Sophia’s Point of View
“Why did I do what?” Mr Prescott had the audacity to seem confused, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
I felt like my mind was fracturing from the whiplash he was giving me.
“Why did you come after me?” I asked. “Why did you take my side?”
Mr Prescott’s features softened.
“Sophia, we are partners, of course, I’ll help you out.”
He helped me because we were partners. Of course. What had I been expecting?
A love declaration?
My heart ached and I found myself fighting the insane urge to cry. I failed and hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
“You don’t need to worry. I don’t need your help, Mr Prescott.”
“Sophia-” Mr Prescott said concerned, his hand reaching out to wipe my tears.
“Don’t touch me,” I said, catching his hand before it could reach my cheeks. I looked at those gray eyes that I couldn’t help but lose myself in.
“None of this means the same for you as it does for me.” The words left my lips in a pained whisper.
I saw the moment understanding dawned on Mr Prescott and he retracted his hand from my grip.
“Sophia, this is all I can give you.”
Indulging our sexual attraction was all he could give me. Even though I already knew this, my heart still squeezed painfully in my chest.
“Being partners with you isn’t enough for me, Mr Prescott.” I said, my arms going around my middle as though that could protect me from shattering. “So please, please, don’t blur more lines and make this any more complicated for me.”
With that said, I left.
I knew I should have thanked Mr Prescott for helping me out with Father. But I couldn’t even do that.
I walked back to our room, tears blurring my vision, my ears ringing and my body feeling faint. I was barely able to make it into our washroom where I dry heaved into the toilet bowl.
I deserved more. I deserved to be loved as much as I loved. I deserved an epic love story.
Not settling for a casual relationship with Mr Prescott was the right thing to do, so why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like I was dying?
I still didn’t have the answer to that at the dinner following yet another business conference Mr Prescott and I had to attend as a couple.
Yet another pretence that was wearing at me.
Rita apologised to me about her mother in law’s harsh words at the shopping mall but I didn’t have the heart to tell her that between all that had happened to me since then, I had completely forgotten about it.
The rest of the group also did their best to get my mind off it by relating their horror stories of meeting Mrs Terrence for the first time but my attention kept drifting.
Don’t look at him. I warned myself for the umpteenth time that evening and once more I failed.
I stared at Mr Prescott in his black suit commanding attention so easily, a wine glass between his beautiful fingers as he spoke.
He was so handsome he took my breath away each time I looked at him. We had barely spoken since my outburst except for when he informed me about this conference.
‘You are attracted to me. You don’t love me.’ His words replayed in my head and I wondered.
Was this attraction? This infinite yearning? This burning feeling I felt in my chest? This irrational anger I felt each time I looked at him and he wasn’t looking at me as well?
I sipped my juice and I found my eyes straying to him once more but this time, Mr Prescott met my gaze, the entire world suspending in that moment.
His gaze lingered traveling down my body slowly and luxuriously. That look did something to me.
My skin tingled and it felt like my blood was on fire. Was that how he was supposed to look at his business partner or was I reading too much into it? I wondered if Mr Prescott felt even a bit of what I did.
“Oh, to be a honeymoon couple again.” Rita teased nudging me playfully and drawing my attention away from Mr Prescott as I flushed with embarrassment at being caught staring at him so blatantly.
“I never stared at my husband like that.” Eliza said matter of factly nursing her wine glass and Jill cackled in response.
“Well, that’s because he’s too shortsighted with old age to stare back.”
“Jill!” Margery gasped aghast and I couldn’t tell if she wanted to tape over her best friend’s lips or laugh.
Laughter won for the rest of us including Eliza who cracked a rare beautiful smile.
Recovering my laughter, I felt someone’s gaze on me. I glanced up to see Mr Prescott still staring at me and my laughter died.
He didn’t look away and somehow that was too much for my heart that began to race in my chest. I looked away, my cheeks on fire.
I needed to get a hold of myself. This… this couldn’t end well.
“He’s coming towards our table!”Jill squealed and I knew at once she was referring to Mr Prescott.
Don’t look. Don’t look. I tried to reason with myself but I still looked.
Mr Prescott was walking up to me or at least he was until Daphne stepped right out from nowhere, in a navy blue dress that clung to her curves and did wonders for her pale skin.