CHAPTER TWO: INTRODUCTION AND CONFESSION

Andrew pulled over in front of the address Sophia had texted him earlier that day. He alighted from the car and leaned on it while he dug his hands inside his tuxedo pocket and brought out his phone. After some minutes of typing on his phone, he put the phone back in his pocket and took the moment to admire the duplex through his shades.

He crossed his hand to his chest, nodding while roaming his eyes around the white coloured house and how the house is beautifully decorated. When his eyes roamed back to the entrance of the house he saw Sophia stepping out, elegantly dressed. With arched brows, he took off his shades to be sure she's the same woman he has met on two different occasions and also at the grocery store. For some minutes he was lost staring at her with his mouth agape that he didn't notice her waving at him.

Sophia was wearing a glittering silver gown that matches with her purse, her hair was packed in a messy bun. She had a black heels on and a slight make up, which made her look more stunning. Andrew came out of his dumbstruck when he smelled her cologne which had filled his nostril.

"Hi, good evening," she greeted with a smile revealing her tiny teeth.

"Is this really you, Sophia?." He asked instead.

"If this is you, then I don't know the right word to use to describe how astonishing you look." He added almost immediately, earning him another smile from Sophia. He opened the door of the car for her, and Sophia muttered a thank you before Andrew closed the door.

"So where are we going?" Sophia asked on their way to wherever he was driving them to.

"It's one of the best restaurants I know," he replied and glanced at her lips. He bit his bottom lip to avoid himself from saying what was on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to ask her if he could kiss her because her lips were so tempting that each time he looked at her he wished it was her lips that he's kissing.

"Okay, I hope it will be worth your praise." Sophia said before looking out of the window to distract herself from locking eyes with him. It was not her first time going out on a date with a man, but she could confirm that it was her first time developing a high anxiety. She has caught Andrew stealing glances at her countless times, and the more he looks at her, or meets his eyes, the more anxious she gets.

"Believe me, it is worth it," Andrew said, making Sophia turn her head from the window and look at him. She looked away instantly, not without nodding her head.

"Is this the restaurant?Sophia asked like someone who was surprised, as Andrew stopped the car in front of a restaurant.

"Yes, you don't like it?" He asked with a concerned voice, giving her all his attention.

"I can turn back and go to your preferred place," he added and was ready to say more but Sophia chipped in by saying.

"No, it's okay. It is really a nice place." She confirmed not wanting to mention to him that she's actually familiar with the restaurant, in fact she had to agree with him at that moment that it's one of the best restaurants in the city. After opening the door for Sophia to come down, Andrew offers her his hand which she places hers on and they both walk hand in hand into the restaurant.

Sophia was looking around as they walked into the restaurant, she's more than familiar with the restaurant, she even had friends among the staff. To her surprise, none of the workers greeted her like they used to, they only smiled at her and returned back to doing their work. She was way more than relieved because she doesn't want Andrew to know she's a regular customer there, even more than a customer.

"Should i go first?," Andrew asked about a minute after they settled down.

"Sure, tell anything and everything about you" Sophia grinned while resting her two hands on the table.

"Well, there's not much to know about me. I inherited the company I'm running now from my father, he was and still is my role model....."

"I'm Sorry to interrupt your discussion, I can see you'll both have a long talk and you will need something to keep your mouth busy while talking, so I'm here to take your order." Sophia heard the waiter whose voice sounds familiar said, and when she looked up at the waiter, it was whom she had presumed it to be.

She huffed before throwing a questioning look at the waiter who was busy smiling at her. Andrew requested for the menu and he passed it to Sophia after he was done making his order.

"Asshole," Sophia cursed under her breath as the waiter took their order and left. Andrew was talking again when the waiter returned and placed their orders before them. Sophia saw a tiny paper inside the tray and unwrapped it by making sure Andrew didn't notice what she was doing. She lowered her head to hide her smile when she read the content that was written in the paper.

"I DON'T WANT TO RUIN YOUR DATE, MAKE SURE YOU GET LAID. HE WILL BE A GOOD FUCKER"

She shook her head before squeezing the paper and tossing it to the side. It was then it dawned on her that the workers not greeting her playfully like they used to was a warning from their boss. Did she know that it was her restaurant that they were coming to, or did she have everything planned the moment she saw them come out of the car? Those are the questions Sophia reserved to ask her best friend, who even went to the extreme of dressing as a waiter just to pull her legs.

