ChapterFour
1379 Words
“Ethan Caldwell!” Luca’s voice rose for the first time. He turned around to face him, smiling. “Just in time. I was asking Sophie here for a dance.”
“Perhaps another time, Luca,” Ethan said, his voice flat.
The air hung between them, tensed with silence. Luca’s face curled into a frown, then he suddenly broke into a smile.
“Very well,” he said. “I’ll take you up on that.”
He started to leave but paused beside Ethan. “You should bring Miss Sophie to my yacht party next week,” he said, his voice loud enough for her to hear.
Then, turning to her, he added with a disarming smile, “I hope to see you there, Miss Sophie.”
Ethan’s expression softened as he disappeared. “Are you alright?” He asked, genuinely concerned.
“Yeah,” she exhaled. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
“No, no. It’s alright,” she reassured. “Who was that anyway?”
“Luca Giovanni. CEO of Giovanni Industries.”
“Giovanni Industries? What do they manufacture?”
Ethan frowned. “Is that necessary,” he said, not wanting to tell.
She folded her arms. “I was nearly harassed, Mr Caldwell. The least you could do is tell me about him.”
Ethan rubbed the bridge of his eyes between his thumb and index. “Arms.”
“Like what? Prosthetic arms?”
“Firearms, Sophie. Giovanni Industries is one of the largest Italian weapon manufacturers. Handguns, shotguns and on rare occasions, machine guns.”
She blinked. “He sounds kind of dangerous.”
“He’s an arms manufacturer not a dealer or some mob boss,” he said, though his tone hinted a flicker of unease.
He paused, as if scanning her face for clues, then softened. “You have nothing to be worried about. Not when I’m alive.”
“And if you’re not?” She pressed calmly.
“Wow, Sophie Bennett,” he chuckled.“Plotting my demise already? I’m not even 30 yet.”
“Really? Who would’ve thought?” She teased.
They shared a hearty laugh that lightened the tension and he reached for her hands. “Really. You have nothing to be scared of.”
With a gentle sway, he led her into their second dance of the night. For a while, neither said anything, simply gazing at the other.
“Shouldn’t you be inside?” She asked softly. “People might start looking for the host.”
“Let them.”
She smiled faintly, only fading when his next word caught her off guard.
“You smell different,” he spilled, past memories interfering.
Her brows furrowed. “Different? I’ve used the same cologne for two years.”
He blinked, recovering quickly. “Forget it. It’s someone else.”
“Have we met before?” She asked suddenly.
“Does it feel like we have?” He countered.
“Sometimes it does. It really does,” she affirmed.
“Well, you’d know. A face like mine isn’t one to forget.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re just as proud as the rumours say.”
“Look at me, Sophie,” he said, smirking. “Who wouldn't be in my shoes?”
“At least try to hide your vanity,” she chuckled.
“Pride is the poison of the insecure, so they try to rid us of it,” he declared. “And when they can’t, they paint it as vile.”
Her lips curved. “I didn’t think you were one to be philosophical.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Maybe you should change that,” she said, her voice inviting.
A smile curved. “Maybe I will.”
Like magnets, their faces drew closer and the music faded out behind them. His breath rested against her lips and she shut her eyes, then a phone rang, breaking them apart.
She reached for her phone and sighed when she saw the screen, putting it to sleep.
“Not gonna pick up?” He inquired.
She shook her head. “It’s just my friend. I’ll call her when I get home.”
He nodded. “Alright.”
They shared a quiet stare, then Sophie broke the silence. “I should get going now. It’s almost ten.”
“I’ll have a car drop you off,” he said, already dialling.
“No. You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” he said firmly.
When she didn’t resist, he put through a call and seconds later, two suited men appeared to escort her out. From the balcony, he watched her leave, waving at her before she got into the car.
Sophie kicked off the heels the second she got home. Her dress, her heels, even her makeup all felt very heavy now. Dropping her bag on the table, she collapsed into her couch and unlocked her phone.
Ten missed calls. All from Mia.
“Girl, where have you been?!” Mia’s voice burst through the speaker.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to get home first,” she said, yawning.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“The party, duh. Did you get to dance with Mr Handsome?”
“Surprisingly enough, I did.”
Mia squealed. “So are you two like a thing now?”
“What? No. You’re moving too fast.”
“And you’re not moving fast enough.”
“Mia, I’m not there because I want to get with him. I’m just redesigning Caldwell Tower.”
“Of course,” Mia replied, sarcastically. “So why did you dance with him?”
Sophie sighed. “It’s just… when I’m with him, I feel seen. It’s like my body recognizes him, even though I don’t.”
“Wow, Sophie,” Mia giggled. “Didn’t know you had poetry in you.”
“Oh, shut up,” she replied, equalling laughing.
“Just be careful whatever you choose to do. Guys like him have a reputation for being playboys.”
The words barely meant anything to Sophie. She wasn’t sure if it was because she wasn’t falling for him or because she already has.
“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind,” she replied, unsure she would.
“I have to go now. Goodnight, babe.”
“Goodnight,” Sophie said, putting down the phone.
Ethan didn’t bother turning on the lights when he entered his penthouse. He poured himself a drink and leaned against the window, glass in hand.
His suit jacket now laid abandoned beside his bow tie on the couch. He was home now but memories of Sophie replayed in his head. The way her hand felt in his. Her new scent of lavender. Her eyes when they almost kissed.
Before the memories could swallow him, his phone rang. He reached into his pocket and frowned upon seeing the caller. “Hello, father.”
Richard’s voice was sharp. “You haven’t finalised things with Salient Tech.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“With what? Playing host?” Richard said, his tone cold. “This charity circus is your mother’s idea. You know that.”
“I also know it improves our overall public image.”
“Stop stalling and handle what’s important.”
Silence stretched, heavy in the air.
Then Richard’s voice came again, hardened this time. “How did I raise you?”
Ethan’s fingers curled around the glass. “To win.”
“Then act like it.”
The line went and Ethan dropped the phone like he couldn’t hold it any longer.
“We followed her like you asked, sir,” a voice said, standing behind Luca in a dimly lit room. “We found where she lives.”
Luca swirled the glass of red wine in his hand, the firelight from the fireplace glinting off the surface.
He took a slow sip. “Good. Now I know where Beauty sleeps. All that’s left is for the Beast to visit.”
“What do you want to do about the Caldwell boy?”
“Let him be for now. In the end, he’s only a boy.”
- Writer
