CHAPTER LX
~~~
Sophia stretched and picked up the box from the bedside table, then clicked it open. A gasp left her lips when she stared at the glittery diamond necklace, staring right back at her.
She picked up the jewelry, and tears clouded her vision. The gift didn’t make her feel special, the fact that Chase didn’t forget her birthday was what made her feel so special.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
She herself had forgotten that she was turning nineteen that day.
With so much happiness, Sophia clutched the flowers and necklace in the box, and then she rushed out of the room, running towards her room.
The way she had opened the door to her room and closed it back with a loud bang had Charlie waking up, and the cat yawned lazily, before staring at her as she made her way towards him.
Sophia sat on the bed beside him and giggled. “I’m sorry I startled you and woke you up, Charlie,” She giggled again. “Look what Chase got me for my birthday. You won’t believe it! I woke up in his room to find these in there. It was as if he knew I used to sleep in his room ever since he left,”
Charlie meowed and stared at her with a boring gaze.
She pouted. “You know? I really miss him so much. I wish he would just come home today. I can’t wait to see him. And when I do, I’ll hug him so tightly I won’t ever let him leave,” She then wrapped her arms round herself with a big smile and a blush on her face. “And then Charlie, we’ll play a lot of fun games like we used to do with Chase. We will trouble him so much and make him pay for ignoring me for a whole month,” She then huffed.
A light knock came on her door, and Sophia looked at Charlie, who was staring at her.
Her eyes lit up, and a wide grin spread across her face. “Maybe it’s him! I’ll go and open the door!” Sophia got down from her bed and rushed towards the door, opening it with a big smile.
“Happy birthday, Soph,”
Sophia’s smile froze when she stared at Valerie, standing there with a big smile on her face. “V – Val?”
Valerie’s smile widened, and she eyed Sophia up. “You weren’t expecting me?”
Sophia shook her head. “I- It’s not like that,” Sophia smiled. It’s only Chase I want to see right now. She resisted the urge to say it out loud. She then moved away from the door and gave Valerie space to enter. “Come in,”
“Sure,” Valerie passed her a sweet smile before walking into the room holding a box Sophia didn’t notice earlier. “Hey Charlie,”
“Uhh – Val,” Sophia called. “I – thanks. You wished me a happy birthday and I didn’t even say thanks. Thank you,”
Valerie dropped the box on the bed and faced Sophia. “No need for that. Actually, Don sent the box package for you. He said you should wear it in the evening,”
“What’s that for?” She bit down her excitement at hearing Chase’s name.
“A party is going to be thrown for the birthday girl obviously!” Valerie grinned. “Well, I should leave. There’s so much to do. I also need to contact a stylist for your make up,”
“Valerie,” Sophia called once Valerie placed her hand on the doorknob.
Valerie stopped and turned. “Do you need anything?”
“Is-,” Sophia stepped closer. “Is Chase going to be at the party?”
Valerie’s mood shifted. “I really don’t know,”
“He’s upset with me, right? He’s still upset,” Sophia said.
“I can’t say, Soph. Chase is unpredictable. You can’t understand what’s going on with him. But it’s okay. He still cares a lot, “With that, she was gone.
~~~
The ceiling of the hall was nearly twenty feet high and up there hung a massive chandelier that illuminated the entire hall with a shimmering gold. Vases of red roses were placed on top of short white columns adding a floral colour to the function. The sound of chatters and light laughs could be heard from the sophisticated women there as their husbands-businessmen- were catching up and making deals with each other while waiters and waitresses moved round with trays of drinks and water.
Sophia had a minimal make up on. She was dressed in a white gold coloured ball gown adorned with the diamond earring and necklace Chase had gifted her. She had a pair of glass wedges on her feet and her hair was styled into a side braid, giving her a princess look.
Beside her on the table was Valerie, dressed in a black, stunning ankle length dress which hugged her curves. She had her dark, silky hair pulled into a tight bun.
Lucas and Luciano well, they were both clad in black suits and white button-down shirts underneath. Their hair was gelled backwards.
In short, the three siblings looked like they had walked out of the magazine.
All of a sudden, the hall went dead silent. The atmosphere changed and cowards began to sweat.
Everyone knew whose presence was enough to evoke such a silence.
Chase Romano.
Sophia’s head whipped towards the entrance and her heart leapt in joy. He was standing there, looking like the main celebrant, in all his glory, clad in a black suit as usual with a black button-down shirt beneath. His hair was gelled to the side. His cold eyes accessed the whole hall, as if searching for someone until they stopped on her and they softened.
The moment their eyes locked, Sophia’s breath hitched and her stomach did a flip-flop. The butterflies in her stomach gained consciousness and her heartbeat increased erratically.
His gaze was so intense, yet soft. Lust danced in his eyes and Sophia felt the Goosebumps erupting all over her skin.
Her heart dropped in her stomach the moment his eyes hardened again and he turned away.
She couldn’t help it. Sophia wanted to be in his arms. So, catching everyone off-guard, she stood up from her seat and ran towards him, clutching her dress in her fists while everyone’s eyes followed her as the sound of her wedge hitting the tiles resounded through the large hall.
Before Chase could realise it, Sophia had thrown herself into his arms, wrapping her small ones round his torso while her head rested on his chest.
A sob left her lips. “I missed you,”
“Sophia,” Chase’s voice was cold, hard and emotionless. It didn’t have that softness he used only for her in it. He didn’t even call her Gattina. Her heart sank in her stomach. “Let go off me. This is not the time for your childishness,”
Sophia shook her head and tightened her hold on him. “I’m not letting you go. Please hug me back,” She whispered to him.
Chase gently placed his calloused hands on her shoulders and pulled her away from him. “This isn’t the time for all this. We’ll talk later,”
She shook her head stubbornly. “I want to-,”
Chase narrowed his eyes at her. “Sophia,”
Sophia blinked back her tears and nodded. “Promise me you’ll talk to me later. Promise me you won’t ignore me again,”
“Fuck,” Chase mumbled. “I’ll talk to you later. Just go back to your table,”
“You didn’t promise me,” She said.
“I said I’ll talk to you. I don’t need to make a promise I’m not sure I’ll fulfil, Sophia,”
She wiped the lone tear that had fallen down her cheek and nodded, then turned back towards her seat.