#28 “You Can Trust Me.”
Sophia briefly glances at Alexander, attempting to read his emotions, but her main focus remains on the driver navigating the challenging road and weather conditions. With a polite nod, she refrains from probing further or pushing for more information.
Alexander takes a moment to reflect, seemingly contemplating his choice of words about Michael. However, as he begins to speak, his words flow resolutely.
“Let me be clear, Michael is far from being a kind individual,” he confesses, his words deliberate and unwavering. We harbor unresolved conflicts from our history. I strongly advise you to keep your distance from him.”
Recognizing the potential impact of his authoritative delivery, he swiftly interjects, “To put it mildly, I strongly urge you to stay away from him. Believe me when I say it is genuinely in your best interest.”
Sophia shifts her attention from the road to Alexander, offering him a reassuring smile. However, deep down, she knows she won’t be heeding his advice. He is the last person she would ever take advice from.
As her focus returns to the road, Alexander’s concern becomes more transparent. Breaking the silence, he asks, “Is everything okay? You seem… off.”
Sophia takes a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. She appreciates his concern but can’t shake off her emotions entirely. “It’s just the storm,” she replies, her voice steady despite the lingering unease. “I’ll be alright.”
Alexander glances at her, his concern is evident in his eyes. “You don’t have to pretend with me, you know,” he says, his tone softens. “If something is bothering you, you can talk to me.”
Sophia, genuinely touched by his understanding, says, “It’s just… the thunderstorms have always made me a bit uneasy. But I’ll manage.”
Alexander nods in understanding, and they drive in companionable silence for a moment. The rain continues to drum against the car’s roof, providing a rhythmic backdrop to their conversation.
“I appreciate your concern,” Sophia finally adds, her voice softer. “But I’ll be okay. It’s just one of those things, you know?”
“Of course,” Alexander replies, his tone warm. Sophia offers him a grateful smile, touched by his genuine care. But before Sophia can answer, the blinding headlights of an approaching car beam directly into their vehicle. The sudden brightness startles her, and her heart leaps into her throat, pounding with fear.
Instinctively, she reaches for Alexander’s hand, seeking comfort and reassurance amid her growing panic. “I can feel your heart racing,” Alexander says, holding her hand firmly. “Seriously, are you okay?”
Sophia’s voice catches in her throat, and she can’t find the words to respond. She merely shakes her head, holding on tightly to Alexander’s hand, her fingers interlocked with his.
Outside, the rain continues to pour relentlessly, further obscuring their vision. The sound of raindrops on the car roof is drowned out by the thumping of Sophia’s heart, echoing loudly in her ears.
“Just take a deep breath,” Alexander coaches, his voice steady and calming. He gently squeezes her hand as if to remind her she’s not alone in this frightening moment.
Suddenly, another car with its high beam headlights on narrowly misses colliding with them. The vehicle swerves past at the last moment, and Alexander instinctively moves closer to Sophia, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
He holds her close, his touch bringing a sense of warmth and safety. Whispering with a mix of nervousness and concern, he says, “It’s okay. I promise.” Slowly, he pulls back to look into Sophia’s eyes.
Sophia feels a mix of emotions flooding through her fear, vulnerability, and gratitude. She nods, finding her voice again. “Yes, just give me a moment,” she manages to reply, her voice slightly shaky.
Taking a deep breath, she tries to steady her nerves, taking in the scent of rain and the warmth of Alexander’s embrace. Gradually, her heart rate begins to slow, and she starts feeling a sense of calm.
As they continue their journey, the storm outside continues to rage.
As Sophia finds solace in Alexander’s embrace, her racing heart gradually begins to steady, and a sense of calm washes over her. But then, a sudden realization hits her – their position feels overly intimate, especially when she accidentally brushes against Alexander’s solid chest and abs in her flustered state. Feeling a tinge of embarrassment, she awkwardly loosens her grip, creating a subtle but perceptible physical distance between them.
Still concerned, Alexander asks, “Is it the storm? Is it something from your past? Do you have any traumatic memories that the storm might have triggered?”
“No,” Sophia says defiantly, trying to dismiss any suggestion of vulnerability and discussion of her past. “Don’t be ridiculous.” But just as the words escape her lips, a loud clap of thunder rumbles above them, and she instinctively grabs onto Alexander’s arms again for comfort.
A mischievous grin spreads across Alexander’s face as he playfully teases, “Sure, you aren’t bothered by storms at all. That would be ridiculous for anyone to suggest.”
Sophia smiles, despite herself, and admits, “Okay, maybe I have a small fear of thunder.”
As another crack of thunder reverberates through the sky, Alexander can’t resist teasing her further. “I’m surprised that Ms. Johnson actually has a fear of something. It’s nice to know that you’re not totally perfect.”
“I assure you I am not perfect,” Sophia retorts. Alexander continues to playfully poke fun at her, saying, “You know, a great business strategy, for me at least, would be to tell everyone that you’re scared of thunder. That way, they’d all know only to hold business meetings with you when there’s a storm.” He laughs, but Sophia glares at him, obviously irritated and offended.
Seeing her displeasure, Alexander quickly adds, “I’m kidding. Honestly, I’m just teasing you. Just getting back at you a little bit. I promise your secret is safe with me.”
Sophia’s composure, which she had gradually regained, is swiftly replaced by a surge of anger. She turns to Alexander, her eyes flashing with fury, and snaps, “I would expect you not to tell anyone. In fact, I demand that you do not breathe a word of this to anyone.
Taken aback by the intensity of her anger, Alexander raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Hey, hey, I promise I won’t say a thing,” he responds, his voice calm but tinged with concern. “You can trust me.”
