My Corporate Affair

Chapter Twelve

I stood there for a moment, still, watching Sophie as she walked by. The sound of laughter and music from the club behind me seemed distant now. My gaze followed her, feeling the sudden urge to call out to her, even though I knew I probably shouldn't. But before I could stop myself, the words were out of my mouth.

"Sophie!"

She stopped immediately, turning to look at me. I could see the surprise in her eyes, a slight hesitation before she smiled, as though unsure of what to make of the situation.

I walked toward her, trying to act casual, even though I felt a weird knot form in my stomach. What was I even doing? Why had I called her?

"Hey," I said, feeling like an i***t. "Didn't expect to run into you here."

She looked a little taken aback, but then her smile softened. "Sir," she said, her voice light and a little cautious. "I didn't expect to see you either."

"Yeah, I was just..." I trailed off, feeling awkward now that I was standing in front of her. "I needed some air. It's a bit much in there."

She nodded slowly, her expression a mix of curiosity and hesitation. "I get that."

I wasn’t sure what to say next, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from looking at her. There was something about the way she stood there, casual and genuine, that made everything else feel less important. My friends, the noise, the expectations all of it just seemed to fade in comparison.

I shifted on my feet, trying to act natural. "So, uh, how’s your night going?"

She shrugged lightly, her eyes meeting mine. "It’s been okay. Just heading home now."

I could feel that tension in the air again, like something unspoken between us. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was definitely there. "Well, I won’t keep you," I said quickly, almost regretting speaking to her in the first place. But something about this moment felt too strange to let go of just yet.

"Yeah, I should go," she replied, but there was no rush in her voice.

I nodded, feeling a weird mix of relief and disappointment. "Take care, Sophie," I said before turning to walk away.

I didn’t look back, but I could feel her presence behind me, like a pull I couldn’t explain.

I turned to walk back inside the club, but then I heard her voice. “Sir, wait.”

I stopped and turned around, surprised. I wasn’t expecting her to stay. I thought she'd just walk past, like everyone else who didn’t matter to me. But she was still there, looking at me with a gentle smile, and for some strange reason, I felt a shift inside. A small spark of something, happiness, maybe?

"Yeah?" I said, trying to keep my voice casual.

She stepped closer, and I couldn’t help but notice the way the streetlights made her look even more natural, like she was part of the night itself. “I saw your speech at the gala,” she said, her voice full of sincerity. “You were great. Really cool.”

“Thanks,” I replied, shifting a bit uncomfortably. Everyone had been talking about that speech, but it was the same thing over and over. Everyone noticed how ‘great’ I looked. But there was something different in the way she said it, like she wasn’t just giving me a compliment because she had to.

She smiled again, but this time, it seemed a little warmer. "I could tell you were nervous, though," she said, her words catching me off guard. "You hid it well, but I could see it in your eyes, just for a second. It was kinda... human."

I blinked, not sure how to respond. Nobody ever noticed that, at least not the way she did. The pressure from my parents, the weight of the speech, the expectations... it was all so heavy. I hadn’t realized anyone could actually see through it. “You noticed that?” I asked, surprised.

She nodded, looking up at me with those eyes that seemed to see more than anyone else. “Yeah. It’s like, I don’t know... it made you more real, somehow. It was nice to see you, like, not perfect for a moment.”

I let out a breath, surprised by how easy it was to talk to her. “I didn’t think anyone would see that,” I admitted. It felt weird saying it out loud, but at the same time, it felt good to get it off my chest.

She just shrugged, a relaxed smile still on her face. “Well, I did. And I think it’s okay not to be perfect all the time. Makes you feel... more like a person.”

I nodded slowly, absorbing her words. I wasn’t used to people saying things like that. Most people around me only cared about the image—the business, the success, the picture-perfect CEO. But Sophie? She just saw... me. Even if she didn’t know the full story, she could see past the facade. And that was rare.

“So, uh, what do you do to relax?” she asked, breaking my train of thought. “You know, when you’re not running a whole company or giving speeches?”

I let out a small laugh, the question taking me off guard. “Relax? That’s a funny word for me. But, honestly, I try to get away from the city sometimes. I go to places where I don’t have to be Elliot Hayes, the CEO. Just... me.”

She smiled, nodding like she understood. “I get that. Must be hard to find a moment where you’re not expected to be ‘on’ all the time.”

“Exactly.” . “It gets tiring, you know? Constant pressure to live up to everyone else’s vision." I didn't want to go into details because I didn't know her well.

There was no judgment in her eyes when she looked at me. She just listened, her gaze steady, like she wasn’t going to interrupt. I didn’t know why, but it felt good to say those things out loud. I hadn’t talked about it with anyone, not like this.

“Well, maybe you should start asking yourself that question,” she said softly. “What do you want, sir? ”

I looked at her, really looked at her. There was something so simple in her suggestion, yet it felt like it could change everything. I wasn’t used to someone talking to me like that, with real interest in who I was beyond the suit, beyond the title.

“I’ll think about it,” I said quietly. And for the first time in a while, I actually meant it.

The conversation flowed easily after that, like two people who weren’t worried about what anyone else thought. It felt natural, unforced. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

After a while, I glanced back toward the club, feeling the familiar pull of the night ahead. "I should probably get back inside," I said, breaking the moment, though I wasn’t ready for it to end.

“Yeah, me too,” she agreed, but there was no rush in her voice.

We stood there for a moment longer, both of us a little lost in the moment. Finally, I broke the silence. “It was nice talking to you, Sophie.”

She gave me a soft smile, and for a brief second, I felt like I didn’t have to be anyone else. “You too, sir. Take care.”

I turned to head back inside, but as I did, something stayed with me, a feeling I couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t just the conversation, it was... how it made me feel. Maybe for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t just the CEO. I was just a guy, talking to someone who saw me as more than that. And maybe, just maybe, it felt good.