They kissed on the lips a few more times, and he held her by the nape of her neck, leaning in further and pulling her lower lip between his, then finally requesting entry for his tongue, which was granted with pleasure. Their tongues explored each other slowly. The taste of crème brûlée mixed with wine and the distinct flavor of her Nicholas made Sophie never want that kiss to end. The uniquely characteristic taste of her Sophie, enhanced by the chocolate of the petit gâteau and the vanilla of the ice cream, was something Nicholas wanted more and more of. When they pulled apart, smiling as only fools and lovers can, Nicholas took her hand and she followed him without hesitation. He led her to a part of the terrace she hadn't seen before, where there was a futon surrounded by flower beds and several lanterns. It was the most romantic spot Sophie had ever seen in her l

However, drowning in work helped but didn't solve. There were days when just a momentary pause from coworkers and work partners was enough for her image to appear vividly in his mind like a movie—full of smiles and laughter, perfect curves, expressive eyes, and shining hair. And on that morning, the situation was even worse, to the point that he had become distracted more than once during the first meetings, failing to listen to what Will was saying about a children's program they would start filming the following week, and to Boris's questions about the merchandise for a new sneaker brand in the upcoming youth series.Sighing deeply and slumping heavily into his chair, frustrated by his inability to control his thoughts, he picked up his phone, contemplating calling her. He could ask how she was, inquire if she had received his gift, even though he knew very well that she had because he had been informed on the day of its delivery, and act as if she were just another acquaintance he

All the preparation, as well as the money spent on it and the dress chosen with Dante's help for the occasion, was worth it. She looked stunning as she entered the party hall, capturing the attention of many of the attendees. She could almost feel the heat of certain bright eyes on her, and she greeted the owner of those eyes with a polite gesture, receiving a friendly smile in return.Nicholas waited for Sophie, Ryan, Brad, Ian, and their dates to take their seats at their table, and he went over with Will and John to greet them. He kissed Sophie's hand a bit more slowly and intensely than those of the other women at the table, but apart from that, it was just a greeting between people who occasionally crossed paths due to their work, nothing more. He moved to another table to greet other business partners, and she engaged in a lengthy conversation with Brad's wife."Someone's jealous, huh?" John asked, approaching Nicholas a while later as he stood at one end of the

As Nicholas prepared the food, and throughout the dinner, they conversed animatedly about various subjects and exchanged smiles, glances, and affection, as if they had become a couple again, like in the old days. He surprised her with an Italian straw dessert, and the two reminisced about the times they used to invade Mrs. Colbie's kitchen and make their favorite dessert together, playfully smearing each other with chocolate, teasing that usually ended in embraces that, if witnessed by her family, would have gotten the young ones into trouble.After dinner, the couple moved to a small room where they enjoyed liqueurs and listened to music, continuing to engage in lively conversation. It was remarkable how, despite all the time they had been apart and the lingering resentment between them, their reconnection was so strong that conversation flowed effortlessly.Of course, eventually, everyday topics gave way to innuendos, flirting, intimate playfulness, and the two start

When Sophie left Nicholas's apartment, the only thing she could think of was isolating herself completely from the world. She had gone from heaven to hell in a matter of minutes with their conversation, and she knew she couldn't continue her daily activities as usual. How could she act naturally in the face of so many overwhelming emotions—disappointment, resentment, anger, sadness, jealousy—all flooding her mind and heart at once?While taking a taxi to her apartment, using the little rationality she had left, she called one of her bosses and said she needed a few days off due to a family emergency. It would be complicated for the magazine to be without its editor-in-chief for almost a week, but Sophie had a lot of credit with RIB due to her excellent work, and she was granted the leave, promising to return the following Monday.At home, she packed some clothes into a large suitcase, considering places where she could escape without encountering anyone who