The Troubled Billionaire's Soulmate

~Sofia~

There was something in the air when I woke up that day.

I smiled to myself and looked around my bedroom without getting up from my bed yet. My room was everything I wanted it to be. Mia, being the responsible elder sister, had made sure all of her savings went to me having the life she couldn't have. And I was so grateful to my sister.

From the storm clouds mural on the ceiling to my wall of books. And from my sweet wardrobe to the little vanity that Dad had been so reluctant to get for me because it was out of his budget and Mia had snuck in a few hundred dollars to make sure I ended up getting that antique vanity from P*******t that I had been obsessed with. Not to mention my art supplies that she often snuck in on payday because she thought I had a 'natural talent' for painting.

I smiled to myself. We weren't rich but life was great. We made it happen. We shared the house because it was cheaper than Marcus and his wife moving out. But, I had big aims. I knew that as soon as I got out of college, I was going to look for a job and make sure I helped Marcus and Mia run the house. 

"Sofia Hayes! If you are not up and ready in half an hour, I'm leaving for office without you." Marcus, my elder brother, called from the other side of my bedroom door.

I knew he didn't mean it, he just loved to play the role of strict old brother.

"I'm up!" I yelled back and jumped out of my bed. I smiled when I looked at my writing chair that had my outfit for the day spread on its back. It was my early birthday gift from Mia. 

"Love you, Mia," I muttered smiling wide, and skipped over to my dresser to get ready for the day.

~

"Morning, Mum!" I rushed to kiss her cheek before going to Dad with the same hyperactive energy, "Morning, Dad!" And placed a kiss on his bald head making him laugh.

"How does this girl have so much energy so early in the morning?" Mom muttered.

"Ignore her." Dad laughed with me.

"It's the air, Mom. There's something in today's air." I twirled and came face-to-face with my sister.

"There's something in the air every day." Mom laughed sarcastically.

"Morning, Mia!" I hugged her and she hugged me back, reciprocating my energy, "Good morning, Sofie. Let me guess, you dreamt of Brad Pitt?" She smirked.

I made a face at her and she laughed at my shenanigans. I loved it when everyone was happy. We had issues but which family didn't?

Well, almost everyone.

I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl in the middle of the dining table as my sister-in-law scowled, "Sofia, I made breakfast. Don't skip it today. It goes to waste if you do and my husband doesn't work so hard to earn for us, just so you can waste good food."

I rolled my eyes but put the apple in my bag for later and grabbed a plate to get the breakfast.

"Hurry up, I have to get to the office early." Marcus looked at his watch and stood up.

I rolled my pancake to-go and rushed after him, "Have an awesome day everybody!" I yelled back to my family before getting in the car. My brother was going to drop me off at the university before heading to his office. It was convenient and saved ticket money for public transport since my institute was on his way.

~

"Don't tell me he is here today too!" My best friend, Lena, whisper-yelled at me during the lecture.

I simply nodded with an excited smile.

"One of these days, your parents are going to find out that you have a secret boyfriend and it's not going to end well for either of you." She tried to advise but I was in love and love is blind.

"Shush, now. Just cover for me, will you?" I winked as I packed my things quietly into my bag so that the teacher wouldn't know that I was going to skip classes for the rest of the day again.

"Do I have a choice?" She replied sarcastically but I knew she was on my side.

"No, you don't," I said, not being able to control the wide smile that lit up my face at the mere thought of being with my boyfriend since high school. I got ready to slip out of the back door of the classroom, "Lena, you know I love you, right?"

"You better. It's not easy covering for you in every class." She smirked, "Now, go. Carlos will be waiting." She pushed me and I left after blowing her a kiss in gratitude.

Once outside the class, I ran to the gate where we were supposed to meet. 

And there he was. My handsome boyfriend, getting more handsome each year, waiting for me on his motorcycle.

I stopped a few feet away and gave a Victorian bow holding my imaginary ballgown. He tipped his imaginary hat and we laughed at each other. It was amazing how in love we were.

I felt like my whole body was smiling when I sat behind him on the motorcycle and fastened the helmet with my initials on it. He had it custom-made for me. I held on tight and we left the premises of my university.

I knew where he was taking me. Even though it was a famous tourist spot, we always thought of it as 'our' spot. In high school, we had gone on a school trip for local sightseeing and the Two-lover's-Point was where we had first noticed each other. It had been an accidental meeting but since then, we had talked often. Until he asked me to be his girlfriend. My parents were strict in this regard and refused to let me have a boyfriend before college. Which was why we kept it hidden. And then, I was in university, he was looking for a job, and the right time to tell my parents just never came. Due to his joblessness, we were sure my parents wouldn't approve of us. So, we were delaying introducing him to our family till he got a job and was able to respectfully ask for my hand in marriage.

"So, how's your day?" Carl asked.

"So much better now that I'm with you," I replied hugging him from behind.

"You sure we can't go back to my place?" He teased but placed a hand on my hand which was on his torso and caressed it.

"I have to get back to uni. Mark is going to pick me up at pack up." I told.

"What's wrong with Subway?" He asked.

"Nothing. He said he'd be around there for work, so he might as well pick me up from university." I shrugged.

"I swear, that brother of yours," He started.

"Don't swear," I laughed and slapped his shoulder lightly.

"Careful, you want us to get into an accident?" He swerved the motorcycle on the road intentionally, making me hold him tighter.

"Carlooss!" I whined even though I knew he would never put us in danger, making him laugh and speed up so we could reach our spot sooner.