Whispers of Deceit, Echoes of Love

Chapter 18

Steven’s eyes did not lose their intensity as they continued to hold hers captive. The side of his lip perked up, “who says I have a girlfriend?”

Sophia’s eyes widened, “OMG! A boyfriend, then?”

At that, Stven frowned, “what do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s totally fine with me if you are gay and all. You shouldn’t blow up your boyfriend because of me. Shoot!” Her eyes widened even more at her choice of words. “I-I meant you shouldn’t ignore your-”

“Stop,” Steven’s voice was full of authority. That one single word had Sophia stop her charade of words.

Sophia blinked up at him, her heart rate fast.

If it weren’t for the terrified look that she was giving him, Steven would have continued to make her sweat. “I am not in a relationship, and even if I were, she would have known not to disturb me with so many calls and messages,” he emphasized on the word she as he continued looking at her.

“Why?” Sophia looked puzzled.

A small frown appeared on Steven’s face as he tried to understand what she meant, “why, what?”

“Why aren’t you in a relationship?” Sophia asked with a shrug. “I mean, you are hot, have money, and-” her eyes widened as she stopped. Moving away from him, she turned her face away from him. She could not believe that she had said all that aloud.

Steven chuckled as he leaned forward, his face mere inches from her ear, “so you think I am hot, don’t you?”

Sophia closed her eyes in embarrassment. She could not stop the groan of humiliation that escaped her lips. Taking a deep breath, she thought of ways to get herself out of it, “Well, I mean, you do look nice and all for an old guy, and I am sure many women must be throwing themselves at you.”

Steven laughed as he stood up straight and walked back to his chair, “old guy, huh? That’s the first time I have heard that.”

Sophia winced, “I am sorry. But I did say you look good.”

“That you did,” Steven smiled, completely ignoring his phone, which had started firing up once again. “To answer your question, I have not found a woman who intrigues me or holds my interest for more than two minutes. As you so correctly assumed, women do throw themselves on me when they find out who I am,” he shrugged. “I am unable to do anything about that.”

“When Eric first told me about you, I read an article that painted you as a very cold man,” Sophia shook her head. “I was so scared of meeting you. So the day I came here, I met the other man, and he was friendly enough, and in my head, I thought that was you. I couldn’t find pictures of you online.”

Steven nodded, “I like to keep a low profile. I am cold-hearted, especially regarding business, but that comes with the territory.”

Sophia nodded, and her eyes fell on the vibrating phone. “I really think you should get that. Besides, I am about to head home anyway. It’s way past my bedtime.” She stood up and moved to the lounge area where she had left her purse and jacket. “Thank you so much for the dinner, Steven, it really helped.”

Steven helped her shrug into her jacket, his hands going into the pockets again as he led the way out of the house and into her car. “Drive safely. Let me know when you get home.”

“I will,” Sophia smiled as she put her car into gear. With a little wave, she drove off.

Steven watched as the car's taillights disappeared before he walked back into his house. When his phone vibrated, he reached for it. “When a person has ignored all your twelve calls, it means they are not interested in talking to you.”

“But you have picked up my call,” the voice on the other side replied, unapologetic.

“What do you want, Natasha?”

“Is that any way to speak to your ex wife?”

“You are an ex for a reason,” Steven ran his free hand through his hair. “How did you even get my number? I am not listed.”

“I still have a sway,” Natasha replied with a chuckle.

“Of course you do,” Steven replied. “What do you want? I know for a fact this isn’t a social call, and I am kind of busy.”

“Surely I am not interrupting a date. I have it in good words that you have not dated since me.”

“Shows how little you know about my life,” Steven was not about to give her the satisfaction.

"Steven," Natasha's voice, once a soothing melody to his ears, now sent shivers down his spine.

"What do you want, Natasha?" Steven repeated, his tone was cold, devoid of any warmth that might have once existed between them.

"I was thinking... maybe we could meet up," Natasha suggested tentatively.

Steven scoffed, bitterness lacing his words, "Meet up? For old time's sake, is that it?"

A pause hung in the air as Natasha hesitated before responding, "Well, yes. I thought it might be nice to talk, to catch up."

"Talk? Catch up?" Steven repeated mockingly, "You're the one who walked away, Natasha. You don't get to waltz back in whenever it suits you."

"Steven, please," Natasha pleaded, her voice hinting desperation. "I just want to bury the hatchet. For Eric's sake, if nothing else."

A cynical laugh escaped Steven's lips, "For Eric's sake? That's rich coming from you. My son doesn’t really talk to me because of you, blaming me for your inability to keep your legs closed."

Natasha sighed, frustration edging into her tone, "You don’t have to be so rude about it. He's old enough to make his own choices, and if he doesn't want to talk to you, that's his decision."

Steven's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, "Your decision poisoned his mind against me, Natasha. Don't pretend otherwise."

"I did no such thing!" Natasha snapped back, her patience wearing thin. "But regardless, Eric is our son, and he needs both of us in his life. Can't we put our differences aside for his sake?"

Steven's laughter was devoid of humor, "Oh, now it's about Eric? Convenient. If you really care about him, talk to him directly. I won't be your messenger."

A tense silence settled between them, the crackling of the fire serving as a stark reminder of the heated exchange. Natasha took a deep breath, attempting to regain control of the conversation.

"I know we've had our issues, Steven," she began cautiously, "but I think it's time to move past them. For Eric's sake and ours."

Steven leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he mused, "Move past them? You destroyed our family, Natasha. You left without a second thought, and now you want to stroll back in as if nothing happened."

"I made mistakes, Steven. We both did," Natasha admitted, her voice softer now. "But dwelling on the past won't change anything. Can't we find a way to coexist, to be civil for Eric?"

"No, Natasha, we can't," Steven replied bluntly. "I won't let you back into my life. I won't let you hurt me again."

Natasha's tone turned pleading, "Steven, please, I miss you. I miss what we had."

A bitter smile played on Steven's lips, "You miss what you had, maybe. I've moved on. I've rebuilt my life without you."

The line crackled with tension as Natasha absorbed his words. The realization that Steven had found a way to heal without her cut through her defenses.

"I'm not the same person I was back then," Natasha whispered, her voice laden with regret. "Can't we at least try to be friends, for Eric?"

Steven shook his head, a bitter chuckle escaping him, "Friends? No, Natasha. You made your choice, and now you have to live with it. I won't be a pawn in your game of redemption."

Natasha fell silent, and Steven could almost picture the defeat on her face. The unresolved echoes of their past lingered in the air, a painful reminder of what once was.

"Goodbye, Natasha," Steven said coldly, ending the call before she could utter another word.

He sat in silence, the warmth of his home unable to dispel the coldness in his heart. The chapter with Natasha had closed long ago, and he had no intention of reopening it.