5. Lunch

Tristan : [Sophia, are you resting?]

Tristan : [I happen to be not far from your agency location. Do you mind if I take you to lunch?]

Sophia : [Hi. I'm currently relaxed. Of course, I don't care]

Tristan : [Then get ready. Maybe in five minutes I will arrive at the location]

Sophia : [OK. I'll be waiting for you in the lobby].

Tristan smiled as he watched the short messages he had just sent. Right at the last meeting between him and Sophia, he quickly got the beautiful woman's cellphone number.

"Thank you, Tristan. You went to the trouble of walking me to the apartment." Sophia said as she unbuckled the seat belt around her body. After wholly detaching, the woman grabbed her shopper bag in the back seat.

"You're welcome. There's no need to hesitate Sophia. I'm just doing what a gentleman should do."

Sophia laughed. She was amused by what she had just heard. This, of course, caught Tristan's attention.

"Why are you even laughing? Is there anything funny?"

Sophia shook her head hastily. A sweet smile still etched beautifully on her face.

"No. I was just imagining how many women you've seduced with this sweet attitude."

Tristan's brow furrowed deeply. Pointing his index finger, the man immediately pointed at his face.

"I seduce a lot of women? Oh my goodness, Sophia. I'm not a man who likes to spit sweet words to all the women I know," he said with a witty smile.

"You sure?" Sophia's face had an expression of doubt. Her blue beads twitched, searching for any lies that might be tucked away in Tristan's pair of blue dots.

"What are you looking at, Sophia? You doubt what I'm saying?" Tristan scolds when she realizes that Sophia is seriously looking at his face.

"I just wanted to make sure you were serious or bragging."

A smile was still growing on Tristan's handsome face. The man turned his seat to face Sophia directly. When he was comfortable, he then spoke again. It is necessary to clarify this one thing.

"If you like watching television or gossip shows, it's Edward Oliviera, not Tristan Quartararo, who always appears in the media."

While chuckling softly, Sophia agreed to the man's words next to her. What Tristan said was true. So far, what is often hot news is Edward's glamorous life and likes to change partners.

Meanwhile, Tristan is mostly reported in business affairs and all the achievements he can get. "I guess I really have to believe you."

Hearing that, Tristan laughed softly again. Not long after, Sophia said goodbye to get out of the car.

"Thank you again for your kind heart for taking me home. I hope we can meet again another time."

Tristan nodded in agreement. "Of course. But by the way, the next time I take you out to lunch or dinner, would you mind?"

"Sure. Why, not?"

Sophia answered without hesitation. After all, according to him, Tristan is a good and polite person. There was no reason to refuse the man's invitation.

"OK. If I have free time I'll call and treat you to a meal."

Hearing Tristan's words on this one, Sophia's eyes immediately narrowed.

"Is this some kind of mode of asking for a cell phone number?"

The man shyly nodded. "If you do not mind."

Sophia then reached into her purse from the bag she was carrying. She took out a business card and handed it to Tristan.

"Here's my business card along with my cell phone number. Please write it down and keep it safe. You can call me anytime."

Since that night, Tristan has occasionally contacted Sophia, even though she only greeted the woman via text message. And it was only today that he dared to invite us to go out to lunch together directly.

Tristan thought he should approach Sophia as naturally as possible. Slowly attracting attention, creating a comfortable and deep impression that will make the woman never forget what she did.

"Hi, sorry if I kept you waiting."

Lowering the car window slightly, Tristan immediately greeted Sophia. The woman seemed to be waiting for him directly right in front of the lobby of the agency building.

"It's OK."

Sophia then entered and sat quietly beside Tristan. Let the man take him to a restaurant to have lunch together.

"I didn't expect you to actually invite me to have lunch together," Sophia scolded when the two of them arrived and were choosing the menu to eat.

Tristan turned. The man smiled. "You thought I was just making small talk before?"

Sophia shrugged her shoulders. "I told you, who knows you're just a mode because you want to ask for my cell phone number."

