Sofia froze the moment her eyes caught sight of the man across the crowded hall. For a moment, her heart forgot how to beat. The laughter, the music, the chatter, everything faded into background noise.
That face.
That unmistakable voice as he exchanged greetings with another guest.
It was Uncle Joe.
Her uncle, Joe Grayson.
Her chest tightened, and disbelief painted her expression. What on earth was he doing here? The Graysons and the Greens had been bitter rivals for years, their competition written into every newspaper headline and business column. The idea of a Grayson being present in a Green sponsored fundraiser was unthinkable. Impossible.
And yet, there he was, dressed in a dark navy suit, looking calm and perfectly at ease as if he belonged here.
Sofia's thoughts spun in circles. Was it a coincidence? Was he here for business? Or… did he somehow suspect something? The air around her suddenly felt thick, almost hard to breathe in.
Her instincts screamed to go to him, to demand answers, to make sense of this madness. But before she could take a step forward, a gentle tug pulled her back.
Chad.
"Sofia?" His voice was low, laced with concern. "What's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
Sofia quickly forced a smile, shaking her head. "It's nothing. I just…I don't feel like staying here anymore."
Chad studied her face for a moment, clearly unconvinced. "You sure? You've been tense all evening."
"I just need some air," she said, trying to steady her breathing.
Chad nodded slowly. "Alright. Then let's get out of here for a bit. We'll find somewhere quiet."
He placed a hand gently on her back and led her through the crowd, both of them slipping past the curious eyes and flashing cameras. They exited the grand hall and stepped into the cool night breeze. Sofia inhaled deeply, grateful to finally be away from the noise, but her mind was still clouded with thoughts of her uncle.
Chad signaled for his car. "We could go back to your place," he suggested, "but the drive will take a while. There's a hotel not far from here, one of ours, actually. We can rest there until you're ready to go home."
Sofia nodded absently. "Alright."
The drive was silent at first. The city lights passed in blurs outside the tinted window. Sofia's reflection stared back at her. She was calm on the surface, but storming inside. Chad kept stealing glances at her, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"You've been… different lately," he finally said, his voice gentle but probing. "It's like you're somewhere else. I keep feeling like the woman I knew isn't really here anymore."
His words hit deeper than he could imagine. Sofia forced a small laugh, keeping her eyes on the window. "I guess I've just been stressed. There's a lot going on."
"I get that," he said softly. "Still… I miss the old you."
Sofia turned her head, meeting his eyes. "The old me?"
"The one who'd laugh so easily," Chad said with a faint smile. "The one who didn't look like she was carrying the world on her shoulders."
That made her lips twitch, just slightly. She didn't respond. She couldn't.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the hotel. It was a towering building with soft golden lights spilling across the entrance. The doormen immediately straightened as the car pulled up, their practiced smiles broadening when they recognized who it was.
"Welcome, Miss Green," the manager greeted warmly, bowing slightly. "It's a pleasure to have you here again."
"Thank you," Sofia replied with a polite nod, masking her inner turmoil.
The hotel was owned by Chad,as it was one of their many luxury investments he benefited from his deal with the greens, and as expected, everything was impeccable. The marble floors gleamed under the chandeliers, and a subtle scent of lavender filled the air. Guests and staff alike whispered quietly as they passed, recognizing the young heiress.
Chad handled the booking, speaking briefly with the manager while Sofia stood silently beside him. Within minutes, they were handed a pair of golden keycards.
"Your suite is ready," the manager said, gesturing toward the elevator. "We've prepared everything as usual."
"Perfect," Chad replied, giving the man a courteous nod.
The elevator ride was silent. Sofia leaned against the mirrored wall, closing her eyes for a moment, exhaustion creeping up on her. Her mind was still on the fundraiser, on Uncle Joe, on the uneasy feeling twisting her gut.
When the elevator doors finally slid open, they stepped out into a quiet, carpeted hallway. Chad inserted the card, and the door clicked open.
The room that greeted them was nothing short of luxurious. It was a grand suite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glowing city below. Cream colored curtains swayed softly with the air conditioner's breeze, and the faint sound of jazz hummed from hidden speakers.
Sofia stepped in and instantly felt her legs grow heavy. The stress, the confusion, the emotional drain, it all hit her at once.
Without a second thought, she walked over to the bed and collapsed on it, face buried in the soft pillows.
Chad, still standing near the door, watched her for a moment, quietly, and thoughtfully before slowly closing it behind him.
Chad took off his suit and crashed on the sofa, sitting in the opposite direction of Sofia. He couldn't help but stare at Sofia as she laid down. Her curves, her perfection, her beauty…
It was all getting to him. He proceeded to get up from the couch, and he sat on the bed, facing Sofia. Sofia, seeing Chad beside her, started to feel a little bit nervous, as usual.
"Sofia, I've missed you, you know. And with all the rules about making our relationship private, it's making me crave for you even more," Chad said with a gentle voice as he began to run his fingers down her thigh.
"Chad, I don't think we should," Sofia said nervously.
"But I'm thinking otherwise," Chad's voice turned into whispers.
"I can't help it. I just want… you"
He lifted his hand and placed it directly on Sofia's boobs.