Ivan’s POV:
*I love you, arsehole*
My heart almost stopped at her sleepy, whispered confession. I am sure she wouldn’t know she said that to me by the time she woke up in the morning.
But as for me? I was a mess of emotions. I had suspected she had feelings for me…but I wasn’t sure.
Even though I wanted her for myself, I knew I didn’t deserve her. I’ve never been so conflicted in my life.
And love? No one has ever said that to me apart from my family. My chest felt funny as I thought of it over and over.
I glanced at her sleeping form.
Fuck, she’s so beautiful and she’s mine.
Sighing, I drew the blanket over us and pulled her closer to my arms and she snuggled in like she belonged there. And she did, she belongs nowhere else but my arms.
The spot beside me was empty and cold, I opened my eyes, sitting up quickly and truly, Sophia was nowhere to be seen.
My chest felt tight. I searched for my phone so I could give her a call when she came running out of the bathroom in a towel looking flushed, her hair dishevelled.
Relief washed over me at the fact that she was still here.
“Morning,” I said, my voice still husky and deep from sleep.
She paused and her eyes landed on me like she’d just realized I’d woken up. “Morning?” She said, sarcasm evident in her voice. “It’s well past noon, Ivan and I’m fucked.”
My brows shot up in surprise and I picked up my phone to check the time.
2:51 pm.
Shit.
I haven’t woken up this late in such a long time. But what is the big deal?
“So why are you restless? So what if it’s past noon?”
She let out a long sigh like I’d exasperated her. Sometimes, I do not understand her. One minute she acts like she can’t get enough of me and the next she’s trying to bite my head off. Well, I guess that’s what makes me attracted to her.
“Unlike you, I had an important meeting today, plus I was supposed to do the fake date thing with Harry by 12:30 pm. I’ve got several missed calls from him and his team. They must think I’m not serious,” she explained, moving around the hotel room like she was searching for something.
I didn’t like the sound of that at all, I could already feel my chest squeeze with jealousy and anger that I was struggling to contain. “A date with Harry?” I gritted out.
Sophia stopped in her tracks, turning to face me with an exasperated expression. “Don’t even start,” she warned. “You already agreed to our arrangement, Ivan. It will be over soon enough.”
She was right I already agreed to this and it was her life but that didn’t mean I was okay with it. I need to call and ask Sid if he’s found any dirt on ‘Prince Charming’ so Sophia stops trusting him too easily. I refuse to believe he is so perfect.
I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the surge of possessiveness rising within me. “Right, it’s just fake,” I said, trying to keep my tone steady. I stood up from the bed, grabbing a silk robe.
Her gaze softens. “I-”
The shrill sound of a phone ringing interrupts her, and she moves quickly to the bedside table to grab her phone. She glanced at the caller ID and took in a deep breath before answering.
“Daisy-”
The person on the other end doesn’t let her finish, I guess.
“It’s not like that?” Sophia protested, looking frustrated.
I didn’t like that someone was making her feel this way. I wanted to take that phone out of her hand and make sure she didn’t answer any more phone calls, but I knew Sophia would only get angry with me. So I stalk off to the bathroom instead.
After I brushed my teeth and showered, I walked back to the bedroom and discovered that Sophia had gone for real this time.
Sighing, I picked up my phone. And there’s a text from her.
Sophia: Sorry, I left in a hurry without saying goodbye. I really had to leave. I will give you a call when I get settled.
I quickly type out a reply.
Me: Okay, I will be expecting your call.
I exited the messaging app and searched for Sid’s number on my call long and hit the dial button.
I paced the room as I waited for Sid to pick up. He should have something on Harry by now if my instincts were right.
Sophia’s POV
After apologising to Harry for a millionth time, because we had to reschedule our ‘date’, I let him drop me off at work.
I needed to get important information from Rosie and see how to reschedule the meeting I’d missed.
Sigh, I kind of miss Sasha now, if only she didn’t need to return to Norway.
After I was done reviewing some paperwork, I got my things ready to leave when there was a soft knock on my door.
“Come in,” I called.
Rosie walks in.
“Yes?” I asked impatiently.
“Your friend Daisy is here to see you,” she answered.