Tristan smiled again. I don't know how many smiles he gave to look cute in front of Sophia. "But the proof is I'm not like that, right? I told you too, I don't have the talent to be a playboy, Sophia."

"OK... OK..." Sophia giggled, amused at Tristan's expression. "From now on, I'll learn to trust that you're not a playboy like Edward."

The two of them then laughed together. Get into the conversation. She was exchanging stories while enjoying the lunch they had ordered.

Sophia needs to admit that Tristan is a fun person to talk to. Broadminded. Even understand almost all the topics that Sophia brings up. There was a bit of amazement in his heart.

"After this do you want me to take you back to work or straight back to the apartment?" asked Tristan when the two of them had finished their lunch.

Sophia glanced at the clock in her hand, and it was already one in the afternoon. That means she has to go back to the agency building to continue her work.

"I still have one more photo shoot. Today I collaborated with Tita, your best friend's lover," she said.

"Then, I'll take you right now so it's not too late."

Sophia didn't refuse. She chose to get up from her seat and followed Tristan's steps toward the restaurant parking area. Going down the stairs to the car, Sophia suddenly slipped, walking a little hastily. Luckily, Tristan, right behind him, immediately held the woman's body so she wouldn't fall.

"Sophia, are you OK?" Tristan shouted while holding Sophia's body.

"I'm fine," the woman replied confidently.

However, when she was about to step back, Sophia reflexively screamed. There was an excruciating pain that ran through her right leg.

"Sophia, are you OK?"

Sophia grimaced. The look on her face was that of someone who was in pain. She didn't know what's going on with her leg. "I don't know. My leg hurts a lot," she said, grinning.

Tristan, without much to say, immediately looked down. He was grabbing Sophia's right leg as if checking something there. "Your legs look red. Can't you walk at all?"

Sophia slowly raised her right leg. She was trying to check if he could step back. At least to Tristan's car, probably less than 50 meters from where he was standing.

"Ouch!" Once again, Sophia screeched. The pain in his legs was utterly intolerable.

"I think I sprained my leg."

Seeing the woman next to her groaning in pain, without asking for permission again, Tristan grabbed Sophia's body. Seconds later, he carried her carefully to the car.

Of course, what Tristan did make Sophia gasp. She never imagined that Tristan would care for her so much.

"You shouldn't have bothered to carry me," Sophia scolded as she settled into the driver's seat.

"How could I let you walk alone, while your legs are sore like now," said Tristan in a worried tone. "In that case, I'll take you to the hospital to see if the pain is serious or not." Sophia shook her head. She refused Arsene's offer, this time to take her to the hospital.

After all, Sophia believes that her leg can heal independently without being treated by any doctor. "No need. Just take me to the apartment. I just need some rest."

Tristan was silent for a moment. He seemed to be considering whether to obey Sophia's words or keep insisting on taking the woman to the hospital.

"I'm fine," Sophia said once again when she saw Tristan's worried expression. "You don't have to worry so much."

Tristan finally nodded, then complied with Sophia's request. Even though there was a feeling of doubt, he still couldn't force his will on the woman.

"OK, then I'll take you home right now."

Then Tristan helped Sophia fasten her seat belt. Pulling the hook, then looping it carefully around the woman's body. Being so close to Tristan made Sophia feel breathless.

Not to mention the citrus woody scent of the perfume that Tristan wears wafting sharply to disturb the sense of smell. It felt like he wanted to lean on Tristan's body to take a deep breath of the perfume.

Why does this man smell so good, he thought. While Tristan was focused on driving, Oliva seemed to rub his chest once in a while. Trying to seduce his crazed heartbeat to return to a normal beat.

But unfortunately, the heart seemed to refuse to cooperate. Still beating so fast that it overwhelmed Sophia. "Oh my heart, cooperate. If this continues, I might die suddenly by you."

