Not wanting to recall the heated argument, I shook myself to the present.
There was no need to think about that. Sophie was starting to speak again. Everything was going fine… everything.
And maybe I was a bad friend, a selfish one. But the situation was no big deal.
James didn’t need to know about it.
Tossing the bottle of whiskey aside, I clenched my suit tighter. I needed to work. Logic before emotions.
Day turned into night, and I was done with projects for the day. I shut my laptop, making my way out of my office and into the elevator.
The elevator opened on the ground floor. Nodding past the greeting of the receptionist and robot, I entered my car, ignited the engine, and was on my way home.
Home…
The drive to the mansion was silent. After a couple of minutes, I arrived at the gates. I drove in and exited the car.
When I entered the house, it was quiet. Sophie must have gone to bed because Evie wasn’t in sight. Probably in her room.
I wondered how she felt now. How she’d act now. After all, I’d put her in a situation where she had to betray her own father.
I was still climbing the stairs when I heard a door open. I knew it was hers.
Her beautiful frame came into view when I reached the landing. She was wearing pink shorts and a singlet with a net on the cleavage part. It looked like the one from the first time she arrived at the mansion or was it a different one?
“Good evening,” she greeted, wringing her hands together. I narrowed my eyes at the movement. Was she nervous?
“Good evening, Evie.” It was well past Sophie’s bedtime, hers too. Did she come out to drink water?
“You're not asleep?” I instantly regretted my choice of words. Of course, she wasn't asleep.
“No,” she breathed.
“Why?”
“I came for water.” She licked her lips.
“You must like drinking water so much…” I trailed.
“No.”
Okay…
“I- I mean yes…and I li− like other things too…” I tilted my head to stare at her fingers that wrung themselves.
She continued. “Like... like dark chocolates…”
Her words reduced until she didn't speak.
I nodded. The silence that hung in the air was quite awkward even for me.
What should I say again? I was out of words but why did it feel so right to keep talking?
“How are you feeling?”
A tint of pink stained her cheeks. She understood what I was asking.
Another moment of silence passed. Her eyes looked like she was contemplating something before she shook her head.