“Daisy?” She rarely comes to the company. And after having my arse chewed out by her earlier I wasn’t sure I was ready for any more of her lectures and nagging. Earlier, when she called she had already done enough of that because she couldn’t get through to me and Harry had called her, asking about me, sounding worried. I didn’t need her to go all ‘mom’ on me again.
“Send her in,” I said instead.
She nodded and exited my office and Daisy walked in almost immediately.
“I thought you didn’t like coming here,” I said almost immediately.
She just shrugged and plopped down on the couch. “Can’t I see my best friend whenever I want?”
I scoffed. “Cut that shit out, we both know why you’re here.”
She rolled her eyes but said nothing and I resumed arranging my stuff.
But halfway through, I could literally feel Daisy’s eyes burn into my skin.
“Stop staring at me like that,” I hissed.
“What do you mean?” She asked, feigning innocence.
I let out a sigh. “You know what I mean, babes.”
She blew out a breath. “You love him.”
Blood rushed to my ears as the room spun. “What?” I whispered.
She rolled her eyes. “You heard me, Soph. You love Ivan.”
I stood there frozen as Daisy’s words hung in the air. Her words had cut me off guard, absolutely not what I was expecting her to say.
I shook my head, trying to regain my composure. I really didn’t want Daisy to know all that or how deep I’d fallen for Ivan. Maybe she’s just guessing and if I acted indifferent she’d drop it.
“Daisy, I don’t have time for this,” I said, my voice sounding more irritated than I intended. “I have to go home and get some rest.”
“Sure,” she said, standing up and walking over to my desk. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m right.”
“Right about what?” I retorted.
She scoffs. “You are in love with Ivan and that is the truth. See how he makes you act. One minute you are upset with him and the next you are in his bed. He took the most important thing to you and you still run to him whenever he calls. If that isn’t proof enough that you love him then I don’t know what else is!”
I swallowed hard, averting my gaze, and looking down at the papers in my hands like they were the most fascinating items I ever saw. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I muttered.
“And that is fine by me,” she said, her voice now softer than before. “We can always talk about this when you are ready to do so. I was just sad you hid it from me-from me and Nick. And I had to figure it out.”
“I was scared, okay?” My voice shook. “I knew how you felt about Ivan and then I went ahead and fell for him. I didn’t want you to judge me…judge me for something I have no control over and I beat myself up for it.” A tear slipped from my eye.
Hurt flashed in her eyes as she gave me an apologetic look. “I-I, fuck, Sophia.” She rounded my desk, embracing me. I burst into an uncontrollable sob.
Fuck, why was I being emotional?
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she whispered, rubbing her hand on my back. “I was just looking out for you, I would never judge you, I promise, never.” She pulled back and her eyes met mine and I saw the sincerity in her eyes.
“It’s fine,” I said.
She shook her head. “No, sweetheart. It’s not, I’m supposed to be your best friend, your safe space, but I kept pushing you away instead of understanding you and I’m sorry.”
I sniffled. “You are not mad at me anymore?” My voice was small, almost like a whisper.
“Not at all,” she reassured me, wiping the tears on my face. “But does he know you love him?”
“No,” I shook my head. “I haven’t told him.”
“Why? What do you plan to do?”
I blew out a breath. “I don’t know how he feels about me and I certainly don’t know what to do with these feelings, I’m scared if I tell him, he’ll push me away. Ivan doesn’t like relationships.”
“Do you want a relationship with him?” She asked carefully.
“Yes,” I confessed. “I mean not at first, I didn’t want that but now I do,” I added quickly.
“Don’t worry, we will figure something out. First, we have to find out how Ivan feels about you,” she said.
“Okay… but how? Ivan is complicated,” I pointed out.
“Trust me, when a man has feelings for you, you’ll know. If he isn’t verbal about it, his actions will show it, pay attention to his actions,” Daisy explained.
My mind moved back to our date, he’d be so sweet and caring. Isn’t that a sign that he likes me, even just a little bit? I shook my head. Do not assume, Sophia, I thought to myself.
I needed to ask Daisy one more thing. “You don’t think I’m crazy for loving and wanting Ivan for myself, after all he’s done to me?”
She chuckled. “Oh, I do think you are crazy, sweetheart. But love knows no bounds and if he is who you want, you have my support and I’m sure you have Nick’s too.”
And that’s all I want, the love and support of the two most important people in my life. Nothing else mattered as long as they were by my side forever.