Chapter 8 Be My Girlfriend #3
Before Magnus could react, Neymar stepped forward and grabbed Sophia’s other arm, pulling her toward himself.
The sudden force made Sophia stumble forward, caught between the two men.
“You don’t have the right to make choices for her,” Neymar snapped at Magnus, his voice sharp with frustration. “Let her decide for herself what kind of man I am.”
He tightened his grip slightly, pulling Sophia closer to his side.
“Sylvia can judge me on her own,” he continued. “You shouldn’t interfere with us. Let her choose what’s best for her.”
Sophia’s patience was already hanging by a thread.
Being tugged back and forth between the two men finally pushed her over the edge.
With a sharp jerk, she pulled her arms free from both of them and stepped back, putting distance between them.
“Enough!”
She stepped back, glaring at the two men, her chest rising and falling with anger.
“You two need to stop acting like children and leave me alone.”
Her gaze moved from Neymar to Magnus.
“I don’t need either of you making decisions for me—about who I’m allowed to see or who I should choose.”
Her voice hardened.
“I’m not interested in either of you. So stop bothering me.”
Then she turned on her heel and walked away quickly, storming down the street without looking back.
Magnus’s gaze followed her retreating figure for only a second before turning back to Neymar.
His eyes were cold and threatening.
“You’re not allowed to get close to her again,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.
Neymar let out a dry laugh.
He bent down and picked up the ring box Magnus had knocked away earlier, brushing the dust off it before straightening again. The bouquet was still clutched in his other hand.
“It’s none of your business who I propose to or who I get close to, Mr. Graves,” Neymar replied coolly.
His eyes flashed with defiance.
“I’ll pursue the woman I want.”
With that, he turned and walked away without another word.
A moment later, he got into his car and drove off.
Magnus stood there, anger still burning through him.
His hands clenched at his sides as he watched the car disappear down the street.
After a moment, he dragged a hand through his hair and forced himself to breathe slowly, trying to calm the storm raging inside him.
Then his eyes moved down the road.
Sophia was nowhere in sight.
“Did she already leave?” he muttered under his breath.
A frown creased his forehead.
Had she really just walked away?
Without even taking a car?
He scanned the area again, but there was no sign of her.
A flicker of unease crept into his chest.
Magnus immediately started walking in the direction she had gone, his strides quick and urgent as he circled around the side of the building.
He had just turned the corner and stepped onto the next street—
When he froze.
Sophia was standing a short distance away.
Three men had surrounded her.
One of them was waving a knife in her face.
“Give me the bag,” the man sneered.
Sophia looked startled, fear flashing across her eyes as she glanced between the men, clearly searching for an escape.
Realizing she had no way out, she slowly slid the bag from her shoulder.
But before she could hand it over—
One of the men suddenly shoved her from behind.
Sophia lost her balance and fell hard onto the pavement.
A surge of fury exploded through Magnus.
Without thinking, he ran toward them.
His footsteps pounded loudly against the pavement.
The men turned at the sudden sound—but before they could react—
Thud.
The man who had pushed Sophia was struck by a brutal kick to the back, sending him crashing to the ground. His head slammed against the edge of the concrete curb with a dull crack.
The other two men froze in shock.
Then the one holding the knife lunged toward Magnus to stab him.
But Magnus moved faster.
He grabbed the man’s wrist mid-attack and twisted it violently.
A sharp crack echoed in the quiet street.
The knife clattered to the ground as the man screamed in pain.
The second man lunged at Magnus, trying to punch him. But Magnus caught his wrist mid-air. With a sharp twist, he forced the man’s arm behind his back and shoved it upward. A loud crack echoed through the street as the man cried out in pain, his shoulder popping out of place.
The noises quickly drew the attention of the security guards stationed nearby.
They rushed toward the scene at once.
“Mr. Graves!” one of them called out the moment he recognized him.
Another guard immediately pressed the button on the radio clipped to his shoulder. “We need backup outside—now!”
Within seconds, more guards flooded in.
Six security officers surrounded the three attackers, pinning them down and restraining them with swift, practiced movements.
“We’ll handle them, Mr. Graves,” one of the guards said firmly.
Magnus stepped back, his chest rising and falling as the adrenaline slowly faded.
His eyes immediately moved to the side.
Sophia was sitting on the ground near the wall. She looked shaken, her face pale.
Magnus’s gaze quickly swept over her from head to toe, checking for injuries. Fortunately, she didn’t seem hurt—only frightened. Before she could even catch her breath, Magnus strode toward her.
Without saying a word, he bent down and lifted her into his arms.
Sophia gasped.
“I can walk by myself!” she protested, trying to push against his shoulder.
Magnus shot her an irritated look.
“Can you stay still for five damn minutes?” he snapped.
Sophia opened her mouth to argue again, but the firm grip of his arms made it clear there was no point. She fell silent as he carried her to the car.
Their driver, parked a short distance away, spotted them immediately and pulled the car closer. The vehicle came to a smooth stop right beside them. He quickly stepped out and hurried around to open the back door.
Magnus gently lowered Sophia onto the seat before sliding in beside her.
The driver shut the door and returned to the front seat. A moment later, the car pulled away from the curb.
Magnus pressed a button near the armrest.
The temperature inside the car adjusted automatically, and a glass partition slowly rose between the back seat and the driver’s seat, giving them privacy.
Inside the quiet car, Magnus turned toward Sophia.
His eyes slowly moved over her again—from her hair, down to her shoulders, and then to her hands—before finally meeting her gaze.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Sophia shifted slightly and turned toward him.
“Yes,” she answered quietly. “I’m alright.”
She paused before adding softly, “Thank you for saving me, Magnus.”
Magnus leaned a little closer.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“A plain ‘thank you’?” he murmured. “Doesn’t that feel a little… dry?”
Sophia frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Magnus tilted his head slightly, his eyes studying her face.
“I saved you back there,” he said slowly. “Shouldn’t I get more than a simple thank you?”
The playful look in his eyes made his meaning obvious. He leaned a little closer.
Sophia rolled her eyes.
“And what exactly do you want, Magnus?” she asked. “How else do you expect me to thank you?”
Before he could answer, the car hit a sudden bump, the sharp jolt throwing Sophia off balance. She lurched forward and collided with Magnus, their lips brushing in an accidental kiss.
For a brief second, neither of them moved. Then Sophia pulled back, startled, her breath uneven—but Magnus was quicker. His hand slid to the back of her head, holding her in place as he drew her back to him.
This time, the kiss deepened. His lips moved against hers, hungry, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Sophia’s eyes widened in shock.
Several long seconds passed before Magnus finally pulled away. He held her gaze, his eyes dark, and then slowly ran his tongue over his lips.
“Yes,” he murmured in a husky voice. “This is much more appropriate.”
His voice dropped as he leaned in again, close enough for her to feel his breath. “If you ever need saving again,” he added, a faint smile touching his lips, “I’ll be there.”
Sophia’s face flushed instantly, embarrassment and disbelief flooding her expression. Without a word, she turned her head away and stared out the window.
Magnus, on the other hand, leaned back comfortably against the seat, a satisfied smile lingering on his lips.