Sweet, melodious song was playing, shimmery sunlight was peeping through the
casement and casting it's beam of light over a beautiful girl, who was standing by the window, busy with her sculpting, as if playing with her beautiful long fingers on marble with chisel and letting her hair flutter free in the gentle breeze, which came out of her loose low bun.
Noah was capturing this all with his keen silvery eyes and was hypnotized in the moment never wishing to wake, he wanted to hold this point of time forever, thinking how can be someone so beautiful, so riveting, when all she is doing is work, how can her manner be so different?
Suddenly Sophia felt chills running down her spine and she halted at her work and without intermission of a second she turned her head in lightening speed to find no one, although her work space's door was slightly open.
She took slow steps towards the door and peeping her head she looked left and right but found no one there, getting in she again shut close her door and went back to her work.
Noah standing outside smirked at her action, peeking like a kitten. He came to the gallery to settle up some portion of the deal. Although, that was all kind of excuses, being anywhere in a stone's thrown away to Sophia.
After he was done with settlement, director asked him if he should call Sophia for him. But he refused and he himself said would go there to meet her.
When reached there he raised his hand to knock over the door but concluded not to and stopped mid-way, and tried his luck by pushing it and it was unlatched and when door was half open he saw a captivating scene in front of his hawk like eyes which softened as soon as they found her there, engrossed in work with sunrays falling over her fair skin and chestnut hairs, seemed as if some mythical fairy wrapped in white maxi dress reaching her ankles.
He noticed, after sometime that she has perceived his presence and ceased her work she was doing.
He thought 'sharp senses darling.' And smirking he walked at the direction of director's cabin and only turned back to find her peeking like a little kitten.
When lunch time came, she sat on her table and was having sandwiches for lunch. She was not fan of a healthy diet, especially according to everyday hustle and bustle she does
Sophia had her lunch all alone as Charlotte didn't turn up today, she had some personal issues to resolve.
When wrapping her leftovers, she heard her phone vibrating; picking it up from table corner she found it to be Lisa's call. Receiving it, she answered "Hello."
To which Sophia heard from the other end "Hey my sweetheart! You called me yesterday? I am so so sorry, I have such a busy schedule and I really-"
"Lizzie, it's alright. I called you casually. I wanted to see you. I have something to discuss." Sophia replied her in extremely soft voice.
"Is it? Fine, I'll meet you today." Lisa replied.
"No. It's okay Lisa. We will meet but once you are free."
"Actually, I happen to be free today during sundown, and I am going out with Samuel. Why don't you join us?" Lisa requested in soft voice.
"No. Not at all, you will be meeting Samuel after so many days and you want me to tag along and be the third wheal. No, absolutely not happening. Into the bargain I don't have time." Sophia rejected her request in stern voice.
"Please Sophia for one day gives one hour of yours to us? And just for one hour you can be with us. Samuel will like it; it has been ages since three of us hanged together?"
"I'll have to ask director." Sophia replied not able to reject more of her entreaty.
"Go and ask." Lisa said back to her cheerful mood.
"Now?"
"Now."
"Fine. I am going. I'll give you update of whatever happens." Sighing Sophia replied. "I'll be waiting." Lisa replied her grinning.
Smiling Sophia hung up the call and exited the accommodation to be drifted towards director's office.
Giving a knock, she waited for permission from inside, and after getting one she entered the office. When director described her he got off his seat and stood there giving her a big smile acknowledging her presence. This made her confused to very extent but shrugging all thoughts aside she greeted him.
"Good afternoon sir."
"Afternoon, Sophia. Tell me what brought you here?"
Director's smiling face confused Sophia; she thought 'is he the same man who used to yell at me and Charlotte?'
And director's way of behaving explained that he was aware of the interest that Noah is showing towards Sophia and there are two things that are going around in his brain. Firstly, he doesn't want to be on the hostile side of Sophia for now and lastly, he wants to extract as much as profit he can in name of her for his gallery from Noah.
"Sir, actually I want to leave one hour early today." she spoke again after a pause trying to read his expression if he was angry on her. "I am going ahead in work. And I may
even cover-up for today's work by tomorrow's morning by coming early."
"No need for that, you may have your leave." director replied her beaming like a sunflower.
Frowning Sophia surprised by his reply, thanked him and exited his office.
She gave a call to Lisa informing her of early leave to which she replied "Okay great, I'll
come to pick you up, when I'll call you than only exit the gallery."
"I am no kid Lisa. I go back and forth from gallery to café daily that to all alone."
"I am coming to pick you up and unless I call you don't you come out." Lisa spoke
again in a stern voice indicating end of discussion.
"Fine." Sophia replied finding no room for argument.
When clock stricken four, Sophia's phone started to vibrate, collecting her belongings
she came out of her workspace locking the door.
On spotting Lisa and Samuel, she beaming waved at them and sat on their car.
"Hey, Sophia! Seeing you after such a marathon time." Samuel greeted her.
"Hi, Samuel! Yes it had been a lengthy time." Sophia greeted him back smiling They chatted all way to the cafe where Sophia does part-time.
Sophia and Lisa were childhood friends and Samuel was in the same school as them, one of their senior. Trios were friends, when suddenly Samuel expressed his feelings towards Lisa, and she accepted him.
When at cafe, they placed their choice of order individually and Samuel brought it for them.
When settled Lisa asked Sophia "So, what you were to put me in the picture?"
"Actually Lisa, I feel of being followed." Sophia replied.
"Followed?" Lisa asked "By whom and when?"
