Chapter 5

.Sophia was running, sweating. Hell! She never liked running nor any kind of sports but she had to run. She didn't wanted to be late.

All the eyes were on her.

She couldn't blame them, she herself knew that she looked like a crazy woman. Who on the earth would run with the sun burning, in her kind of dress?

She wondered what has gotten into her head? Why did she had to be stubborn like that?

Sometimes, she hated to admit it but she really was silly.

But it wasn't time for regret

anymore, it was time for her to run and run.

Earlier...

_"huh, what should I wear?" Sophia mumbled with exasperation.

She was before her mirror, with her so-smooth skin that had light scent of rose. Her skin was still wet, with droplets of water from the bath that she had minutes ago.

A hanger in her one hand, she scanned her wardrobe, passing all her dress one by one before her, seeing which one would feat her.

Never in her life was she in such a dilemma less for the choice of a dress.

Even with her unfashionable test, she knew that all her clothes were old fashioned and how so? Just by watching all the ladies with all of their low necked top or dresses, with all of their see-trough dresses,... Some she judged too extravagant but then again, who was she to judge she told herself, she didn't know anything about fashion but never had she mind it...until now.

If the style of the dress didn't help, the color added more to her worries.

All of her dresses were grey, brown, black, beige all with lifeless color...not even a single dress with vibrant color.

If before, those dresses was okey for her, now they seemed like disgusting, inappropriate, old...but it is not in the dress itself, it was in its purpose.

All the dress was thrown onto the sofa that was next her closet, the bed, the floor...and one, one more, and another more. Those were what happened to her dresses the next fifteen minutes.

At that rate, Sophia was more frustrated and desperate.

The sound of a knocked on the door stopped her.

She turned to the door and asked:"who is that?"

And its only then that she noticed the shambles that was in her room. Like a tornado visited her closet, making them all flying away.

_"Oh, it's me dear!" She heard the person at the other side of the door respond.

_"Please, come in nanny."

And door opened slowly, letting in Mrs Bridget as presentable as ever.

As she walked in, she watch the mess that was in Sophia's room and Sophia would swear that she saw her nanny's month opened slowly and her eyes widening in shock in a slow motion.

_"Oh sweat Lord!, what happened to your room?" Mrs Bridget yelled dramatically. "That--Mrs Bridget said pointing to the disorder on the floor--that,that and that--she continued pointing the other messes--what's all that mean?"

If it is not for the situation, Sophia would had laughed. Mrs Bridget never changed she thought, always with her dramas.

Though, even if Sophia didn't laugh, the sparks in her eyes reflect her amusement that Mrs Bridget didn't miss.

_"You young lady, you better give me am explanation of this--her eyes roomed disapprovingly in the room before adding--mess!" Mrs Bridget scowled sternly.

Sophia took a deep breath and started telling what was worrying her. What made her act like that cause sure, she had never acted like that. Being in such dilemma just for clothes! She found it almost unbelievable.

It began when her father wanted to talk to her. Somehow, deep inside her, she already knew what was going to be said and right as she felt it, it was sorted that it was finally time for The soon to be bride and soon to be husband to finally meet.

Sophia didn't wanted to meet him yet. Even when she knew that she was going to marry someone, she didn't wanted to know him. It was her form of escaping reality. Not knowing him helped her to almost forgot about the arranged marriage. At least, she still lived normally, driving away her mind from all the worries about her soon to be husband like how would he be? What kind of person would he be? And so much more questions.

She accepted the wedding but didn't mean that she wanted it. But circumstances happened not to be in her favour, obliging her to accept it. Her father's health. Her only hope of not being tied was that at least, the male had the courage she didn't have to refuse this madness.

But now, all the chance for her for backing out of it was nil. The only way for her to be free again was if her soon to be husband didn't accept their father's proposition but where the situation is now, she very doubt that it would happen since they were going to meet.

_"So that is why my room is like that nanny". She finished, letting a breath of exasperation.

So all the mess in her room was just because of one reason: she was going to meet Anthony.

Normally, she wouldn't care of how does she looked like. If she was comfortable in what she wear, then it was okey whenever it was good looking or not.

But this time, she didn't know why but it felt little bit special, like she had to be presentable...nice...beautiful? As if not even knowing him yet, she felt like his opinion matter...

_"So that's the worry here?" Mrs Bridget said with recognition."Do not worry dear! I have the perfect dress for you." She said with so much enthusiasm. Her eyes reflected that glint when you know in advance that something bad was going to happen and you can't stop it. And Sophia feared it.

With that said, Mrs Bridget stormed out of the room letting Sophia there confused.

Minutes latter, Mrs Bridget reentered the room, bringing with her clothes and some boxes.

Worried Sophia asked her:"hum...nanny...hum...what are those."

_"Oh! Those dear-Mrs gave placed the clothes and boxes on Sophia's bed-are of course what you are going to wear!" Mrs Bridget exclaimed excitedly.

Of course, it is not every day that her beloved Sophia was going to meet her future husband hence she must be perfect!

Oh no! Sophia face palmed herself in her head. And almost after what Mrs Bridget said, a grimace appeared immediately on her face.

Suspicious, Mrs Bridget asked her what was wrong but she just force a smile on her face and said everything was fine although in her deep interior, she prayed good to have pity of her.

At the end, Sophia ended up wearing a simple Yellow dress that goes under her knees. It was as the same style of all of her dress, long, barely showing her skin, but just the color of it changed her. Making her more lively .