Did her workers not wonder why their boss was in a waiter's clothes and... Florence must answer all her questions to her satisfaction, if not, she's going to strangle her till she's begging to be spared. Sophia thought to herself as Andrew continued telling him more about himself.

"So your favorite color is white?," Andrew asked, dropping his spoon on the table while chewing the food he just put inside his mouth.

"Not really, I'm a multi coloured person" she answered while also dropping her spoon.

"Oh wow, it's my first time hearing someone say that, and that makes you unique." Andrew grinned and Sophia smiled in return.

"So your turn," he added while adjusting himself on his seat.

"My middle name is Lauretta which was given to me by my late mom, who died when I was two years old. My father refused to marry another wife and was taking care of me by himself." She said and paused looking away from Andrew whom she had her eyes on the whole time she was talking.

Andrew saw the change in her mood, he lifted his hand that was resting on his thighs and placed it on Sophia hand that was on the table, rubbing it gently. That got Sophia's attention back to him.

"He's my world and my everything, he's the best father and the best man I know in my life. I wanted to make him proud, that is the only proof for him to believe that I'm really grateful for him being my father and every sacrifice he has made for me." There was another pause as Sophia closed her eyes to prevent it from the tears that's threatening to fall from it.

Andrew didn't say anything to her for that moment of silence between them, he just kept rubbing her knuckles and was only staring at her and how she's trying not to break down in tears. She sighed heavily before opening her closed eyes.

"If he's here I'm sure he'll be proud of me, but death snatched him away from me..

"He will definitely be proud of you wherever he is now, I'm sorry about that." He stood up from his seat and also helped Sophia up before hugging her so tight to himself. Sophia wrapped her hands around him and rested her head on his shoulder. It is what she needed, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to control her tears if Andrew hadn't hugged her. His hug was really comforting and he smelled nice.

They both sat down after they disengaged from the hug and Sophia muttered a thank you. After talking for a little while they both decided to take their leave, when Andrew asked for their bill from the waiter he signaled to which was different from who served them, the waiter said they shouldn't worry that their bills had been taken care of.

Andrew was wondering who and how, but Sophia already knew they were not going to pay a dime since Florence was in the restaurant.

"I wondered who took care of our bill, do you have any idea?Andrew asked immediately as they settled down inside the car and were about to start the car. Sophia feels he needs to know because he's still going to meet her best friend one day, that is if he will want them to keep what they are doing going. Sophia really wants it to get going because Andrew looks cool and she's certain she likes him.

"It was the waiter, She's my best friend and also the owner of the restaurant." Sophia Answered as they drove out of the restaurant.

"Are you for real Sophia?," Andrew asked with surprise written all over his voice.

"I'm serious, don't mind Florence, she's an asshole but still my best friend." Sophia replied smiling at Andrew who still seemed taken aback by what Sophia just told him. They were both talking about other things and would laugh at anything they say that's funny. They were getting close to Sophia's house when Andrew asked Sophia.

"What is your biggest fear?"

"Becoming a stepmother, that's my biggest fear." She answered simply and Andrew felt a sting in his heart. For a second, it felt like he stopped breathing. He didn't say anything afterward or bother to ask her why she's scared of becoming a stepmother.

"I really enjoy my day with you and I look forward to having more of it." Andrew said as he stopped the car in front of Sophia house, the exact spot where he had parked it earlier. Sophia opened her mouth to reply to him but it was his lips that met hers. She smiled between the kiss and wondered why it took him so long before he made the move. Only God knows how long she had resisted the urge to grab his face and kiss those pink and tempting lips of his.

She wrapped a hand around his neck and opened her mouth for him to explore. Andrew wished he could go further than that, he wished he could lay her down there inside the car, with him on top of her to have a more better taste of her lips, but he knew it's a step at a time

"Your lips are soft and taste better than they look." He grinned at Sophia who had her face reddened from blush. After they bade their self goodbye and Sophia alighted from the car, Andrew leaned back on his seat and remembered what Sophia had said earlier. Her biggest fear is becoming a stepmother but he loves her, he really loves and wouldn't want to hurt her.