Sophia’s POV
6:37 pm
After spending the whole day with Daisy and Nick, I was a bit exhausted and stuffed with food. Nick had left earlier to go get something from a bookstore. It was already less than two hours till 8 pm and Daniel would be on his way here to pick me up. I dragged myself to the bathroom to freshen up to avoid any delay.
“What will you be wearing?” Daisy asked as soon as I stepped out of the shower.
I hadn’t given that a thought. “Honestly, no clue. I suppose the location we’re going to will determine the kind of outfit I should put on but it was supposed to be a surprise,” I groaned.
She snort. “Now that’s a disaster waiting to happen. You can’t just wear anything, imagine showing up to a park in a dinner dress.”
“I should have just picked a spot when he’d asked,” I grumbled.
“Well, maybe you could ask now. I’m sure he would understand,” She suggested.
“Okay.” I reached for my phone, but the doorbell rang.
“I’ll go get it,” Daisy offered.
“Sure.” She left and I went back to texting Harry.
Me: So… uhm
Me: Hi. Can we talk?
A few minutes crawled by.
Harry: Hey, sure!
“Bloody hell! He’s got you dresses and shoes to match with!” Daisy’s voice echoed from the hallway as she raced to the bedroom with an armful of three black, garment bags and three boxes which she tried to support with her chin.
One of the boxes toppled, and I hurried to help her and took the boxes and one of the garment bags so I could check their contents.
“He really is a sweetheart,” Daisy mumbled as she opened the two other garment bags. One revealed an exquisite emerald green dress and the other a glittery silver dress.
“He sure is,” I replied absentmindedly, dazed by the beautiful, red sequin dress I pulled out of the garment bag.
“Well it’s a shame you don’t feel the same for him and he’s such a kind and sweet person. That’s the reason why you have to stop leading him on. You owe him the truth,” She gently chided.
My shoulders slumped. “I know that, Daisy. I promise I’ll let him know today. Don’t you think I feel bad too? I’m not exactly enjoying this.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I’m just worried,” She said softly. “You know what? Let’s just get you in one of these dresses and dolled up, the rest can be handled later,” She suggested, trying to lift the mood.
“Okay, one minute. I need to thank him for the dress.”
Harry: Hey? You said you wanted to talk.
Harry: Can I call you?
Harry: Ermm… Is this about the dresses? Did I go too far?
Harry: I’m sorry if I did. While making arrangements I realized you wouldn’t know what to wear since I wanted to surprise you.
Harry: I’m truly sorry.
I chuckled at his texts, his nervousness was really radiating off the screen.
Me: Hey, it’s okay.
Me: Actually I texted because of the same issue, I didn’t know what to wear. This is really thoughtful and sweet of you.
Me: I love them, thank you
Harry: That’s a relief! I was worried there for a minute.
Harry: Can’t wait to see you.
Me:
I set my phone aside so I could try the dresses on. Thankfully, Daisy was here to help with my hair and makeup because I was really bad at doing those.
“You look stunning babes,” Daisy said, stepping back to admire my dress.
I glanced at myself in the mirror and I had to admit, she was right. I eventually chose the silver dress because it fitted perfectly. It was a short, flare gown, studded with glitter stones and a low v-cut neck, which hugged my boobs perfectly. She had done my make-up perfectly and my hair was parted in the middle and styled into a wavy pattern.
The doorbell chimed once more, signalling Harry’s arrival.
“Wow he’s right on time,” Daisy said, giving my hair a quick fix. “You better get going, can’t keep the gentleman waiting.
With a final check in the mirror, I grabbed my purse and headed for the door, where Harry was waiting patiently.
I opened the door and greeted him with my brightest smile. His eyes swept over my face and body. “Wow,” He said, sounding breathless. “You’re so lovely.”
“Thank you,” I replied politely, noticing how handsome he looked. His black tuxedo was tailored to perfection and his hair was perfectly styled, he smelled really nice too. “Harry, you’re looking good too.”
He grinned widely. “I had to look my best if I was going to accompany an ethereal beauty like you.”