"From the day Mr. Taylor came to the shop to purchase wreath, that vary day. Every
night, when I return back from cafe to apartment."
"Do you think Noah is following you?" Lisa asked her maintaining eye contact.
Sophia remained hushed.
After sometime Sophia spoke "I don't know, first time when I met him and again when
I saw him at the gallery, his looks were different and not in a good way but ..."
"You think he is the one following you?" Lisa asked Sophia, again the same question cutting her in mid sentence.
"No Lizzie, listen to me. Yesterday he came to the shop and conversed to me and this time his eyes were totally different. I am not saying that they were in full of likeness or good intentions, but they were not scary or whatever they used to be. I was not able to read them, they seemed hideous. And also he talked to me in a way where he seemed interested in me but not in a creepy way." Sophia explained everything in a breath and Lisa kept on staring at her.
"And so you started to like him?" Lisa asked Sophia in angry tone rolling her eyes. "No it's not like that."
"But you took one step towards liking?" And this time it was Samuel who threw question at Sophia smiling.
Sophia remained completely quiet to his question and Lisa throws glares at her direction. Smiling at her Samuel spoke again "As far as I know Noah, he has constructed quite a good reputation of himself in the town. I have never come to know about him following anyone or being clingy to a girl, actually opposite, girls throws themselves at him."
And this made Sophia raised her eyelids to Samuel and he looking at her reaction smiled and replied "But again his debauchery is quite famous among all." He said laughing and Sophia's eyes became big hearing him.
"No, Sophia listen to me, stop thinking about him he doesn't suits you and_" She stopped talking when a hand on her thigh, of Samuel's felt.
"Lisa it's her life let her choose. The other day you were whining about her not accepting Joseph's proposal? And Sophia as for you, I warned you and also told you what he is not like. Now it's you who have to take the decision."
"Yeah because he is a good guy, Joseph was perfect for her"
"But I don't like him." Sophia kept her heart in front of Lisa and she kept on staring at Sophia.
"According to me Sophia you should give it a shot if you have even a pinch of liking towards him. I wouldn't say he is worth of but how long are you planning to remain single?"
Sophia kept quiet. After sometime she spoke again "Even if I am in verge of liking him I don't know whether he likes me or not?"
"What do you like about him? The way he ogles at you? Or the fact that may be he is one who is following you every night?"
"The way he keenly listens to my interest."
Replied Sophia.
Sighing Samuel said "Look Sophia, it's for you to take decision. I suggest you not to listen to your friend neither me, just listen to your heart. Enjoy your life sweetheart. You are not old enough to take up such burdens, okay I am aware of the home mortgage but for once relax a bit." Samuel tried to explain her things, smiling. Sophia went on a state of contemplation and remained quiet when Lisa spoke again "Listen to me Sophie. He is not the one, he is a big, big red flag avoid him as much as you can?"
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"Why should she avoid him? Till date did he harmed you in anyway, Sophia tell me?"
Samuel turned to Sophia asking her.
"No." Sophia replied innocently.
"But the way he stared at her?"
"You were the one who said so he came to buy wreath? May be he lost some one near dear and was not in his best mental condition to carry himself?" Listening Samuel's words Lisa remained quiet when again he spoke "Moreover, he found Sophia's talent and went to gallery even though she don't have appropriate degree she was allotted work by him because of which she even got promoted and as far as I know Noah Taylor he would never ever trap his precious money just to hook a girl."
And Sophia looked at the direction of Lisa who was throwing daggers at him indicating
him to shut up. Hanging his head down Samuel said in a low voice "I want best for her. She is like a younger sister to me."
Clearing her throat Sophia brought Lisa's attention back to her and Lisa facing her spoke "Don't go anywhere near him. End of discussion. "
"Lisa stop being stubborn, if she likes him let her be, you can't always be there for her,
and she will have a shoulder to lean on." Samuel again tried to explain her.
"I don't really like him but I don't even hate him." Sophia spoke with her cheeks turned hot and red because of embarrassment.
"I know that." Lisa and Samuel spoke in synchronization and looked at each other. "Please stop fighting because of me."
"Okay Sophia we can do one thing. Don't ignore him for his positive approaches, don't even agree with him. Observe him. If you find anything out of place, we are here to protect you. But if he seems same as how you are picturising him, accept him. Only if, you feel the anything for him. But keep constantly one thing in mind, never fall hard for him. He never had been in relationship with anyone."
Sophia shot her eyes towards Samuel, she kept staring at him and nodded her head slowly and Samuel turned to Lisa and spoke "Now we are good? For you to accept
this?"
"Fine" Lisa replied almost shouting and banged the table.
"Lizzie." Sophia gave her a glare.
"I'll be back in a second." Saying so, Samuel went to the counter to pay bills.
After he was gone Lisa spoke to Sophia "Sophia keep you're all senses open. Okay? If anything goes wrong give me or Samuel a call? Fine? Only if he is a good man let him approaches you or else don't welcome his advancement. And also from next time whenever you feel of being followed call us or police?"
"She got it the first time I explained, she is not a baby. And Sophia, yes if you again feel
of being followed please give us a call." Samuel requested Sophia.
Lisa gave a hard glare to Samuel and again turned to Lisa "Sophie, honey we are going.
Go to your evening shift."
Sophia laughed thinking how Lisa treats her like her own child.
"Fine, see you soon."
And with that keeping Samuel's and Lisa's warning in mind Sophia went to her work.
When nine at night occurred, lock door of shop Sophia came out bringing her belongings with her only to find Noah leaning over his car with folded sleeves and dark black hairs falling over his forehead, lightening cigarette.