Chapter 4 - Then & Now

Sophia left Knight Industries with her phone pressed to her ear, waiting for the call to connect. It rang twice before the familiar voice answered, bright and full of life.

"Sophie!"

"Priya, you're officially the only person I want to talk to right now," Sophia sighed, stepping into the elevator.

"That bad already? Didn't you just see him for, like, five minutes?"

"It was a lot longer than five minutes. And it was worse than I expected."

"Bobby Knight is your personal curse," Priya declared dramatically. "It's like the universe crafted him in a lab just to ruin your life."

Sophia laughed despite herself. "It's not funny."

"Oh, it's hilarious."

The elevator doors opened, and Sophia stepped out into the evening air, the Manhattan streets buzzing with life. She walked toward the curb, letting Priya's voice pull her back to a time when this all started back to NYU, before billion-dollar contracts and sleek offices. Back when Bobby Knight was just the obnoxiously charming boy who sat two rows behind her in Intro to Business.

Flashback - NYU Campus, Senior Year

Sophia stormed into her dorm room, slamming the door so hard Priya jumped from her bed, dropping her economics textbook onto the floor.

"Let me guess," Priya said, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Knight again?"

Sophia threw her bag down and flopped onto her bed face-first. "He stole my idea. Again."

Priya raised a brow. "Okay, explain like I'm not your personal therapist and haven't been hearing about this walking jawline for three years."

Sophia lifted her head just enough to glare. "I pitched my sustainable tech mentorship program in our class group. Bobby sat there, smirking, didn't say a word. And guess who suddenly presented a suspiciously similar idea to Professor Reynolds this morning?"

Priya winced. "Oof."

"It's not enough that he's top of the class. Or that he's literally a Knight, so every internship and job offer is basically gift-wrapped for him. No, he has to make my life miserable, too."

Priya leaned back, watching her closely. "You know what I think?"

"Please don't psychoanalyze me right now."

"Oh, I absolutely will." Priya's grin was wicked. "You wouldn't care so much if you didn't like him."

Sophia bolted upright. "I do not like him."

"You like hating him."

"That's not the same thing."

"Isn't it?"

Sophia groaned, grabbing her pillow and hurling it at Priya, who caught it with a cackle.

"I'm serious," Priya said, sobering slightly. "You guys have been obsessed with each other since freshman year. Every class, every project—you circle each other like sharks in a tank. It's weirdly hot."

"It's not hot," Sophia insisted. "It's infuriating."

"Infuriating can be hot." Priya shrugged. "Look, all I'm saying is, if you didn't secretly think he was talented, and hot you wouldn't lose sleep over him."

Sophia opened her mouth to argue, but Priya just smirked.

"You're ridiculous," Sophia muttered.

"And you're in denial."

Present Day - Manhattan

"Earth to Sophia." Priya's voice pulled her back to the present.

"Sorry." Sophia smiled faintly, weaving between crowds of tourists. "Just remembering how right you were."

"I'm always right. I should've charged you for all those therapy sessions."

Sophia shook her head. "Well, now the universe has a sense of humor, because I'm stuck working with him."

"Wait...what?"

"Easton wants us to partner for the final pitch. They want to see if we can 'collaborate effectively.'" She made air quotes even though Priya couldn't see her.

Priya burst out laughing. "Oh my God, I need popcorn. This is going to be amazing."

"It's going to be a nightmare."

"Or… you'll finally kiss and get it out of your system."

Sophia stopped walking, heart stuttering. "What?"

"Oh please. Don't act like you've never thought about it."

Sophia rubbed her temple. "I am hanging up now."

"You love me."

"I do. But you're insane."

"Text me updates!"

Sophia ended the call with a reluctant smile, but as she slid her phone into her purse, Priya's words stuck in her head.

Had she ever thought about kissing Bobby Knight?

…Yes.

She hated herself for it, but there were moments, especially in college, when the fighting had turned so sharp it became something else entirely. Something dangerous. That night at the campus gala, when they'd danced—well, argued while dancing, and his hand had settled at her waist? She'd felt it then. The pull. The spark.

But she'd shoved it down so far it felt like a different lifetime.

This is business, she reminded herself. Just business.

Bobby was already there when Sophia arrived, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, hair slightly tousled like he'd been pacing or thinking too hard. For half a second, she hated how good he looked, like some infuriating ad for "rich boy chic."

"Morning," he said, unusually civil.

Sophia narrowed her eyes. "What's the catch?"

"No catch." He flashed a grin. "Emma told me to be nice."

"Ah." Sophia sat down across from him, laptop already open. "Your sister's my new favorite Knight."

"Join the club."

They worked in near-silence for a full hour, surprising themselves. It was oddly… easy. Every time one of them started an idea, the other refined it. They challenged each other, but in a way that felt almost productive, like they were two jagged edges that somehow fit together.

But of course, Bobby couldn't leave it there.

"So," he said, leaning back in his chair, "Priya still hate me?"

Sophia's head snapped up. "How do you know about Priya?"

He gave her a look. "Reyes, you spent four years in college whispering about me to her across lecture halls. I think I figured it out."

Sophia's ears burned. "She doesn't hate you."

"Oh?"

"She just…thinks you're an entitled pain in the ass."

Bobby grinned. "Fair."

Sophia shook her head, unable to fight her own smile. "Why do you care what my best friend thinks?"

"I don't." He shrugged. "I'm just curious what stories you've told about me."

"None flattering."

"Even the one where you almost kissed me?"

Her stomach flipped. "That never happened."

He raised a brow. "Didn't it?"

Sophia forced herself to focus on her screen. "We're wasting time."

"You're avoiding the question."

"And you're still twelve years old."

Bobby laughed softly. And damn it, it was a nice laugh. Warmer than she remembered.

Sophia swallowed hard. "Let's get back to work."

"For now," he said lightly, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of memory. A hint of unfinished business.

Sophia ignored it. Or tried to.

But her mind drifted back to Priya's words.. Kiss..

No. Absolutely not.

Except her pulse was already racing