I chuckled. “You’re exaggerating.”
“No, love. You really have no idea how breathtakingly magnificent you are, dear.”
I blushed at his compliments.
“Shall we?” He said. He smiled widely, offering me his arm.
I took it with a smile. “Thank you, Harry.”
Our table was situated next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving us a good view of the city, and creating an illusion of a life painting.
“This place is beautiful,” I whispered to Harry.
He smiled and nodded. “I’m glad you like it. What wine would you like?” He asks as he picks up the menu.
I thought about it for a second. “Chianti is fine by me.”
He nodded and scanned through it for a minute before handing it to me. “Pick what you like, dear.”
I glance through, deciding to just pick a familiar dish. “I’ll have chicken alfredo pasta.”
“Alright.” He pressed the bell on the table, signalling for a waiter to attend to us.
Almost immediately, a waiter dressed in a black suit approached us. “Good evening,” He said in a thick Italian accent.
“Hi,” Harry replied to the waiter, his eyes never leaving mine. “She’ll have Chianti and I’ll take Barolo, please.”
“Lovely choice,” the waiter said cheerfully. “Anything else?”
“Yes, please. A plate of chicken alfredo pasta for her and I’ll have pasta puttanesca. Please add a serving of Ossobuco.”
As the waiter retreated, I leaned in. “So…” I began, “How did you know my dress and shoe size? You really did great with those.”
Harry’s expression softened but he looked proud of himself. “You must have forgotten but remember when we went on dates to get to know each other? That’s when you told me and I made sure to remember.”
“Oh,” I smiled brightly. “That makes sense.”
We talked a little before the waiter came back with our wine and food. The evening passed in a blur of laughter, good food and nice warm music in the background. Harry usually was a great company, he’s someone I’d have considered a friend if we weren’t engaged.
This would have been the perfect date if I wasn’t constantly distracted by thinking of the right time to tell Harry about ending our relationship.
We sat there for a long time and eventually, the restaurant began to empty. Harry suggested we take a walk outside the building to enjoy the cool night air before he takes me home.
The scent of blooming flowers filled the air as we approached the garden owned by the restaurant. I’m guessing they did this for lovers to have quiet moments which was really thoughtful.
“Can I ask now?” Harry asked, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “I’m sorry if it’s rude to talk about something like that during a date but I’m curious and I think I deserve to know,” He pointed out.
I glanced up at him, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “Sure,” I replied.
“So what happened to your dad’s shares? How didn’t you know that your dad was transferring everything to Ivan, I thought you said Ivan was a friend. Honestly, that was the only reason I invited him to the charity event last time.
Not my lies coming back to bite me in the arse. I cleared my throat. “Well, I guess dad just trusted him to handle things. I think dad was going to tell me before his sudden passing. I’m sure he’d want me to know.” More lies.
“Hmmm.” He frowned. “Well if you’re okay with it, then I am. I don’t think my dad will make a big deal of it since I’ve spoken to him and let him know I’m not interested in the shares anymore.”
“You didn’t really have to, but thank you,” I said sincerely.
As we reached the Victorian-styled gazebo, we fell into a comfortable silence. While my mind raced with thoughts. How do I start? Maybe I should just blurt it out. How would he react? This was harder than I thought, how could I look at the genuine smile on his face and break his heart?”
Daisy’s warning flashed in my mind. Fine, I’ll just put it out there.
“Hey-”
“Sophia-”
We both said at the same time and he chuckled.
“You go first,” He said.
“No, I can’t wait, really,” I insisted.
“Okay.” He blew out a breath. “Sophia, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” His eyes showed everything he was feeling and that made me hate myself more. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
My breath hitched. Fuck, this is it, I already let this go on for a long time. I kept leading him on and now he’s outright confessing his feelings.
“Do you,” he asked again when I didn’t reply.
I cleared the lump in my throat. “I… I suppose it’s possible. I don’t know if I do believe in love at first sight.”
