Chapter 20: EVERYONE IS VULNERABLE !

Callum continues to slowly nudge her backwards, until she was leaning against the wall, her face lowered, her fingers still shivering.

“Sophia.” He calls slowly, in a low voice, his eyes raking her. She was still breathing fast. “Look at me.” He says attempting to move his hands to her face, but he stops himself. What if it made her even more agitated? What if … “Just, look at me.” He says folding his hands into a fist as they lay on her shoulder. “Please.” He adds.

She had been fine. She was sure she was okay, that was the only reason she had headed for the door when she heard thr knock. But the moment shr opened that door and saw him standing there, it was as though all her worries suddenly raced to the surface, unnerving her. And slowly, her hands begun to shiver. It happens, anything things were spinning out of her control or she was overwhelmed in a bad way, she always finds her fingers shivering first, followed by her heart beat increasing in speed, and next, she will find herself gasping for breathe even in a well ventilated room.

It had all started years ago when she had been seven, but her mother had sent her outside the States for treatment with her father when she was fifteen. And since then, she has never had this condition again. She had believed she had been cured. But now, it seems she was not, it must have never shown itself again because she has never had any reason in the following years to be overwhelmed in a negative way. Her brother had always been there for her. But he wasn't any longer. He was gone, along with her mother, along with any other stability and life she had known.

Now here she stood, somewhere in Barcelona accepting a deal she had no full idea what she was getting into, just because it was the only way she would be able to get money for her father's medical bills. It was either this or lose him to -

“Sophie.” Callum calls again, shaking her this time, and it seemed to pull her out of whatever pit hole she was in, and slowly, she looks up at him. Her eyes glazed with tears, and her lips begin to quiver. She looked like she was about to cry or having a panic attack. Not knowing what exactly to do or say, Callum pulls her against himself in a hug, wrapping his hands around her.

“I'm sorry.” Sophia says trying all she can to still her shivering hands. “I am so sorry.” She could feel the tears about to escape her eyes, and no amount of withholding was holding them back this time. She sniffs. “I am so sorry I…

“Shhhh!” He whispers at her, his right hand slowly beginning to pay her on the back against his better judgement. “It's alright. You are doing great, Sophie.” He says still patting her.

Shaking her head, “I just … I was just going to -

“Breathe in, Sophie.” He says to her. “Just breathe in.” She did. “Good. Now breathe out.” He says, his hands still patting her, and she did, just as told. “Very good, Sophie. Now let's do it one more time. Breathe in, breathe out.”

And just like that, Sophia finds her breathing returning to stability. She could feel her nerves calming down, and all her fears dissolving. She was fine, she was alright, and now that she was, she quickly realizes just how close their bodies are. He was hugging her, his arms around her, his hands patting her, their bodies way too close it now brought some certain awareness to her mind. She gulps.

And as if on cue, Callum suddenly realizes the situation too. Gulping, he clears his throat and slowly begins to pull away from her, turning around to face the door. The hell with him! What had he been thinking? Pushing her inside the convenience and locking the door behind him? Damn it! Callum runs his hands through his hair. Anyone would think otherwise. It was an unwise decision especially because when he had come to his senses, he became so aware of her in that embrace. He became aware of her, her smell, her curves … Callum gulps again. She smelled like jasmine, and it was wonderful. Callum takes some steps towards the door, he needed to give her some space to recollect herself.

The moment he had pulled away and turned to face the door, Sophia turned around too, facing the other side of the convenience. She quickly begins to wipe her face with the back of her hand.

“Do you need a kerchief?” Callum asks, still facing the door as he puts his hands into his pocket and comes up with one, stretching it to her over his shoulder. “Here.” He says.

Slowly, Sophia turns around, gets the piece of fabric from him. “Thank you.” She says turning away again. She walks off to the mirror and begins to dap her face.

“Take your time.” Callum says, tucking both hands into his pocket.

Checking her face in the mirror. “I am sorry you got to … you saw me like that.” She says as she daps around her eyes. Sophia sniffs. “I was just -

Shaking his head. “You do not have to explain, Sophie.” Callum says.

A smile crosses her face just as she sniffs. “We need to get back to our act. This is the third time you are calling me Sophie. It is Sophia, not Sophie.” She says smiling as she arranges her hair.

“I think I now prefer Sophie to Sophia. Are you done?” He asks.

Turning to face him. “Yes.” She says, ensuring to have a smile on her face.

Callum slowly turns to face her, his eyes taking her in. “Oh cut that smile, Sophia, I won't buy it. Let's talk about what happened few minutes ago.” He says, his eyes still on her.

She chuckles. “I just had a break down, but I am fine now.” She says with a shrug.

“Does it happen often?” He asks.

Shaking her head. “No. Not in Many years.” Sophia answers.

“So I may assume it is because of this deal. Does it bother you? Should I cancel it?”

“No.” She says in a hurry. Canceling it would mean him getting his money back, she no longer had part of it, she has already forwarded it to the hospital for treatment. “There's no need for that.” She says to him.

“Good, because I cannot, not now. I am a day short of losing my mind if things go wrong.” He gulps. “But I would if it really -

“I told you, I am fine now.” She sighs. “We need to get back in there, Ethan is waiting. We take a minute more and he may -”

There was a knock on the convenience door again.

“One minute.” Sophia says heading for it.

“Sophia ?” It was Ethan's voice. “Is that you

?”

Callum and Sophia turn to look at each other, eyes widened.