Sophia's hands trembled slightly as she shuffled the papers on her desk, trying to focus. The tension from moments ago still lingered in the air, and she could feel it gnawing at her insides. As Ms. Mary stormed out of Alex's cabin, her anger was palpable, and it caught Ethan's attention.
Ethan's brow furrowed as he watched Ms. Mary leave, her heels clicking furiously against the polished floor. Turning to Sophia, he asked, "When did Ms. Mary enter the boss's cabin?"
Sophia, still trying to mask her own turmoil, shrugged with a nonchalant air. "I don't know," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion.
Ethan looked at her, puzzled by her tone. "What's wrong with you?"
Taking a deep breath, Sophia forced a calmness into her voice. "Nothing. I'm just saying I don't know when she came in. When I brought Mr. Blackwood his breakfast, she was already there."
Ethan gave a slight nod, sensing something was off but choosing not to press further. He returned to his work, while Sophia turned back to hers, though her thoughts were anything but focused.
She couldn't help but replay the scene she had walked in on, the sight of Ms. Mary standing so close to Alex, her hand on his arm. The jealousy and frustration that had flared up were hard to suppress, and it bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
After a few minutes of futile attempts to concentrate, she gave up and glanced at Ethan. "Who is Ms. Mary?" she asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. "I didn't see any appointment with her on Mr. Blackwood's schedule today."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, regarding her thoughtfully before answering. "She's the only child of the FNG Group's chairman, Mr. Jackson. Last year, they sent a marriage proposal for Mr. Blackwood and Ms. Mary. The idea was that, in exchange for the marriage, Mr. Jackson would invest heavily in our company. If that marriage had gone through, we'd likely have eliminated the Langston Group by now."
Sophia felt a tight knot forming in her stomach as she absorbed this information. "But Mr. Blackwood rejected the proposal," Ethan continued. "So, they invested in the Langston Group instead, hoping to pressure him into changing his mind."
Ethan's words hung in the air, heavy with implications. Sophia could only nod in response, her mind racing as she tried to process everything she had just learned.
Sophia's heart raced as doubts consumed her. The thought that Alex might have accepted Ms. Mary's proposal gnawed at her, especially after witnessing how close they had been. The idea of Alex marrying someone else felt like a dagger to her heart. She tried to rationalize it, telling herself that Ms. Mary was beautiful, wealthy, and capable of helping Alex in his business. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, tears continued to fall.
Unable to bear the pain any longer, she rushed to the washroom, her emotions overwhelming her. Inside, she let herself cry freely, her shoulders shaking as she released all the pent-up emotions she had been holding back. After what felt like an eternity, she finally calmed down, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "I have to control myself," she whispered, wiping her tears away. "If he's marrying her, it's for the best. I need to accept it and move on."
But the tears wouldn't stop, and the thought of quitting BW Group and removing Alex from her life seemed like the only way to protect her heart. With this decision made, she steeled herself and headed straight for Alex's cabin.
As she walked in, she saw Alex and Ethan in the middle of a discussion, catching only the words "engagement ring." Her heart sank further. "So I was right," she thought bitterly. "He is marrying Ms. Mary after all."
Alex's eyes immediately fell on Sophia's tear-streaked face. Concern etched into his features, he quickly asked Ethan to leave. "We'll continue this later," Alex said firmly.
Ethan nodded and quietly exited, leaving Alex and Sophia alone. As soon as the door closed, Sophia walked up to Alex's desk, her emotions barely under control. "I want to resign from BW Group," she said, her voice trembling.
Alex was taken aback by her words, the shock clear in his eyes. He stood up and moved towards her, gently offering her a glass of water. "Sophia, drink this and tell me what's wrong," he said, his voice soft with concern.
But Sophia refused the water, her emotions spilling over. "I don't want to work with you anymore. Please, just relieve me from this job," she cried, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.
Alex felt a surge of panic at the thought of losing her. He reached out to console her, but she was inconsolable, sobbing like a child and refusing to listen to anything he said. Her pain was palpable, and it tore at him to see her like this.
Desperate to calm her down, Alex did the only thing he could think of. He gently took her face in his hands, leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
The suddenness of the kiss stunned Sophia, causing her tears to halt. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him, wide-eyed and silent. The warmth of his lips on hers sent a shiver down her spine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Alex gazed into her eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. She looked so vulnerable, so incredibly beautiful with her tear-streaked face. He had kissed her to stop her tears, but now that he had, the desire to kiss her again surged through him, stronger than before.
Without thinking, he leaned in again, capturing her lips in a deeper, more passionate kiss. This time, there was no hesitation, no holding back. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer as his lips moved against hers, conveying all the emotions he had kept buried for so long.
Sophia's mind went blank as she melted into the kiss. The world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in that moment. She could feel the intensity of his emotions, the way he was holding her as if he never wanted to let go.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Alex's eyes searched hers, trying to understand what she was feeling. Sophia, still stunned, couldn't find the words to speak. All she could do was look back at him, her heart pounding in her chest.
Alex gently stroked her cheek, his voice barely above a whisper. "Sophia, I would never marry anyone else. You're the one I love."
His words hit her like a wave, washing over her doubts and fears. The pain she had been feeling began to ease, replaced by a warmth that spread through her chest.
Sophia blinked, tears welling up again, but this time for a different reason. She had thought she had lost him, but now, hearing him say those words, she realized just how much she had misunderstood.
"I… I thought…" she began, her voice trembling.
Alex hushed her gently, pulling her into his arms. "I know," he murmured, holding her close. "But you're wrong, Sophia. It's always been you. It will always be you."
And again, Alex leaned in and kissed her, this time with a fierceness that left no room for doubt. His lips captured hers in a way that was more intense, more passionate than before, as if he was pouring all of his unspoken emotions into that single moment. His hands cradled her face with a possessive tenderness, pulling her even closer, refusing to let her go.
Sophia's heart raced as she felt the full force of his kiss, her own emotions swirling within her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on as if he was her only anchor in a world that had suddenly shifted. This kiss was different—it wasn't just a kiss, it was a declaration, a promise that nothing and no one could come between them.
The world outside ceased to exist as they lost themselves in each other, their lips moving together in a rhythm that spoke of longing, relief, and a love that had been suppressed for far too long. Every touch, every breath they shared seemed to say what words could not: that they were meant for each other, that they had always been meant for each other.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other's as they tried to steady themselves. Alex's eyes were dark with emotion as he gazed at Sophia, his voice a low murmur filled with sincerity and passion. "Sophia, I'm never letting you go."