Episode7
1107 Words
Chapter Seven
Sophia Reed Returns
Velora hated airports.
Too noisy.
Too crowded.
Too many people pretending emotional reunions weren’t awkward.
Still, as she stood near the arrival gate inside LAX, she found herself smiling for the first time in days.
Because after almost three months away, Sophia was finally back.
The moment the arrival doors opened, Sophia Reed walked out wearing an oversized beige coat, sunglasses, and the kind of confidence that made people stare naturally.
Some things clearly never changed.
“Sophia!” Velora called immediately.
Sophia pulled down her sunglasses before grinning widely. “Finally. Someone attractive.”
Velora laughed softly as they hugged tightly.
“You took forever.”
“I literally just landed.”
“And somehow you still look annoyingly perfect.”
Sophia smirked. “Meanwhile you look stressed.”
Velora sighed dramatically. “Give me five minutes at least.”
“Impossible. I know your face too well.”
They grabbed Sophia’s luggage before heading toward the parking lot together.
Even after years of friendship, being around Sophia still felt easy. Comfortable. Like Velora didn’t have to constantly think before speaking.
Sophia had been her best friend since college.
The only person who truly knew how exhausting the Hastings family could be behind closed doors.
“So,” Sophia said while sliding into the passenger seat of Velora’s car, “tell me everything I missed.”
Velora started the engine slowly. “Where do I even begin?”
Sophia turned toward her immediately. “Start with why your voice suddenly sounds happier.”
Velora blinked once.
Then smiled without meaning to.
Sophia gasped dramatically. “Oh my God.”
“What?”
“That smile.”
Velora laughed quietly. “Relax.”
“No. Absolutely not. Who is he?”
The fact that Sophia guessed immediately made Velora shake her head.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re blushing.”
“I’m literally driving.”
“You’re blushing while driving.”
Velora tried hiding her smile by focusing on the road ahead, but it was useless.
Sophia leaned closer suspiciously. “Wait… are you actually serious about someone?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“That means yes.”
Velora sighed softly before finally giving in.
“His name is Liam.”
Sophia sat up straighter instantly. “Liam who?”
“Liam Knight.”
Silence.
Then suddenly..
“THE Liam Knight?”
Velora winced slightly. “Please don’t yell.”
Sophia stared at her like she’d lost her mind.
“The billionaire Liam Knight?”
“Yes.”
“The Liam Knight who was on Forbes twice before thirty?”
“Yes, Sophia.”
“Oh, this is serious serious.”
Velora laughed despite herself.
The truth was… it did feel serious.
And maybe that scared her slightly.
Because relationships had never distracted her before.
Work always came first.
Responsibility always came first.
But lately, whenever Liam looked at her, everything else somehow faded into the background for a little while.
Sophia watched her carefully for a moment before smiling softly.
“You really like him.”
Velora looked out the window quietly.
“…I think I do.”
For a few seconds, Sophia said nothing.
Then finally…
“Okay, now I’m interested.”
That evening, Sophia insisted on going out instead of resting after her flight.
“I just spent eight hours trapped inside a plane,” she complained while fixing her hair in the mirror. “If I stay home tonight, I’ll die.”
So now both women sat inside an upscale rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.
Sophia spent most of dinner forcing Velora to talk about Liam.
“What’s he like?”
“Calm.”
“Boring answer.”
Velora smiled slightly. “He’s intelligent. Observant. Sometimes too observant.”
“Tall?”
Velora nearly rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”
“Good. Continue.”
“He listens more than he talks.”
Sophia nodded approvingly. “That’s dangerous.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Men like that always ruin lives emotionally.”
Velora laughed softly again.
God, she missed her.
But just as Sophia opened her mouth to ask another question, her expression suddenly changed.
Her eyes shifted toward the restaurant entrance.
Then she froze.
Velora frowned slightly. “What?”
Sophia looked almost confused for a second before muttering,
“Well… that’s unfortunate timing.”
Velora turned toward the entrance.
And immediately saw why.
Liam had just walked into the restaurant.
But he wasn’t alone.
Liora stood beside him.
Velora blinked in surprise.
She honestly hadn’t expected to see either of them tonight.
Across the room, Liora noticed them first.
And immediately, something unreadable crossed her face.
Sophia looked between the sisters slowly before lowering her voice.
“…Why does your sister look upset already?”
Velora frowned slightly. “Liora’s been stressed lately.”
“Mhm.”
Before the conversation could continue, Liam spotted them too.
For a brief second, his eyes met Velora’s.
Then unexpectedly…
They shifted toward Sophia.
Sophia raised a brow slightly. “Well. He’s attractive.”
Velora nearly laughed. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m observant.”
Liam and Liora eventually approached their table.
“Velora,” Liam greeted calmly.
Then his attention shifted politely toward Sophia.
“And you are?”
“Sophia Reed,” she answered smoothly. “Velora’s best friend.”
Something about Sophia’s tone instantly changed the atmosphere slightly.
Not rude.
Not friendly either.
Just careful.
Liora folded her arms lightly beside Liam. “Sophia just got back from Paris.”
“London,” Sophia corrected calmly. “Paris was last month.”
Liora forced a small smile.
And somehow, the tension between them felt immediate.
Velora noticed it too.
Interesting.
Liam glanced between everyone before speaking again.
“We didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You already did,” Sophia replied casually before sipping her wine.
Velora nearly kicked her under the table.
Liora looked irritated instantly.
And for some reason, Liam looked amused.
Dangerous combination.
After a few awkward minutes of conversation, Liam and Liora finally moved toward another table across the restaurant.
The second they sat down, Sophia turned toward Velora immediately.
“Okay.”
Velora sighed. “Here we go.”
“What exactly is happening between your sister and Liam?”
“Nothing.”
Sophia gave her a look.
“Velora.”
“There’s nothing happening.”
But even as she said the words, uncertainty crept quietly into her chest for the first time.
Because tonight…
Something about Liora’s expression felt different.
And the way Liam looked at her occasionally across the restaurant?
That felt different too.
- Writer