With it, she wore a pair of flat ballerinas not forgetting her shoulder's strap bag.

Her hair was like its usual, low ponytail. No make up, just a pink lip glosses.

And she was ready.

So, back to where she was...

She was running, running, running.

Imagine, how it would feel to run in a long tight dress, where your step was limited but you need to run faster and faster.

Your face red of exhaustion and hotness. How weird it would look.

She thanked god that she was never good with wearing high heels and always preferred wearing ballerinas, otherwise, well you can imagine it...

So what exactly brought her to that situation?

When she was ready to go, Mrs Bridget had asked her to take the car and Mr Bentley to drive her, but as she was, not wanting to bother anyone and wanted to do things by herself, she decided to take a taxi.

All the worries began when first, an unpredictable traffic stuck them on the road for a good twenty minutes, back then, Sophia started to panic.

Apparently, a truck has gotten into an accident with an another car, blocking the way and causing so much traffic.

Sounds of claxon echoed on the road. Irritation, anger, worries...was the only emotion that; played in all the driver's face.

Sophia herself was worried but it all fade away when the car started to move again.

Sophia has never loved being late and nor did she supported waiting. As responsible as she was, she always get in time where she always go, unless some unexpected events happen.

The mere thought of being late for her first meet with her soon to be husband scared her. For some reason, she didn't wanted to give him a bad impression, she wanted to be perfect. There was that strange feeling inside her that she had never felt. That strange knot in her stomach whenever she thought of meeting him. That greediness to meet him yet she was afraid.

All of those things were kind of new to her, she had never felt or at least already felt like that, but it seemed so faraway that it seemed practically near to her. And she didn't want to awaken those feeling anymore. Those feeling that was so hard for her to burry.

All of her acts and reactions seemed to be a strange for her. She herself didn't recognize herself, she felt like a stranger had taken control of herself.

What was happening to her?

Yeah, she remembered already felling that way before but not as intense as it was. And she prohibited her spirit to think of it again, it was in the past and her future was awaiting for her in ten miles, but before she had to reach it, she has to run.

Sophia was already pretty late, and to add more to her bad luck, the taxi broke down, at 1/2 km, away of the place where she needed to go.

Great, just what she needed!

Glancing at her phone, she saw that she was indeed late!

Not wanting to waste anymore time, she paid the driver and get out of the car and she started to run.

_"Finally!" Sophia breathed out with relief and exhaustion.

She was at the entrance of the restaurant, bending, with her two hands on her knees. she was breathing hard her face red.

The server, standing on the front door gave her an weird look, but she didn't care. After her marathon, she needed to catch her breath. She officially broke her record, never in her life had she run so much.

Feeling okey, she readjusted her position, and walked in the restaurant confidently.

Instantly, her eyes roomed around the place to find someone that will look like as him.

She had never saw him, but she had imagined all the possibilities of his look.

Look, around the place, she felt her breath halt, the butterflies exploding inside her stomach. It was the moment who will determinate her future.

At that instant, the questions she always had always avoid to think rushed inside her head: how is he? Is he gentle? How does he look like?...from those little basic questions to the most serious ones...will this marriage work, will we be happy? Will we fall in love?...Questions seemed not to stop.

Anguish made its way inside her, what will happen if this weeding doesn't work? How will his father feel? How will his heart react to that? Will he be ill again?...No, that will not happen, she hadn't gone so far and give away her freedom for nothing. She will make it work and that's all.

With a new determination, she scanned the place a found a guy waiving at her?

He was bald, and fat. He looked a little bit older maybe in his thirty? Not to mention how creepy he looked.

Sophia immediately cringed. Her eyes wide open. It can't be him right? She was not the type of one who judge but he?...he? Oh God, have a pity! Please, do not let him be the one.

And Sophia's prayer was answered, cause an another girl made its way towards the guy.

Feeling an heavy weight of her shoulder, she let out a breath that she didn't even realized that she was holding. And she then noticed that she was still standing, weirdly in the middle of the entrance if the restaurant.

Scanning, again, the place, she only seemed to noticed that it wasn't that crowded. They were only couples of persons: the bald guy and his date was seated at he back, two old couples that were celebrating their anniversary sitting on the left side, and an another man in his suit on the right side.

Was it him?

All of the sudden, her breathing quicken. She looked at him a little bit more and noticed that his hair was as dark as the night. She couldn't see his eyes yet but she could already imagine how mesmerizing it would be.

His face gave an impression of maturity and seriousness. He had one of those kind of strong aura that even from afar Sophia could already felt it.

Her feet seemed to move on their own to his direction, step by step, she moved closer to him.

She hadn't even noticed that even once, and even a mere fraction fractional of second did she blink. She was captivated buy the art before her.

He is handsome.

Indeed he was!

She doesn't even know if it was the one yet she seemed not to able to stop her step. She was attracted to him, like those butterflies of night attracted to the light of the moon.

_"You know...it is really rude of you to arrive late." The stranger said not giving a glance at her, continuing typing on his phone.

_"huh." Sophia was surprised, She didn't even seemed to have heard what he said. All she could focus on was how grave his voice her how good it vibrate .

Then, she snapped out of her little trance that she was in and finally get ware of where she was. How did she even got near the stranger? she didn't have any idea.

_"And...-adding the stranger with calm voice, yet the venom in it didn't pass unnoticed by her-ogling someone Ms Russell." And with that the stranger finally decided to look at her.

Anthony Ambrose.

Finally, Did she really want him to refuse the wedding?

She didn't know...