Chapter 3

Blink.

Blink Blink.

Sophie could have sworn she was hearing things when the strange handsome man invited her to join his friends. Like what in the world is happening? Does she look so out of place that this stranger thinks she is lonely? She managed a tight smile at him in return but her mind is definitely in a state of turmoil.

“ I mean it's fine if you decline, you don't have to come if you don't want to ” The stranger's words contradict what he wants because his Expression is that of a kid trying to get his parents to buy him ice cream. He looked so cute under the dim light that Sophie couldn't even find it in her mind to refuse him.

“ You don't even know me” she blurts out shyly clutching her hand handbag tightly.

“ We can start the night again by introducing each other, I'm Chris and you?” the way he uttered the sentences made something stir in Sophie's tummy. It was alarming but also a nice feeling she want to get lost in. It felt so good and she has never behaved like that in front of a man before.

“ Sophie” she whispered but he heard her.

“ Cute name for a beautiful lady, so will you grant my wish now?'

She could feel warmth making its way back to her neck as she mumbled okay. This man is doing things to her mind, body, and soul and she has no defense against his invasion. Who knows? her mission might be successful through the handsome man or he could be rich enough to be a sugar daddy potential but how is she going to go about it? Everything confused her but she followed him back to the club, passing the crowd of sweaty and drunk people dancing their sorrows out to a private room located upstairs.

The Cold Air conditioner welcomed her already got body immediately after they stepped into the room. There were soft leather seats that were probably so expensive, one of them could pay her entire debt. In front of the seats was a table already occupied with two bottles of champagne and four glasses. Two girls were dancing with each other to the loud music, whining and shaking their waists.

They stopped dancing after seeing Chris, they smiled at him and welcomed him back but ignored Sophie for a reason she doesn't understand. The brunette even gave her a side stink eye, curling her cracked lipstick-thin lips in distaste. The act made Sophie agree with her inner mind that the girl looks not pretty and her expression just highlights the ugliness present on her face. Sophie kept quiet until Chris spoke.

“Ladies this is Sophie, Sophie this is Blair and Debbie” Chris had said warmly but the state of the two ladies made the room hot so Sophie had to fan herself.

“ It is Claire” the blond one hissed.

“ Excuse me” Sophie whispered very confused not knowing what the lady meant by clear. The air conditioner? The music? Her ugly taste in fashion sense? What exactly is clear in the room?

“My name is Claire not Blair” Claire hissed again with enough venom to make Sophie reel backward.

“Apologies Claire, I didn't catch it the first time. Where is Liam?” Thankfully the almighty Chris is still in the room, Sophie used to opportunity to sit down calmly in a way that will not ruin the expensive sofa but also rest her already sore legs. Who knew wearing high heels could be so disastrous?

“ He went to get more drinks I think,” Debbie said nonchalantly picking up a glass of champagne, she sipped the drink while throwing side glances at Sophie who was still wondering how to relate to the strangers she had just met.

It didn't help matters that Chris sat down beside her, invading her nostrils and her Sense with his nice musky scent. The scent sent different images of absolute pornography to her brain and she had to shake her head twice to get rid of them.

“ For the fudging last time, what is wrong with me?” she thought while stealing more glances at the work of art beside her.

“ So Sophie, what will you like to drink?” Chris asked flashing her another of his billion-dollar smile. Screw Mission Find a sugar daddy, she might just offer her soul to this man right there at that moment.

“Hmm I don't drink” she blushed at her reply.

If Chris is surprised by her honesty, he didn't react to it. He just shrugged his shoulders and grabbed his phone to text someone, probably Liam. The guy he mentioned earlier.

and about ten seconds later, the man in question entered the room carrying a half-drunk bottle of Hennessy moving his body to the music. He looked like a model or an actor, really handsome with some boyish features. He looked younger than Chris but Sophie could tell both of them are great friends.

“Hey, ladies!" Liam screeched in a false high-pitched tone while dropping his drink on the table. The ladies smiled at him and screams filled the room as they tried to dance with Liam at the same time.

“Oh, who is this?” finally noticing the stranger in the room. He looked at Sophie curiously and then at Chris but Chris could answer him. Debbie beats him to it.

“ She's some girl Chris brought from downstairs nothing special” Sophie frowns at the statement but kept quiet.

“Sweetheart, if Chris brought a girl in here, trust me that girl is damn special” Liam said making his way to Sophie while the girls rolled their eyes.

“ Do Chrissy? Who is the special lady?”