He stepped closer, his hand brushing mine. “Well, I do, Sophia. Because when I first saw you that day at that restaurant, I felt something-a connection, it felt like a strong pull. Maybe I…I It’s foolish, i-insane, but I can’t help it.”
This… this was what I was dreading, I’m such a fool. My heart ached for him. I didn’t deserve this sweet, kind, and gentle soul. If I was a better and sensible woman I’d have jumped at this opportunity, but I was neither of those.
Now is the time I tell him how I feel. “Harry,” I started, my voice shaky. “There’s uh… uhm something I need to say. Something I needed to tell you since.”
He leaned in, his lips brushing my cheek. “Okay?”
I hesitated. The words hung on the edge of my tongue but it felt like my tongue had been tied.
Suddenly a rustling in the bushes caught my attention as a shadow darted past, and I gasped. “Harry, did you see that?” I whispered.
He frowned and looked around us. “See what?”
I peered into the dark trying to catch a glimpse of the shadow again. “I thought- no, I’m sure I saw someone back there, in the bushes. Perhaps we should check it out-”
But Harry was already pulling me into a hug. “Sophia, I’m sure it’s nothing. I don’t want to talk about anyone else tonight. Let’s forget the world and just enjoy our company. Besides, you said you had something you needed to say to me.” He cocked an eyebrow.
I felt uncomfortable, so I subtly pulled out of his embrace. But then the rustling came again, this time I saw a man and my heart raced. I moved forward to scan the garden with Harry right behind me looking worried.
“Did you really see someone?” He asked.
I hesitated a bit. “I think I saw a man. He looked big.”
He grabbed my hand, “Then it’s not safe out here, let’s go home. He’s probably just a thief but I wonder how he must have gotten into the garden.”
“I think he jumped in,” I muttered.
He placed his tuxedo jacket over my shoulders and we walked over to the car park where the valet brought Harry’s car for us.
As he drove me back home, I couldn’t help but think about the garden incident, why I felt like I was being watched and that it wasn’t just some petty thief.
“Hey, everything okay? You seem… distant.” Harry’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I nodded, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, I’m just tired.”
“Is this about the garden incident? I promise you, it’s nothing, you don’t have to be scared. It could even be an over-ambitious reporter trying to get a story on us,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
I forced a smile again. “I’m not thinking about it anymore.”
He reached over with one hand and took mine in it. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“Yes,” I whispered. Finally summoning up the courage to tell him about breaking up. “So Uhmm about what I wanted to-”
A call came in on the car’s Bluetooth, cutting me off.
It was his father.
He casts me an apologetic look. “Sorry, I have to take this.”
“Sure,” I replied.
He nodded, placing his airpods in his ears as he answered the call.
I watched Harry as he spoke to his father, his expression changed and I’m guessing something happened. I decided to look out of the window instead while I half-listened to the muffled conversation.
The weight of guilt pressed down on me as I thought of the best way to tell him once he was done with his call. It needs to be done anyway, sometimes it is better to just rip off the band-aid, and the pain will pass eventually.
As Harry ended the call, I turned to him. Concern and fear, etched on his features.
“Sophia, I’ll drop you off at your place quickly. I need to rush to the hospital, my sister has been admitted.”
“What’s wrong with her,” I asked as concern took away the tension I was feeling.
He looked anxious and worried.”My father didn’t explain properly, he just asked me to be there as soon as possible.”
“Then you need to be on your way already,” I pointed out. “Look, you don’t need to drop me off, just stop here I’ll take Uber home.”
“No, I can’t leave you here,” he protested.
“Trust me, Harry. I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself, I promise.” I pulled out my phone and booked a ride.
“I don’t know how to feel about this,” he grumbled.
“Just trust me. The driver will be here in two minutes.” I showed him my phone.
“Okay,” he agreed, reluctantly.
He parked by the side of the road. I came down at the same time a black SUV I recognized as my ride pulled up in front of his car.
Harry came down and ensured the ride was for me and after, he waved me goodnight with a promise to call when he could and he drove off.
There goes my opportunity to end this charade, I guess.