Tristan had just finished a meeting with one of the clients until the afternoon. When he was about to return to the room, he accidentally ran into Aurora, who was about to get ready to go home. “Aurora, is your work done?”
Hearing her name being called, Aurora immediately turned her head. Smiling, the woman answered kindly. “It’s done. That’s why I’m getting ready to go home.”
Tristan nodded in understanding. He raised his hand in the air, signaling Aurora not to go anywhere. “Then you wait here a moment. Let me get my briefcase first, and then we’ll go home together this afternoon.”
Aurora didn’t refuse. The woman just agreed to Tristan’s invitation. She is even happy that she can commute together every day like most couples. Think of it as training before becoming a real wife.
“Come on, let’s go to the car,” said Tristan after returning with the briefcase she had taken earlier.
Before Tristan’s car left the VIP parking area, the man’s cell phone rang. It looks like a call from someone forcing it to be picked up immediately. Glancing at who the caller was, Tristan hastily accepted the call. Don’t let this good opportunity be lost because he carelessly ignores it.
“Hello, Miss Sophia,” said Tristan softly. Even sweet.
For God’s sake, Anyone who heard that man’s voice would indeed be lulled. Aurora, sitting next to him, even turned his head in surprise at Tristan’s attitude.
“Hi … where are you? Are you still in the office?” Sophia asked curiously.
“I just finished work and was planning to go home. How about you?”
“Well, I was waiting for the driver to pick me up. For the sake of getting rid of boredom, I chose to call you.”
“Ah, I see,” murmured Tristan. Then an idea popped into his head. “Why don’t you take me home with you?” bargained the man earnestly.
“No, Tristan. Don’t bother. Besides, the driver is on his way to pick me up.”
“It’s all right, Sophia,” Tristan coaxed once more. “Of course, this isn’t a hassle at all. Did you forget that my office is only a few blocks from the building where you shoot?”
“Yes, I know,” replied the woman on the other end. “But—”
“There’s no need to hesitate, Sophia. You seem like someone who just met me.”
Silence for a moment. Then soon, Sophia agreed to Tristan’s invitation. “Then I’ll call the driver, so he doesn’t have to pick me up.”
While holding his cell phone, Tristan smiled imperceptibly. Either a sincere smile or there is another meaning implied there. “All right. You wait a minute. I’ll be there in five to ten minutes.”
After ending the call, Tristan immediately directed his car to the place where Sophia worked. Listening to and watching Tristan’s movements, Aurora, who was now looking at the surrounding streets, dared to ask the man.
“Are you seriously, Tristan? You want to pick up Sophia right now?”
While focusing on the road in front of him, Tristan seemed to nod. Of course, he was serious about this decision. “Yes, Aurora. I’ll pick her up and drop her off. You’ll know what the reason is. Therefore, I shouldn’t miss this opportunity one bit.”
“You want to get Sophia’s attention?” Once again, Aurora confirmed.
“Of course. I want to impress her with all the attention I give. If necessary, Sophia must be crazy about me.”
Aurora immediately turned to Tristan. Hearing this man want to give all his attention and even intend to drive Sophia crazy made him a little reluctant. Jealousy immediately hit. The whisper in Aurora’s mind was heard. She doesn’t want the man she loves and loves to share her attention with other women.
“To be honest, I don’t want you to carry out this plan, Tristan,” Aurora muttered quietly. “Why? How will I get Sophia’s heart?”
Aurora took a deep breath. Shaking slowly, the woman replied to Tristan’s words.
“I’m just afraid, in the end, you fall in love with that woman.”
A chuckle escaped Tristan’s lips after Aurora finished her sentence, even though nothing was funny about what the woman said. “How could I fall in love with a daughter whose father destroyed my family, Aurora.”
The laughter on Tristan’s lips disappeared instantly. It was just replaced with an aura of hatred that was unstoppable. The two men’s hands even seemed to grip the steering wheel so tightly. To the point that his knuckles turned completely white.
“The purpose of my life right now is one,” continued Tristan. “Getting that woman and then making her suffer. Once satisfied, it’s the turn of the Walters family to get their revenge.”
Aurora looked Tristan’s face closely. She was seeing how her usual warm face turned cold in an instant. Tristan was like a man with two different personalities. On the one hand, he could look so evil, like a relentless devil.
