"Fuck it, Oliver." He silently cursed himself as his lips touched the rim of his wine glass, all while keeping a watchful eye on the woman sitting opposite him through his peripheral vision. "Stop being paranoid."
It was probably just a coincidence that he caught her snooping around his things twice. Once at his party at home, and just a few moments ago.
"I was just looking for a phone charger. I think I left mine at home." She told him when he caught her rummaging through his important things.
There was no way she could have been a spy. Right? That was just ridiculous.
But come to think of it, most traitors had a way of hiding their true colors. She could be working for his business competitors or another mafia lord who wanted to take him down, or even the authorities.
Could he actually trust her?
Could he trust just anyone?
"I guess I should also thank your Mom for this delicious meal." She commented, putting the fork and knife aside after finishing the main course. "So, where's the dessert?"
Although he doubted he could ever trust her, he could never deny that he still found her fascinating.
"It's coming." He snapped his fingers, signaling the crew who were just waiting for orders. "I'm sure it's worth the wait." Promising her a nice treat.
Strangely, every little thing she did, her peculiar quirks, and her weird mannerisms, made him think of the woman he once loved. Like the way she ate her meal with gusto, it suddenly reminded him so much of Amelia.
"I don't doubt that. So far, everything has been above par." She sincerely complimented the meal and the chef, smiling brightly as she showed her appreciation.
Amelia was actually like that. She always had something nice to say about the people around her.
Fuck it! Why did they have the same smile? The way her cheeks glow as her lips spread from ear to ear.
Then, he also noticed earlier how her fingers fidgeted under the table. It was a sign that she was nervous, although she was trying hard to hide it.
"Well, Mom only hired the best. I'm glad you're enjoying the meal." He was genuinely surprised. "Honestly, I thought you'd barely touch your food, but I'm glad you're nothing like the other girls I dated."
Most of the women he had gone out with would order the most expensive dish on the menu, but they would only play with it, feigning that they were watching their figures.
Vain! Wasteful! Incredibly stupid!
It was one of the many things he loved about Amelia. She never cared about such nonsense.
"I already told you, didn't I, Mr. Morton. I'm nothing like the other girls you've been with." She said playfully, reminding him of the time she dared him to marry her.
But before he could respond with a comeback, the crew walked in and served them the dessert.
"Wow! How did Dianne know that I love chocolate and strawberries?" She remarked when a plate of chocolate cake topped with fresh strawberries was placed before her.
"Really?" He asked, finding it startling that she and Amelia had the same taste even in sweets.
Was that another coincidence, or was there more to Sophia than she led him to believe?
Was this her ploy? To make him trust her or even fall for her by using the memory of his lost love.
Because these coincidences were just becoming too damn suspicious.
"It's the perfect combination." She scooped a mouthful and then grabbed a piece of the red, fruity goodness, popping it inside her mouth. She even licked the icing that adhered to her fingers.
What the hell!
Why did he find that little action very alluring?
Without thinking, he leaned forward and stretched his hand until his thumb graced the corner of her lips. "You've got something..." Wiping the chocolate icing with his finger.
At that moment, he knew that he could not deny the strong attraction between them. He had always felt it before, the moment he had seen her. And it had only grown stronger.
This marriage might be fake, but his obsession with claiming her was not.
Slowly, his body followed his fingers, not wanting anything else but to possess those supple lips. His fingers caressed her face while his eyes stared into those expressive eyes that looked very familiar.
His eyes could not look away. It was as if he had been staring into the past.
"Ame..."
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, his phone vibrated inside his pocket. Immediately, he returned to his seat and pulled out his phone.
"For Pete's sake, Oliver." He berated himself, snapping out of the spell that she had cast upon him.
"Damnass, you almost spoke Amelia's name." Again, if he could fistbump his forehead for his stupidity, he would.
"I'm sorry, but I need to take this." He hastily excused himself as he answered the call. Hoping to use the time to clear his head.
It was business as usual. Being the CEO of the Morton Group and the Mafia Don didn't exactly give him plenty of time for himself. There was always something that needed his urgent attention.
After a few minutes, he returned to the table where he found Sophia almost done with her dessert.
"This is absolutely amazing. You should try yours." She pointed to the cake on his plate.
Although he was not particularly interested in sweets, Amelia always had a way of convincing him to try them.
"Come on, try one bite." She picked up his fork and fed him a large piece of the chocolatey treat. "Isn't it one of the best cakes you've ever tasted?" She asked, beaming at him with that lovely smile.
For the first time, she seemed relaxed, unguarded. She acted more carefree, which only made her more attractive.
Maybe it was the wine. It must have loosened her up.
"Well, it is absolutely delicious." He answered after swallowing another mouthful.
For some reason, he took every bite that she offered, not wanting to disappoint her. In a way, he never wanted her smile to fade away.
Honestly, her energy was intoxicating. Her smile was contagious as he slowly found himself loosening up, too.
In a few minutes more, they were both laughing at the top of their lungs at some silly thing.
"Fuck! I haven't laughed this hard for a long time." He admitted as he filled their glasses with more champagne.
It had been a long time since he felt this unbothered by the world around him. It was as if he could not care less about what happened in the past as long as he could have her again.
"Me, too." She confessed, smiling hard as her fingers wrapped around his arms on the table.
Her touch.
"Amelia." He whispered, wondering if he was dreaming. Then, realized his mistake again.
Why did he keep calling her name? Sophia was not Amelia.
Sophia was not the woman who betrayed his trust and broke his heart.
"What?" She asked as if she didn't hear what he said. "Anyway..." She waved her hands. "What do you think about a night swim?" She pointed to the vast ocean that surrounded them as they sat on the deck, sipping their wine.
At that point, the darkness had swallowed everything. The only light that flashed on the water was from the glimmer of the moon.
"I don't think that's a bright idea. This is a shark-infested water, Sophia." He laughed at the absurdity of her suggestion.
Then, she stood up, as if walking to the rail, but she fumbled on her step. Quickly, he followed her, catching her before she fell.
"I think you're already drunk." He said, cradling her in his arms. "You shouldn't be walking on the edge. It could be dangerous." He warned her as the moon cast a light beam on her lovely face.
"No, I think you're the one who's drunk." She countered, tapping her fingers on his chest when she tried to stand up.
But then again, she swayed as if the ship was moving with the waves. But of course, the boat was as stable as if they were standing on land.
Suddenly, the world was spinning. "Maybe we both had too much to drink." He acknowledged, finally feeling the effect of the alcohol.
Damn! Why was he drunk when he barely consumed enough wine to intoxicate him?
"Aren't you hot?" She asked as her hands started touching her neck and her shoulders as if wiping the sweat that broke out of her skin.
"Why is it so hot in here?" She kept asking as she closed her eyes and fainted against his body.
"Something is wrong." He realized when he felt the same burning sensation, which easily spread throughout his body.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
It was not alcohol.
"We've been drugged." Immediately, he lifted her into his arms, carried her into their room, and rushed her into the bathroom.
Then, under the shower, he let the cold water soak their clothes and bodies, hoping it would cool them off.
"It's so hot." She uttered as her fingers worked on removing her clothes.
Afterwards, she turned to him, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "Help me... Kiss me."
Fuck! Why did she look sweeter than the dessert that he had just had earlier?