Chapter 141 - Getting closer (4)

Sophia got her phone with an intention to call Felix and saw notification on the screen: five unread messages. Sophia smiled, 'It must be from Felix.'

When she unlocked her phone, her face dropped. Messages are from Mark.

[Mark]: "Did you go to bed?"

[Mark]: "How is the weather in NY?"

[Mark]: "I see from reports that you are making a great progress there."

[Mark]: "I hope you are not working too much. Call me when you get a chance."

[Mark]: "When will you be back? I miss you."

Sophia felt a sour taste in the back of her throat. She scrolled messages on the screen and glanced at hundreds of messages Mark sent since she came to New York office. She didn't reply to any of them.

Sophia sighed. No matter what is happening right now, it's difficult to erase last six years from her mind. Those are six years which Mark occupied her mind. 'Will I ever remove Mark from my heart? Is it fair to give Felix any hope if my heart is not clear on this?'

Now that she is getting swept into uncontrollable feelings about Felix, Sophia wonders if she ever loved Mark, or it was only convenient.

With Mark everything was planned, organized, controlled, there was no surprises. When she is close to Felix, she feels strong desire to reach out to him, to touch him and her heart flutters. She never felt anything like that about Mark.

She kept her phone on the table next to her and went to bed. She struggled to sleep off, but eventually, drifted off into a restless sleep.

…

Next day in office, Susan brought into CEO office a large bouquet of purple orchids giving a meaningful look to Sophia.

"It seems that your admirer got some hints", Susan commented.

Sophia looked up from documents spread on her desk. "What does that mean?"

"All flowers so far were a mixed bouquet with several types of flowers. This is the first time that a whole bunch is made of only one type.", Susan explained her observation as she kept flowers on the table. "You like orchids?"

"Yes, I do." Sophia smiled as she lowered her head back to the documents.

Shortly after, Sophia had a conflicted expression. She checked time before standing up and getting her coat. Sophia walked out of her office and told her secretary: "I have some business to attend to and will be back later. If anyone is looking for me, tell them that I will have lunch outside and be back later." Sophia walked out toward the elevator. The message she left was intended for Felix, so that he does not wait for her. She didn't want to meet him. Her heart is a mess and she needs to sort things out. It's not fair to give him hope, if she is not sure that there is any hope to give.

…

Close to lunch time, Felix came to Sophia's office, as usual. The secretary told him the message that Sophia left. Felix nodded, and turned away. He was not sure what happened but knew that Sophia needs space. 'I will not press this, and let her have her time to think things through... I can only hope she does not drift away from me.' With his head lowered, he went to his office, and didn't get out until end of the day. He didn't contact Sophia that day.

...

In the evening, Hill sisters met for a video conference online. Aiden was also present.

Sophia looked troubled. She cleared her throat few times, "Can we have some girl talk?"

Sarah turned to Aiden and said in a quiet voice: "This is the cue that you should give us some privacy."

His lips stretched into a smile while he protested, "But I want to hear also!"

Sarah shook her head with a serious expression. "You are not a girl."

"You want to dress me up as one", he had a pitiful expression.

"What?", JoAnna perked up. "Sarah, what kind of a fetish do you have?"

Sarah was shocked with this development, 'Did he just made it look like she is forcing him to dress up as a girl for some twisted foreplay?' Sarah puffed her cheeks in anger, and pinched Aiden's hand so hard that he winced. He moved away quickly when she tried pinching him the second time. At the same time his arms stretched, and he pulled her down with him. They went off the screen. For a minute or two Sophia and JoAnna could only hear some rustling sound, before Sarah returned back to their screens. "OK. He left."

Sophia and JoAnna observed Sarah, her hair was messed up and her lips red and lightly swollen.

JoAnna could not hold back her laughter, "Did we... just now... wait for you two… to make out?"

Sarah saw her appearance on the screen and quickly adjusted her hair. She cleared her throat, and asked innocently, "What?"

Seeing Sarah's bad acting skills, Sophia also laughed.

Once all three sisters stopped laughing, Sophia reluctantly started talking. "I think you two are aware that there is some development... between me and Felix."

Sarah's and JoAnna's eyes lit up from excitement. They wanted to hear more. Both Sarah and JoAnna were about to burst with questions, but seeing how uncomfortable Sophia looks, they waited for her to speak first.

Sophia continued, "Nothing happened... yet. But there are some feelings developing. And I'm conflicted. I was hoping that you two can help me figure out what is going on and give some advice on what to do."

JoAnna's mouth had no filter, as usual, "This is something related to Mark?"

Sophia was stunned for a second before regaining her composure. "You always had a great intuition. Yes. As much as I'm interested in Felix, I feel that Mark is still on my mind. And I don't think it's fair to start something with Felix until I sort out my thoughts related to Mark."

"You talk about your mind, but what about your heart?", Sarah asked.