But on the other hand, he can turn out to be so sweet, like an angel in fairy tales that we often read. When the car that Tristan was driving arrived at the building where Sophia worked, the man’s face immediately turned relaxed.
A smile even returned to his lips. Even when he reprimanded Sophia, it seemed as if there was no slightest hatred towards the woman.
“Hi…”
Tristan purposely got out of the car to follow Sophia, standing waiting in front of the building. “Let’s go to the car. ” Tristan pointed at his black car, which was parked neatly in the courtyard of the building.
Without hesitation, the woman followed Tristan’s steps. Following directions to sit k in the rear passenger seat. After sitting comfortably, Sophia made a gasp when she found Aurora’s presence. From this, he knew why Tristan had asked him to sit in the back.
“Hi Sophia,” Aurora greeted warmly. She even turned her back to look directly at Sophia’s face. “Glad to see you again.”
“Hi…” Sophia replied. Even though he felt a little uncomfortable, he still had to put on a no less friendly face. “So you were with Tristan the whole time?”
Aurora nodded. But before he could answer, Tristan, already in the car, took over the conversation.
“Aurora, because our houses are closer, I will take you home first. After that, I will take Sophia.”
“Okay. You manage how good it is.”
Along the way home, the three seemed to be talking casually. Now and then, Aurora threw questions at Sophia as if she wanted to look familiar with the woman. Sophia also did the same thing until the car Tristan was driving stopped right in front of the man’s residence.
“I’ll go down first,” said Aurora to Tristan. Then without awkwardness, she brought her face closer. Seconds later, she briefly kissed Tristan’s right cheek as if it was a normal activity that the two of them often did. “You two, be careful on the road.”
Sophia from the back seat just silently watched. When Tristan’s car drove through the streets of London again, he was filled with curiosity, and he immediately asked the man a question.
“Sorry if my question leads to privacy a bit. But if I look around, Aurora is close to you.”
Tristan peeked at Sophia’s face from behind the rearview mirror in the middle. I noticed the woman and then responded to her question. “As I’ve said before, Aurora and I are close like siblings. I even think of her as my sister.”
Sophia nodded. “I thought you two had a special relationship. But as a woman, I feel Aurora has more feelings for you. Judging by her gestures and how she looks, I’m sure she sees you as more than a sister.”
“Is that true?” Tristan chuckled softly. “Then, how?”
Sophia gasped, then blinked. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, confused.
“Yes.” Tristan nodded this time. Still focused on the road before him, the man asked again. “If Aurora has feelings for me, aren’t you jealous in the slightest?”
“I-me?” Sophia asked, annoyed. More towards shock. How could he have thought that Tristan would suddenly ask such a question?
“Yeah. But even if Aurora likes me, it’s useless. Because in reality, I like you more, Sophia.” “Tristan …” Sophia immediately fell silent. Her face instantly turned red. Maybe because of shame, joy, or I don’t know why. What is certain is that his feelings immediately went awry after hearing the words of Tristan, who again deliberately teased him.
“We’re here, Sophia.” Tristan’s words immediately awakened Sophia, whose thoughts wandered all over the place.
Blinking repeatedly, Sophia reached for the bag she was carrying. Before getting out of the car, he took the initiative to invite the man to stop at his residence.
“Don’t you want to stop by first?” Tristan glanced back.
Then looked at Sophia’s face with a seductive look. “Is this some kind of invitation to have dinner together?”
Tristan then glanced at the black Jaeger-LeCoultre wrapped around his wrist as he spoke again.
“Now it’s time for dinner, right?”
“If you want, I can cook something for us to eat together tonight.”
“Okay if you insist.”
Tristan nodded. “Besides, it would be a loss to refuse a beautiful woman like you.”
Sophia immediately laughed. Oh, Lord. Why is there such a sweet man? “You scumbag!”
The two of them then both went down and directly entered Sophia’s apartment. While the woman was preparing dinner, Tristan chose to browse magazines from various brands whose model was Sophia.
Tristan kept smiling. I don’t know what this smile means. What is certain is that he enjoyed his role when he was at Sophia’s residence. “Tristan, come here,” Sophia called, asking Tristan to come to her at the dining table. “Dinner is ready.”
Tristan nodded and then got up from his seat. Walking closer to the dining table, the aroma of cooking has sharply spoiled the sense of smell. As soon as Tristan sat on the dining chair, Sophia immediately handed him a plate of food that she had never tried before.
