steve's eyes glinted dangerously.
“The enterprises went back to the possession of his father after the downfall of his first son. Isn't that why you changed your last name? To avoid shame?”
Harvey looked stunned for a moment and he paled. “What are you pointing at?”
Steve shrugged, casually. “Well, the rumors do not stop there. They also claim that the very reputable heir was disowned from his position because he was not capable enough.” He murmured, savoring every single word he spoke. “You know, a failure in every as—”
I jumped up from my seat as a cold liquid splashed at Steve, red wine spilling down his shirt. A few guests turned to look at the commotion going on around us.
I looked over at the source and my eyes couldn't be wider at the moment.