“ Hmmm, This is Sophie, Sophie meet my idiot best friend Liam,” Chris said awkwardly, Sophie could tell that the entire situation is putting Chris in a tight spot too. Like he is nervous or something but she likes Liam's behavior. She found it cute.

She noticed both of them fits each other as a best friend. While Chris is the quiet, mature, and responsible one, Liam is the total opposite. They have known each other for a very long time.

“ So Chrissy, how on Earth did you manage to get a beautiful girl in just thirty minutes? This is unfair. I couldn't even get a phone number?” Liam whined like a child sitting down beside the two of them.

Sophie stare at him shocked. Who wouldn't want to collect Liam's number? He is goofy, handsome, and fun to be around. Those ladies must be blind.

“ It's meant to happen if you had slept with almost every girl in the city” Chris muttered calmly sipping his drink. Even as he drinks Hennessy out of a champagne glass. He managed to look hot making Sophie gulp in his stead.

“ They used to love me”

“ Grow up Liam. You are getting older” Chris countered him again.

“ But he looks young and handsome” Sophie blurts out before she could stop herself. She blushed in embarrassment.

“ See, Chrissy even little Sophie disagrees with you” Liam's eyes light up with excitement. He did a little happy dance to the annoyance of their two audiences.

“ I'm not little” Sophie whispered but nobody heard.

“ So Sophie, what will you like to drink?” Liam asked sounding almost serious.

“She doesn't drink,” Debbie said mockingly annoying Sophie.

“I have a mouth and I can talk”

Turning to Liam, Sophie smiled sweetly. “ I don't drink”

Chris noticed the shift in the atmosphere but he decided not to comment on it he just watched calmly but was ready to call the two girls out if they ever taunt Sophie again.

“ No Soph. Unfortunately, today is Chrissy's divorce party so everybody drinks” Liam said waving his finger dismissively in her direction.

“ But I don't...”

“ No, we will get you a cocktail” Liam said making his way out of the room. The two ladies followed him muttering something about getting bored already. Sophie's ears manage to catch the B word but she was glad they were gone. She relaxed a little but get tensed up again when she noticed it was just Chris and her in the room now.

Everything got awkward until she cleared her throat which manage to get Chris's attention.

“ So divorce party?” she said slicing the awkward moment in half.

“ Hmmm it's probably embarrassing but I just got out of an eight-year-old marriage” he replied but Sophie could tell he was very happy about the decision.

“ Bad experience?"

“Bad. I'm just glad I'm out”

“ Wait married for eight years? How old are you?” she asked curiously.

“ I am thirty-five” he answered. Her eyes widened in shock. How? He looked ten years younger. He is like fourteen years older than her.

“Hmmm wow, are you serious right now? I thought you were like twenty-six?”

“ So you won't have accepted to come here if you knew I'm an old man?” Chris muses.

“ No, I'm not saying you are old but I didn't expect you to be that old” She scratches her ear embarrassingly.

“But why did you ask me to join you guys? I mean I'm a total stranger and you have a full house already”

If she doesn't know, she has Chris's full attention now. He watches her mouth as she talks finding everything she says amusingly. There is just something about her that he finds interesting that he had to invite her to join him there. She looks so shy and innocent, obviously a newcomer.

“ I don't know, I just liked you at first sight I guess,” he said not taking his eyes off her face. He didn't miss the way she blushed at his answer. Fucking innocent he wished she was his.

“ I don't think I'm that likable at first sight. If haven't noticed I'm a boring person,” she said shyly looking everywhere but him.

“ I don't think so, I find you interesting”

The door suddenly opens, and Liam walks in with the waiter carrying two glasses of sex on the beach. The man set them on the table before stepping out.

“ And my lady Sophie, this is for you.” he passed a glass to Sophie who eyes it uncomfortably.

“ I'm not trying to drug you I promise,” Liam said raising his hand in a mocking surrender. He is drunk now, wonder what he has been doing downstairs.

“ You don't have to drink if you don't want to” Chris assured her taking the drink away from her.

“It's okay, I will just have a dip. I don't want to waste his efforts” Sophie said politely. She grabbed the glass and sip the colorful drink with the straw. It tasted nice and fruity, just like fruit juice but have a lingering bitter taste of the alcohol.

Five sips and an empty glass later, everything in the room is spinning and she gained some confidence she didn't realize exists before.

“ Chris?” she squealed.

“ Yeah”

“ Do you know you look like a Greek god? Like Adonis and the likes?" She blurted out drunkenly.