“This is called beef bulgogi. This is Korean food. I cooked it especially for you and I hope you will try and like it,” Sophia explained, then handed a spoon to Tristan. Ask the man to eat what he just cooked.
Tristan slowly scooped the beef belly on his plate, aimed it at his mouth, and chewed it very carefully. Trying once to taste, he gradually feels the sensations of various flavors that arise in his mouth.
“Gosh, this is delicious,” he said honestly as he continued to scoop the beef bulgogi into his mouth. Tristan was enjoying Asian food that he had never eaten before. “You have cooking skills too? I’m not exaggerating, but this food is delicious,” he said.
Sophia smiled and nodded. He was feeling flattered by the compliment that Tristan gave. Being sincere is not exaggerating or contrived. Seen from the way the man enjoyed every bite that entered his mouth. “I really like Asian cuisine. Just so you know, before entering the world of modeling, I aspired to be an international Chef,” said Sophia.
“Then why don’t you continue your dream?”
Sophia then shook her head. His face suddenly darkened as if remembering a nasty incident in the past. “In the past, I once entered a cooking contest on an international scale. One of the judges insulted my cooking. And that incident really broke my heart. That’s why, I no longer wanted to be a Chef.”
“Oh Lord.” Tristan exclaimed in disbelief. “You should use that experience as a lesson to get up and prove to those who have brought you down that you can shine more than them.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Sophia said with a faint smile. “I shouldn’t have given up then. It was just my heart that was too weak. But now, I’ve learned a lot. No one should ever underestimate my abilities.”
Tristan smiled and then returned to continue eating. After eating a plate of beef bulgogi, they moved to the television room. Relax for a moment while re-exchanging stories with each other. “It must be very lonely living here alone,” said Tristan, looking around. “Your apartment is big enough for a woman living alone.”
“You are right.” Sophia agreed with the guess of the man next to her. “When I first moved, I felt lonely. But not anymore. There are many good people I know and even want to be my friends, including you.”
Tristan smiled sincerely. Ending the conversation, the man meant to say goodbye. “Sophia, it’s getting late, looks like I have to go home. Besides, I haven’t showered yet. It’s a shame if you smell my bad smell,” joked Tristan, laughing.
“Of course not. I even like the citrusy woody scent you’re wearing. It must be Christian Dior Eau Sauvage, right?” Sophia guessed so sure.
“Jesus. You’re absolutely right. That’s the perfume brand I always wear. How do you know?” asked Tristan with a look of admiration.
“Just so you know. It’s one of my favorite perfumes. That’s why I can remember what you’re wearing.”
Tristan was still smiling. That look full of admiration did not leave his handsome face in the slightest. Mario, the assistant, knew that Sophia liked this perfume.
“Come to think of it, we have a lot in common.”
“You are right.” Sophia chimed in. “I also wonder why it fits you so well.”
“I told you that we seem like a match, Sophia,” said Tristan, squinting her eyes coquettishly. He was deliberately teasing Sophia until the woman was embarrassed.
“Please Tristan, don’t like to tease me. What if I really like you then?”
“Yes, let’s just continue this relationship,” answered Tristan casually. Which again made Sophia flabbergasted. Why does this man love to play with the performance of his heart!
“Gosh. Looks like we have to end today’s meeting. I’m going to really go crazy if this keeps up.” Laughter fell from their lips.
Standing up, Tristan meant to say goodbye. When he was out of the apartment and ready to go to the car, Tristan again asked Sophia to talk. Like he had something to say.
“Sophia, I don’t know whether you want to or not. But honestly, I want to take you out to dinner this weekend.”
“You want to ask me out on a date?” guessed Sophia. She was joking, but Tristan even confirmed the question coming from her lips.
“Let’s just say I did ask you out. That’s why, I hope you will accept my invitation this time.” Again, the beating of a drum-like heartbeat made it hard for Sophia to breathe. Her pair of blue eyes didn’t even look away.
All the sweetness, jokes, and temptations that Tristan gave made it even more challenging to control the feelings that alighted. What Sophia believes, Tristan is serious about her invitation this time. That’s why without much thought, he reflexively nodded in agreement.
“Okay, I’ll get ready this weekend. Just tell me what time you’ll be picking me up.”
After Tristan’s shadow disappeared, Sophia hurriedly closed the apartment door. While holding her chest, which was still throbbing erratically.