Chapter 197
Chapter 197:
Heat climbed up my neck and spread across my cheeks. I’d been so absorbed in the moment that I hadn’t seen Andrew standing beside Mrs. Kelley. They both wore identical smiles—wide and amused.
“Come on,” Daniel ordered, taking my hand and placing it firmly back on his arm.
I stayed silent and let him guide me into the enormous hall.
He began by introducing me to a circle of his business partners, wearing a polished smile so sweet it could’ve made ants faint. I kept my expression calm and greeted each person he introduced me to, pretending not to notice how rehearsed his charm seemed. But when we approached one of his friends, everything changed. The smile vanished, his voice cooled, and he barely spared me a glance.
A man who looked to be in his thirties stepped forward with a friendly smile and offered his hand. “Jack. Nice to meet you p>
“Sophia,” I replied, shaking his hand.
He turned, took a glass of wine from a passing server, then offered it to me. “Excuse Daniel’s attitude. He’s been dealing with a lot at the company p>
𝗥𝗲а𝖽 𝗍h𝗲 𝗹𝘢𝗍𝖾s𝘁 t𝗋e𝗇dѕ 𝗈ո.с𝗼𝗆
I smiled as I accepted the glass. “Stressed? I don’t think so. I’m sure even without those problems, he’d act the same. He’d still be cold, arrogant, and rude p>
Jack shook his head and smiled, his eyes showing how much he enjoyed talking to me.
“I like you,” he blurted before it seemed he could stop himself.
I immediately turned toward him. “What did you say p>
“I mean… I liked how you handled him p>
“You mean how you managed to throw bold comments at him and call him arrogant and rude?” He chuckled under his breath. “Exactly. And I liked that you acted in a way none of the other women ever dared to with him p>
“Did it look like I was flirting?” I asked, shaking my head.
“You were seducing him p>
When that word reached my ears, I let out a laugh—while more than fifty people looked our way.
“I would never do that, Jack. Even if he were the last man on Earth, I’d rather die than try to seduce him p>
“Ahh. I really do like you, Sophia. You’re not like the others p>
We were laughing without a care when I spotted Daniel near the entrance with Andrew. His gaze looked sharp enough to cut steel, though I couldn’t tell whether it was aimed at me or his best friend. I chose to pretend I hadn’t seen him and kept my focus on Jack. Because of that, I never noticed Daniel step away from Andrew and leave the hall.
“And how long have you two been friends p>
“Daniel and I?” I asked. “We’ve known each other since college p>
“I see. And that’s why you ended up best friends p>
“Yes. Actually, there were four of us—me, Daniel, Rian, and Alex. You’ll meet them later, because I’m sure they won’t miss Daniel’s event p>
“Even if all this is a sham p>
He met my eyes without blinking.
“Even if it’s a sham,” I replied, and left it at that.
“And you? What were you doing—working or studying?” Jack asked me.
“Working. I was a dance instructor p>