#140 “You can’t Keep Your Hands off Each Other.”
Alexander and Sophia strolled back to her hotel holding hands, the air buzzed with a newfound connection. Evelyn, already at the front desk sorting out their room, couldn’t contain her excitement upon seeing the couple. Her jubilant reaction was immediate.
“Finally,” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air in triumph. “I knew, I just knew.”
Sophia chuckled at her friend’s enthusiasm, and Alexander wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist, their shared joy evident.
“Look, you can’t keep your hands off each other,” Evelyn teased. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you,” Sophia responded, squeezing Evelyn’s hand in a friendly gesture.
“That went much better than I expected,” Alexander sighed dramatically.
“Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for the past, Alexander, but you’re a good man, and I know you’ll be on your best behavior this time,” Evelyn declared, fixing him with a knowing look.
“Of course. I intend to correct all my mistakes,” Alexander responded.
In the midst of this camaraderie, Sandro joined the group, offering his greetings. Tension crackled between him and Alexander. Alexander harbored resentment for the danger Sandro had inadvertently placed Sophia and Evelyn in.
“Girls, I am very sorry to see you go. And I want to sincerely apologize to you for everything that happened,” Sandro began, addressing the elephant in the room.
Alexander gritted his teeth, trying to conceal his true feelings. He reminded himself that Sandro was Sophia’s friend and Kyle’s cousin.
“I decided to investigate the reasons for all this and found out that a member of my company was involved in dealings with the mafia. I assure you that the necessary measures have already been taken, and he will be punished. I’m most sorry that you had to go through this terrible…” Sandro continued, offering an explanation and an apology.
“Sandro, everything is fine. The important thing is that you have found who is to blame and that we are all fine, “Sophia gracefully responded. “Other than that, we had a lot of fun thanks to you.”
Alexander admired Sophia’s magnanimity, squeezing her waist a little tighter. Sandro’s gaze locked with Alexander’s. The two said nothing, but their reluctance to be next to each other was visible for miles.
“Sophia, before you go, I want to talk,” Sandro said. “Alone.”
“Okay,” Sophia agreed, making an attempt to pull away from Alexander, who resisted.
“Alexander,” Sophia grumbled. “I’ll be five steps away from you. Relax.”
Alexander held his gaze on Sophia’s gorgeous eyes, finally letting her go with a sigh.
“I’ll wait for you out front,” he informed her.
As he walked towards the hotel exit, Evelyn exchanged a few parting words with Sandro.
“Thanks for everything, Sandro. See you soon,” Evelyn said with a warm smile.
“Tell Kyle I said hello,” Sandro added, offering a genuine smile.
“Absolutely,” Evelyn replied.
With that, Sandro and Sophia were left alone. Sandro leaned towards Sophia and that caught her attention.
“I wanted to ask you something,” Sandro said.
“Of course. What’s up?” Sophia asked with a smile.
“Are you Christopher Johnson’s granddaughter?”
Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. How did Sandro know about her grandfather? The revelation caught her off guard. With a hesitant nod, she confirmed, “Yes, he was my grandfather. How did you know?”
Sandro chuckled, his expression shrouded in mystery. “I’ve heard the name from my father,” he confessed.” Your grandfather, Christopher, played a significant role in my family’s business operations. He helped both my father and grandfather immensely.”
Sophia’s surprise deepened. Sophia knew that her grandfather was a respectable farmer and nothing more, but the more time passed the more he surprised her. She wondered if she had ever known anything about him.
“Do you know what they did?” Sophia asked hopefully.
“Unfortunately no. I have not inquired as a child, but I have heard his name.” Sandro admitted. “But his wisdom and support left a lasting impression on my family. I wanted to acknowledge that connection.”
As they stood there, the gravity of the revelation sunk in. Sophia mentally set herself the task of investigating more into her grandfather’s life. His connections apparently extended much further than she had imagined.
Sandro’s gaze lingered on Sophia, a mix of admiration and something more profound. “Goodbye, Sophia,” he said, his words carrying a mysterious undertone.
With a parting glance, Sandro added, ” We’ll meet again.”
As Sophia walked away, Sandro couldn’t help but make a mental note. There was something about her – a magnetic allure that intrigued him. He liked her spirit and the resilience she displayed. The fact that she was with Alexander didn’t deter him; if anything, it fueled a determination not to let her slip away easily.
As soon as Sophia stepped outside the hotel, the chilly evening breeze kissed her face, and the sight of Alexander waiting for her leaning against his limousine made her smile. She wondered when she will ever get used to this extravagance. Evelyn, nervously biting her nails in the car, looked visibly relieved at Sophia’s appearance.
“Is everything alright?” Alexander inquired, his concern evident in his eyes.
“Yes, yes, I just can’t wait to go home,” Sophia replied with a warm smile, appreciating Alexander’s thoughtful gesture.
“Let’s take you home,” Alexander said, sealing his words with a tender kiss.
Sophia couldn’t help but marvel at the effect Alexander had on her. In that brief moment, their lips meeting, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their own enchanting bubble.
After the kiss, Alexander opened the door for Sophia and sat next to her in the back seats. Seeing how worried Evelyn was, Alexander asked the driver to raise the barrier to give them the privacy they needed. Sophia felt a wave of gratitude toward him.
Sophia turned to Evelyn, gently nudging her hand away from her nervous nail-biting. “What’s troubling you, dear?” Sophia asked, sensing her friend’s unease.
“Do you think that once Sandro is involved with the mob, Kyle will be too? “Evelyn voiced her concerns.
Sophia sighed as she realized how serious her best friend’s concern was.
“Now that I think about it, this might be the reason Kyle doesn’t want to talk to me about his past,” Evelyn admitted.
“I think it’s about time you had this conversation,” Sophia advised, her voice gentle. “Don’t judge him, don’t attack him; just calmly talk to him and find out the truth.”
Evelyn pondered Sophia’s words. “Do you think he’ll tell me the truth?”
“You deserve it, and if he wants to keep you, he’s going to have to trust you,” Sophia affirmed, offering support to her friend.
“You’re right,” Evelyn conceded.
The limousine continued its journey, carrying them toward the airport and, eventually, back home.
