5. Sophia
5
SOPHIA
“Will we be seeing your boyfriend today, Soph?” Nicoleta asks as she takes a seat next to me. I don’t know if she and Leonardo have once again matched their colors deliberately or if it’s by chance that her pink blouse matches perfectly to his blazer.
This is a new height of desperation.
Look who’s speaking. My inner voice won’t let me have a day of peace.
But watching Leonardo with Miss Tess, all my hopes deflate. Anxiety balloons inside me. I should have prepared Asher. At least we should have straightened out our dating story.
“Yes, you told me so much about him. It feels like we already know him.” Miss Tee throws kerosene onto the burning fire of my anxiety. I don’t even remember what all I blurted out last week about my fictional boyfriend.
The door to the grand hall opens, and my pulse skyrockets as Asher walks inside. There’s a thin sheen of snow over his black hair, which is perfectly styled back. The contrast of the red tie against his black suit is delicious.
“Seems Nicoleta and Leonardo aren’t the only couple who decided to match.” Miss Tee’s head jerks to the red scarf around my neck.
Electricity sizzles inside me, burning me from the inside out as Asher saunters toward us. My cheeks heat when he dips his head. I wait in anticipation for the feel of his lips over mine like that night in the bar, but he kisses my cheek instead. Those butterflies who were asleep this morning flutter in my stomach, making me aware of their presence.
The back of Asher’s hand skims over my cheek, and for a second, I start to believe in the lie. He’s madly in love with me. I can’t tear my gaze away from his whiskey eyes, until there’s a clearing of a throat.
“Um, oh, I…” I fumble before finding my voice. “This is Asher.”
The smile on Asher’s face doesn’t slip as he turns to Miss Tee. Something akin to jealousy hits my chest when he kisses her proffered hand. But pride douses every other emotion when my gaze lands on Nicoleta’s fuming face and the way she throws daggers at Leonardo.
I curl my hand around Asher’s arm, smiling like a perfectly doting girlfriend. He looks down at me with a raised eyebrow before going back to listening to Miss Tee’s eloquent reply to his simple question of how she’s doing.
“This is Nicoleta and her boyfriend, Leonardo.” Miss Tee does the introductions before I get a chance.
Asher shifts, and my hand on his arm slips, but soon he pulls me closer. My pulse skyrockets when his hand tightens around my waist. The contrast of his hand, his black suit, and the steel of his watch over my olive dress feels like we’ve planned it all with great precision. I jerk my head up to notice Nicoleta’s and Leonardo’s gazes pinned on the same spot.
“Hi, man. I like your watch. Isn’t this Patek Philippe’s latest launch? This must have cost you a fortune.”
A heavy ball of doubt lodges in my throat, making it difficult to swallow, which is only intensified by Nicoleta’s sharp squeal. “I never thought you’d ever date a rich guy, Sophia. You used to hate everything about rich folks.”
“Really, Sophia?” Miss Tee’s eyebrow arches in question, and even though I know my opinions aren’t wrong, I squirm.
“I don’t think it’s fair that people get undue advantage based on the family they’re born into. It’s not like we have any control of it. Talent should always be a determining factor for success and opportunities.”
Miss Tee seems satisfied, but Nicoleta deadpans, “Yet, you’re with Asher.”
I’m speechless because even though Asher told me he was at The Queen’s honoring an invitation, I don’t know what he does for a living. From the silky fabric of his suit and his polished demeanor, it’s clear he isn’t a driver or a farmer.
When I look at Asher, he smiles and then replies to Nicoleta. “My friend’s father works at the watch company, and they often receive gifts. I knew today was a big day for Soph, so…” He shrugs, and Miss Tee finishes his sentence.
“You borrowed it. That’s so nice of you to do that for Sophia.”
How does he do that? Impress everyone effortlessly with that regal charm.
But Nicoleta isn’t done yet. “What do you do for a living, Asher?”
“I work at The Queen’s,” he replies without hesitation.
“How did you two meet?”
“Coincidentally, at The Queen’s. Sophia was there to meet a… friend.” His jaw clenches, and I bite back my shiver at the sight of his over-the-top jealous nature.
“Do you—”
Thankfully, Miss Tee interrupts the burning line of questions. “Let the poor boy catch a breath, Nicoleta.”
“Would you like a drink?” I ask Asher.
He shakes his head. “I’ll be driving us home.”
Handsome and responsible. For a second, I wish Asher wasn’t a fake boyfriend.
“Do you play… or sing?” Miss Tee queries.
Asher’s controlled mask lowers for a beat as he chuckles, and the deep, rich sound vibrates in my limbs. “I do not have a musical bone in my body.”
“But you love listening to Sophia play, don’t you?” Miss Tee grins.
Nervousness flows inside me when Asher shrugs. What kind of boyfriend doesn’t love to hear his professional pianist girlfriend play?
“Sophia wants me to hear her play at the New Year’s Gala for the first time. That’s why performing in this event is so important to her.”
Holy moly! He didn’t just say that.
The daggers Nicoleta was shooting my way have turned into bombs, but Miss Tee doesn’t seem to mind at all. “Then we have to make sure that happens, because your girl is very talented.”
“I have no doubt about it.” He grins and places a kiss on my hair.