Biting her bottom lip, Sophia turns to Benjamin with a worried expression. "You know, I think I am going to text him. Find out if something has happened.""Good idea," Benjamin answers, concern also apparent on his face.Sophia quickly takes out her phone and sends a text to the violinist. Moments later, she receives a reply, and a quiet laugh escapes her lips before she turns to Benjamin."What did he say?" Benjamin asks, eager to know why the musician is absent and Sophia's laughter.Reading the text, Sophia says, "Well, it seems that he has run into a completely unpredictable circumstance. He says there is no way he will be able to arrive anytime soon.""Oh, no," Benjamin says, clearly disappointed."He also says that had he been made aware that I was attending the gala, he would not have wanted to come," Sophia says, her cheeks blushing.Benjamin raises an eyebrow in question.Sophia hesitantly blushes even deeper before continuing, "He says he would have been too intimidated by m

"Since I am here now, I would love to invite Ms. Johnson back to the stage for a brief duet with me. If she will give me the honor," Oliver asks, motioning for Sophia to join him.With a radiant smile, Sophia gladly rejoins her friend on the stage. After a few playful exchanges, they settle into a rousing version of Sergei Prokofiev's Sonata for 2 Violins. Their synchronized performance is breathtaking, captivating the crowd. As the final note resounds through the hall, the audience erupts into another round of enthusiastic applause, their admiration for both musicians evident.After the applause for the spontaneous duet settles, the auctioneer for the auction takes the stage, his face shining with excitement. "Well, let's keep that energy going for our charity auction!"As the auction commences, valuable items are enthusiastically bid on, and a substantial amount of money is raised for charity. Benjamin successfully bids for a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, while Sophia wins a Pablo Picasso

Sophia tiredly looks around the room for Benjamin. It has been a long evening, and she is ready to return to her apartment, have a glass of red wine, and snuggle up in bed. Not seeing Benjamin, she orders another glass of champagne from the bar and takes the corner seat."Hello," a voice says from a man taking the seat next to her. "I would offer to buy your drink, but these shindigs with their open bar really damage my pick-up lines." The man laughs, obviously delighted with his joke.Sophia turns to him, offers a polite but dismissive smile, and pulls out her phone to check emails.The man does not take the hint and continues, "You don't need to be intimidated. I am just like any other guy.""Excuse me?" Sophia questions.Moving closer to Sophia, the man chuckles, "Yes, I am THAT Davis Reeceman.""Who?" Sophia asks, feigning ignorance. She, of course, has heard of the extremely popular celebrity but is not about to humor his arrogance."Oh, come on. I'm Davis Reeceman, star of the a

Sophia briefly glances at Alexander, attempting to read his emotions, but her main focus remains on the driver navigating the challenging road and weather conditions. With a polite nod, she refrains from probing further or pushing for more information.Alexander takes a moment to reflect, seemingly contemplating his choice of words about Michael. However, as he begins to speak, his words flow resolutely. "Let me be clear, Michael is far from being a kind individual," he confesses, his words deliberate and unwavering. "We harbor unresolved conflicts from our history. I strongly advise you to keep your distance from him." Recognizing the potential impact of his authoritative delivery, he swiftly interjects, "To put it mildly, I strongly urge you to stay away from him. Believe me when I say it is genuinely in your best interest."Sophia shifts her attention from the road to Alexander, offering him a reassuring smile. However, deep down, she knows she won't be heeding his advice. He is

The soft morning light filters into the room, gently coaxing Sophia awake in Alexander's apartment. The previous night's events still echo in her thoughts as she opens her eyes, taking in her surroundings within the guest room's comforting embrace.As the remnants of sleep recede, Sophia's senses come alive to the peculiar quietness of the apartment. She wonders where Alexander might be. With a quiet and curious determination, she softly opens the bedroom door and peers into the hallway, calling his name with a gentle tone."Alexander?" she murmurs, her voice echoing in the space. The scent of sizzling bacon suddenly wafts towards her, pulling her in a specific direction. She follows the mouthwatering aroma, allowing it to guide her toward the source.The kitchen greets her with the promise of a delicious morning meal. A meticulously arranged breakfast is laid out on the granite countertop—scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and fresh fruit presented on a plate. Adjacent to the plate lies a