Sophia's POV.
Alex wasn't returning my calls. He wasn't around in the office either.
Sighing, I set my phone down on the desk and leaned back into my chair. It was quite a busy day at the office and picking up the papers I was working on, I sauntered off towards Steve's office.
He was on his phone and typing something on his laptop at the same time. Looking up at me, he motioned for me to take a seat across his desk and I patiently waited for him to end the call.
“I'm looking at the stats right now and they seem pretty good. I don't see why we shouldn't give them a chance, Alex.”
My eyes grew wide for a second. He was talking to Alex? I knew he was mad about Colin but why wouldn't he just answer my calls?
“Wait. Hold on a second” Steve said. “Sophia?”
“Yeah?” I blinked and stared at his face in confusion for the next few seconds.
“You came here for something?” He raised a brow.
“Oh yes. I extended the papers to him. “All transactions except the last one are matching with our client data. I could've given this to Mr Hayes but he's absent from the office, and it's really important.” And not taking my calls either.
Steve just gave me an apologetic look. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
I chuckled. “It's fine. Do you also want me to email the quotes to the Seattle clients?”
“You will? Where's my P.A., Jessica?”
“She called in sick this morning and asked if I could help out with some of her workload.”
“How come I didn't know that?” He shook his head at himself.
“Yes please, Sophia.” He lifted the phone to his ear again and I wished more than anything that the phone was on speaker.
A part of me was hoping Steve would hand the phone to me saying that Alex wanted to speak to me. But that quite obviously, did not happen. Instead, a frown formed on his lips.
Oh God! What did he say?
“The hell do you mean you just read the email?” Steve frowned, then glanced down at his watch. “In an hour?”
“Fine.” He hung up with a sigh.
“Everything alright?” I asked.
“There's an urgent meeting at the downtown branch of Hayes Industries in an hour and Alex just found out. He's on his way there. I have to go too but I needed Jessica today.”
I saw an opportunity.
“I could accompany you.”
“Really? Oh, thank you. Come on then, if we leave now, we may make it there just in time.” I smiled, knowing that I had just bagged the perfect opportunity to talk to Alex.
“I'll get my stuff.” Going back to my desk, I quickly gathered some stationery in my bag and was ready to leave.
Once we were on our way, I kept glancing down at my phone to check the time.
“I know you're eager to see Alex but jeez, a little subtlety won't kill you,” Steve smirked.
My jaw dropped slightly. “That's not....” I trailed off.
He chuckled. “We're almost there, hold on.”
I sighed and with nothing to say, just gave a small nod and looked ahead at the road. Shortly after that, Steve parked the car and we were in an elevator, going up.
I was a bundle of nerves as the elevator went up and the moment it opened and we stepped into a conference room, my eyes started scanning the place for Alex.
Where the hell is he?
“Mr Kane.” I heard a very familiar deep voice behind me and turned around immediately.
It was Alex. He wasn't looking my way and I wondered if he had noticed my presence and was deliberately ignoring me.
Of course he was, else why didn't he show up at the office? I felt dejected.
He had a smile on his face as he greeted his client. His blue eyes had a glimmer in them and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.
“It's good to have you at Hayes Industries. Unfortunately, we couldn't do this at the headquarters. Please.” He directed the men into the conference room.
Did he intentionally schedule this meeting at the downtown office just to avoid me? He must not have known that Steve would bring me along.
As he turned sideways, his gaze lifted and locked with mine. My heart skipped a beat. Maybe it was okay to say that I had missed him. More than I was ready to admit.
The smile on his lips was now gone as he just stared at me with a slight frown, almost like my presence troubled him, solidifying my belief that he didn't know I was going to be there. I felt a pang in my chest.
My body involuntarily moved closer to him. “Alex.”
He inhaled sharply. “Sophia.”
I was silent for a moment just relishing the way he watched me. Even though it wasn't the carefree and mischievous look I was beginning to get used to, his oppressive gaze alone sent warmth to my heart.
“There you are.” My head turned to the source of the voice and a sudden feeling of mad vexation came over me to see the redhead walking up to us.
What the hell is she doing here?
“Sophia.” She greeted me with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
“Emma.” I managed to speak out, resisting the urge to lash out at her when she stood next to Alex and put her hand over his arm like she owned him.
What in heaven's name is going on here?
I looked up at Alex, expecting an answer but he was just staring back at me with an unreadable expression, lips pressed into a thin line and his jaw clenched.
“So how was Florida, Soph?” Emma's voice snapped me out of my daze, making me look away from Alex.
“It was good.”
“Good while it lasted.” She muttered under her with a smirk, but I heard it. I took in a deep breath.
“Wait, how come you're here? Alex told me you wouldn't be” Easy, Soph, easy.
“He's right. I accompanied Steve just to cover up for his assistant.”
“Oh, I see. You tagged along for this meeting.
“Enough!” Alex's loud voice cut through the thick tension. He was irritated and wasn't even looking my way anymore.
“We're late for the meeting.”
“Sure. Let's go.” Emma grabbed his hand but he was quick in yanking it away.