***

After taking Sophia home, Tristan did not immediately return to the office. The man turned the wheel to meet his friends gathered in one of the cafes in the middle of London.

It has become a routine schedule for all of them. Every weekend, they will get together for a while, even if it's to eat lunch or dinner together.

"Sorry I'm a little late." The three men who were talking spontaneously turned their heads simultaneously. Edward immediately patted the sofa's surface he was sitting on, asking Tristan to join him and sit next to him immediately.

"Not really. We just got here," Nicholas replied, taking a sip of the caramel frappuccino. "What are you guys discussing? From the front I see how fun it is?" asked Tristan curiously. He took a sip of the Raspberry Blackcurrent that Edward had ordered. His best friend knew what kind of drink or food he liked the most.

"We're talking about valentines," Jacob replied.

"Valentines?" Tristan repeated as he turned to the oriental-looking man.

"Isn't that a long time ago?"

"Yeah, still a month to go." Jacob replied. "It's just that, we are discussing what interesting gifts to give to each partner. As you know, Tita and Claire already have a lot of luxury items. That's why, we wanted to give something unusual."

Tristan nodded in understanding. This time the man's gaze shifted to the figure of Edward, who had been sitting quietly next to him.

"What about yourself, which woman this time are you going to go on a date abroad?" investigate Tristan.

"It's not that you always act the same. Always bring your date to go on vacation together, hmmm?"

"Edward isn't going on vacation this time," interjected Nicholas as if he knew best.

"Oh, yes? Then what will this playboy do?"

"Edward wants to propose to someone."

Hearing Nicholas's answer, Tristan immediately gasped. He did not know about this one news. As he recalled, the man did not want to commit or have a serious relationship before he turned 30. Then, who is the woman who managed to change the mind of Edward Oliviera?

"You want to propose to your lover? Who?" Tristan's expression was that of a confused person. "It's not serious, is it?"

When asked that, Edward just smiled lopsidedly. The man didn't deny what his best friend said in the slightest. Without hesitation and enthusiastically told her wishes.

"I want to propose to Sophia Walters on Valentine's Day next month."

Tristan immediately pulled his face in. "Huh? Sophia Walters? Are you really sure?"

Edward nodded in response. This expression made Tristan ask another question.

"Oh come on, Edward. You don't even know her. Are you sure she feels the same way as you?"

Edward smiled again. He realized that his best friend would doubt this news.

"Out of the many women I've been close to and dated, for some reason I feel like Sophia is the one that fits my personality the best."

"Gosh! You even say that to all women, Ed," Nicholas glared, not accepting his friend's words that seemed to be boasting.

"I'm serious, Nicholas Alistair. This time I'm really serious. Sophia is completely different from most other women. She is so special. There are so many similarities between the two of us that make me feel comfortable and don't want to be away from her. been separated for a long time," he said at length.

"You're hyperbole. You're exaggerating, Edward Oliviera." Again, Nicholas sneered at his best friend.

"So you really want to propose to Sophia? I mean are you sure that woman has the same feelings as you?" Tristan resumed his delayed question.

"I mean it," Edward answered quickly. "I also feel that Sophia has the same feelings as me." feeling the doubtful expression that did not fade from Tristan's face, Edward immediately reached out his hand.

He was gently patting the shoulder of the man next to him while chanting words that might be able to relieve the anxiety that arose. "No need to worry. Just pray that my good intentions can be carried out according to what I expect."

Tristan nodded slowly. The man awkwardly threw a hug toward his best friend.

"Yeah, I'll always wish you the best, Ed."

"I even pray that you are able to meet a woman who really fits and is good for you. Not a murderous child like Sophia. That's why I have to act fast before it's too late," thought Tristan.

After breaking the hug, they continued to chat. At the same time, Tristan seemed a lot silent. He had many plans in mind right now. Her target, for now, was only one, to get Sophia's attention as much as possible so she could stay away from Edward. Of course, he didn't want her to have a serious relationship with a man he considered his brother. Will never!