Whispers of Deceit, Echoes of Love

Chapter 11

“Hello? Soph, are you still there?”

Sophia could hear Eric’s voice over the phone but couldn’t answer nor take her eyes away from the man standing in front of her. She took in his attire, black everything. Black shirt tucked into black slacks with a black leather belt. Black loafers on his feet. His shirt’s sleeves were rolled to his elbows, the muscles underneath it defined.

“Soph, where are you?” Eric’s voice came through. "Tell me right now so I can come and get you!"

Steven reached for the phone in her numb hands and ended the call. “What are you doing here alone?”

Sophia blinked, “No. I am not alone. I am with a friend.”

“A friend?” Steven raised an eyebrow before scanning the entryway. “Does this friend of yours let you do stupid things like drunk calling your ex-boyfriend?”

Sophia bowed her head in shame, “I just wanted to know if he had ever loved me.”

“And how would that have helped you?” Steven folded his massive arms, Sophia’s phone still in his hand.

Sophia bit her lip, “I needed to know; I didn’t think that far.”

Steven studied her for a few more minutes before shaking his head. Taking her arm, he turned her back into the club, walking up the stairs to the VIP section. Getting to the top, he moved to the left and not to the right, which Sophia knew was where she had left her friend Mia.

“No, wait. This isn’t the way to my seat,” Sophia struggled to get Steven to let go of her arm, but it was futile. She was pulled into a room with a door. Opening it, Steven pulled Sophia in before closing the door.

“Get out!” Steven’s authoritative voice did not open for questions, and soon, the young man who was in there was hightailing it out, giving Sophia a curious look. “Sit.”

Sophia walked slowly to the black sofa and sat down. She took in the room, noticing it was an office with a huge mahogany table that had an open laptop in one corner. There were a few screens on the left wall, each showing a different part of the club.

“Here, drink this,” Steven extended a hand that had a glass to Sophia.

“What is it?” Sophia tentatively reached for the glass, sniffing it before looking at the man.

“Water,” Steven replied, his eyes dark. “You need to sober up.”

Sophia shook her head, “Nope. That’s not what I came here for. I need to get drunk and stay drunk for the remainder of the night.”

“Oh really?” Steven crossed his arms across his chest, his muscles bulging. “And why is that?”

Sophia bit her lip, her eyes on the arms. How can an old man like him have such strong-looking arms? She wondered how they would feel if they were wrapped around her. With eyes wide, she wasn’t sure how her thoughts moved in that direction. Placing the glass on the table in front of her, Sophia stood up, “because the main reason for coming out tonight is to make me forget.”

Steven’s face softened a little. He was about to reply when Sophia’s phone, which was on the desk, started ringing. Steven reached for it, frowning when he saw the name on the screen.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Sophia reached for her phone when she saw that Steven was in no way going to hand it over to her.

Steven held the phone higher, his other hand going to Sophia’s shoulder, “You are not going to answer this call.”

“Why? Who is it?” She read the name when Steven turned the phone to her. “Let me talk to him. Maybe-maybe he wants to apologize!”

Steven shook his head, “you are going to thank me for this in the morning, but I will not let you talk to my son.”

“You can’t do that! That’s my phone, hand it over!” Sophia raised to her toes, reaching for her phone. This caused her to be close to Steven, their chests touching. Sophia hesitated a bit, tried to move back, and nearly tripped over her heels. “Aah!” She felt herself falling backward, her hands going out and catching Steven’s shirt.

Steven’s arm went around her waist, pulling her closer to him and breaking her fall. They locked eyes.

Sophia's breath hitched as Steven held her close, the proximity stirring a torrent of sensations. Her skin tingled where they touched, a magnetic pull drawing her towards him. With each heartbeat, a wave of warmth cascaded through her, a heady mix of anxiety and desire.

As their chests pressed together, a rush of electricity coursed through Sophia. Her gaze fixed Steven's face, his eyes a mesmerizing shade of gray, deep and inviting. She felt her resolve waver, a silent plea dancing in her eyes as she struggled for words.

She moistened her lips, the dryness betraying her nerves. Her fingers, clinging to his shirt, revealed her racing pulse, leaving her acutely aware of the heat radiating from his body.

Steven's concern echoed in his husky voice, his arm a reassuring anchor around her waist. Her senses spun as she tried to regain her composure, his nearness causing a flurry of emotions that left her speechless.

Unable to tear her gaze away, she found herself ensnared in a wordless exchange, their unspoken connection intensifying with each passing second. She fought to steady herself, her mind clouded, lost in the moment's intimacy.

The persistent ring of the phone pierced the charged air, yet Steven remained captivated by her. Without breaking their gaze, he deftly answered the call, his attention still firmly fixed on Sophia, a silent promise lingering in the air.

“Oh, thank God, Soph! I have been trying to call y-” Sophia could hear Eric’s frantic voice over the phone.

“Sophia’s busy at the moment,” Steven replied, his eyes not leaving hers.

“Wa-who are you?” Eric’s voice rang loud. He sounded pissed. “Put Sophia on the phone right now!”

“I told you she’s busy.” Steven disconnected the call and placed the phone on the desk. He pulled her deeper into his arms, his eyes flickering between her lips and eyes as if asking for permission. He must have found what he was searching for because, in the next second, his head had lowered, his lips capturing hers in a tentative kiss.

Sophia was frozen. She was battling with the need to push him away and the want to pull him deeper. His lips were so soft, dancing over hers in a coaxing manner. His hands, which were holding her waist, pulled her even closer.

A groan escaped Sophia's lips, allowing Steven to move in even deeper into the kiss.

What was she doing? This was her ex-boyfriend's father she was kissing. Moving her head, she broke the kiss, resting her head on Steven’s shoulder. “I-we can't do this!” She whispered, shaking her head. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her galloping heart.

Steven was quiet, only the tightening of his arms around her told her he heard what she was saying.

Biting her lip, Sophia pushed herself away from him. She could not bring herself to look him in the eye. “I have to go.”

“Sophia” is the only word coming out of the man who still held her. Steven’s voice was hoarse. His body was rigid, as if he was fighting an inner battle with himself.

Shaking her head, Sophia collected her phone and bag and exited the door without looking at him.

She made it to Mia, finding her making out with a dude that she didn't know.

“Mia, I am heading home,” she announced. She could not stay there knowing that Stwven was around.

Mia pushed the guy away and looked at her friend. “You ok? You look flushed, even in this lighting.”

Sophia nodded, “Just feeling tired.”

The guy attacked Mia's neck with kisses, “ok. Let me come with you,” Mia started to get up, pushing the guy away, but Sophia shook her head.

“You stay and enjoy yourself. We will chat tomorrow.” Without waiting for Mia’s reply, Sophia made her way out of the club, taking a deep breath when she finally made it out.

She reached for her phone to call an Uber when a hand went to her arm. “Hey!”