Chapter Ten: A Lingering Moment
As the evening wound down and guests began to filter out of the ballroom, Ethan lingered near the entrance, watching Sophie exit.
That was such a short conversation, he thought, frustration creeping in. I wish we could have talked more. What if I never see her again? The thought gnawed at him. I'll just admire her from a distance… Is that okay? Should I pursue her? Will she be annoyed?
His mind raced as he absently held the wooden compass Sophie had once given him, a memento that felt heavy in his hand. It was a symbol of their shared past, a reminder of a time when things were simpler. After fidgeting for a few minutes, he made a decision.
Bracing himself, he approached Sophie's bodyguards, who stood like sentinels at the exit. "Excuse me," he started, his voice slightly shaky. "Can I talk to her for a moment?"
The bodyguards exchanged glances, clearly hesitant. Just then, Sophie turned back, her expression curious. "It's fine," she said, waving them off. "I know him."
Ethan felt a surge of hope as he stepped closer. "Sophie… I want to talk a lot more with you, please. How can I contact you?"
She looked taken aback, her eyes wide with surprise at his earnestness. It wasn't like him to be this clingy; it was as if the years apart had stripped away their old dynamics and made room for something new.
With a playful smile, Sophie leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "It's 01x-xxxxx. That's my number. It's up to you whether you remember it or not," she said, her tone teasing. There was a thrill in her eyes, a spark of mischief that reminded Ethan of the girl he used to know.
As she turned to leave, a charming smile on her face, Ethan couldn't help but feel flabbergasted. She moved through the crowd with an effortless grace, leaving him standing there, heart racing and mind spinning.
The air buzzed with a mix of disbelief and excitement as he watched her go, realizing that this encounter had opened a door he thought had long since closed. The evening may have ended, but something had shifted, and for the first time in years, he felt a flicker of hope.
The aftermath of the charity event was far from what Sophie had expected. As she sat in her father's office, the atmosphere was thick with tension.
"You leaned OVER A MAN?" her father exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face. "What were you thinking?"
"Calm down, Dad," Sophie replied, rolling her eyes. "I'm not even a celebrity. The public couldn't care less."
"The public isn't what I care about, Sophie," he said, his voice lowering to a serious tone. "It's the other allied families. Sigh They might hear about this and take advantage somehow. Remember, the business sector is more filthy than you think."
Sophie shrugged off his concerns, her mind already shifting back to her routine. "I'll be fine. Just let me handle it," she said, heading toward her office as usual.
As she approached, she noticed her clerk in front of her office, a frustrated look plastered on his face. "I've said it a hundred times: you can't just meet her without a proper reason! You need to book an appointment, sir!" he insisted into the phone.
Sophie couldn't help herself; she snatched the phone from his hand, cutting in with a playful tone. "Okay, you've always said that, but when can you actually arrange a meeting with her?"
As Sophie grabbed the phone, a playful tone danced in her voice. "Oh Ethan, hey! Seems like you really memorized 'my phone number,' huh?"
Ethan paused, momentarily taken aback. "Sophie? Haha, your phone number, huh? THIS IS THE COMPANY'S NUMBER, ISN'T IT?"
Sophie burst into laughter, a sound that warmed his heart. "Yeah, I thought it'd be fun. Plus, I can't even remember my own phone number anyway."
Ethan was stunned. "You didn't remember your phone number?" he asked incredulously.
"Umm, yeah, I change them frequently. Why?" she replied, her tone casual, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Um, then, can I meet you at your office? What time are you free? I'll make it work," Ethan suggested, hopeful.
Sophie giggled, clearly amused. "A doctor, making time for me? That's funny."
"It's fine; I'm pretty sure I can fit it in," he said, determined.
After a brief exchange, they hung up, and Sophie instructed her personal assistant to inform Ethan of her availability. "Just let him know when I'll be free," she said, a smile playing on her lips.
Ethan replied with enthusiasm, but as fate would have it, he couldn't make it at the last minute. This pattern continued for over three months—missed meetings and rescheduled calls, all while they chatted and focused on their respective work.
Despite the missed opportunities to meet, their conversations grew deeper, each text bringing them closer, even if they remained apart physically. They found themselves sharing everything from mundane daily updates to their dreams and aspirations, the connection growing stronger with every message. The world outside felt chaotic, but in their little bubble, they found comfort and familiarity, even amidst the surrounding scandal.