Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 26

-Sofia-

Nerves brewing inside me, I put a gloss over my already rosy lips. Dangling from my ears were small delicate diamond drop earrings. With fifteen minutes to spare, I grabbed my clutch and headed out of the closet. On my way, I catch sight of myself in the mirror. I took a long hard look at the image before me, and my lips trembled. I bit on it, gaze skimming on my reflection. The sequin material of the dress wrapped every curve, every line of my frame as if it was tailored to my very body. It flows down to the ankle, the strappy heels adding sparkle to the look with each step I take, peeking into the long slit.

Doubt seized me. Kyle would never let me wear something as revealing as this. When I inspected the two dresses, I instantly recognized which one was from Chase. The low neckline, not allowing me to wear a bra, and the deep cut in the back were my cues. This isn't me. At least this Sofia hasn't been around for a while. The spontaneous me.

The buzzer ring. I snapped out of my self-doubt, sinking back into reality.

Georgia was at the door, speaking to Rafael. He was in a classic tuxedo, looking handsome with his brushed-back hair. He consciously drew on the bow tie as he spoke to Georgia. I smiled. He looks adorably uncomfortable in his attire.

He caught my eyes, lips curving into a wide grin. "I've never been more wrong in my life," he murmured quietly. My brows furrowed.

"What?" I asked, confused. "Did you send me the second dress?"

His eyes sl*nted. "Second dress?" He parroted.

Georgia, confused, passed glances between Rafael and me. He chuckles. "Interesting," he mumbled, eyes dancing with excitement. I wanted to press him further, but he glanced back at Georgia. "You must be Georgia. I'm Rafael." He reached for her hand and kissed the back of it. "I heard so much about you.

Georgia glanced at me, cheeks tinted pink. "You did?" I shrugged, still lost in my head, lost in Rafael's riddles. "All good things, I hope."

"They were. But Sunshine forgot to mention the part where you are utterly stunning.

I rolled my eyes and watched as Georgia's cheeks turned beet red. "Thank you," she murmured shyly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears.

Jessica would kill to see Georgia being smitten this way. She had many suitors back in Boston, yet not one of them made her blush like this with a compliment.

Rafael bit his lip, drinking in Georgia in her red dress. They both had googly eyes.

I clapped my hand, startling them both. "We need to get going," I said, watchful of the time. We needed to be there before the event starts.

For some reason, my insides had been in chaos as the limo pulled to a complete stop in the hotel roundabout. Georgia and I held Rafael's arms as we entered the lobby. A piece of swing music drifted from the ballroom. The organizing team, servers, Mich and Carlos, the marketing department head, were busy prepping for the guest's arrival.

Rafael kept Georgia company while I oversaw the event's details, ensuring we hadn't missed a single detail. Guests started to arrive. Mich and Carlos welcomed them, guiding them to their seats.

I stayed on the sideline, standing by the bar, and admired the outcome of our hard work. It seems Georgia would be occupied the entire night. Rafael was whisking her with ease on the dance floor, lost in their own world. They look good together. I hope something good comes out of this.

Sure that everything was going as planned, I slipped onto the second floor, choosing a balcony on the far end to get some air. I still have time before the speeches, and the auction for the fundraiser starts.

A glass of champagne at hand. I stepped out onto the balcony and sighed, smiling.

I can't believe I managed to do this without my team. Working with Mich had been a breath of fresh air. It kept my problems at bay. It kept my mind busy.

"Thought I'd find you here." My shoulders went rigid as Kyle's familiar voice chimed behind me.

I turned. Chills coated my skin as I met his dark eyes. He took my appearance while I drank him in pressed and tailored to his build, noting the red tie.

"W... what are you doing here?" I felt suffocated by the sight of him in the open space. He was blocking my only way out. The idea of jumping twenty feet into the garden seemed a better option than speaking with him.

"I am a guest," he said, stepping forward. I took a step back, my backside hitting the solid railings. My hold on the flute glass tightened, my heart knocking down the walls of my ribcage.

"You are not on the list," I stated confidently. I had been holding the guest list since Monday, and I wouldn't miss his name if he was there.

"Ramona Fernandes," he murmured, crossing my personal space. He looked down at me, blue hues skimming down the exposed skin on my chest. I've never felt this vulnerable. Kyle had always been gentle with me. And this man had a purpose. I could see it in his eyes. He was undressing me.

I knew that name. She's a board member's daughter.

"I'm her plus one," he lifted his hand, reaching for my cheeks. "You look beautiful in this dress," he said, cupping my face. "Better than the one I sent you."

"Kyle," my breath hitched. I rested the flute glass on the railing, afraid I would drop it. "Why are you here? Why are you doing this?"

"You know why...." He said, forcing me to look him in the eyes. Pleading blue eyes met my misting one. "I want you back, Sofia."

I closed my eyes, my inside humming, relishing the sound of his voice uttering those words. I've thought of this moment, dreamt of it since I left Boston, wondering how it would feel to have this man who broke my heart begging me to come back. It was a dream.Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. I never thought it would happen. Now I am lost for words. I break away from his intense eyes, blinking, trying to recover my balance. Stepping to the side, I respired when Kyle allowed me to have my personal space back.

I finished the champagne. "I can't, Kyle." Emotions blocked my throat. "You are marrying Katerina in three weeks. You shouldn't be here saying those words."

A low growl came from Kyle. Hands in his pants pocket, he stood beside me and stared at the lively city of Rio. "I'm not marrying anyone unless it's you, Sofia. It was a mistake to let you walk out on me. A mistake I don't intend to repeat." He spoke with finality, turning my world upside down.

Breathe, Sofia. Breathe. Think of the progress you already made here on moving on. Falling back in his arms will take all of that away from you.

"We are done," I said, licking my dry lips. "You ended us the night you slept with Katerina."

"I didn't sleep with her, Sofia."

I scoffed. "She's pregnant! How do you explain that?"

Kyle faced me, dark eyes settling on my face. I met his hard gaze. He's mad. I am too. How dare he try to fool me? "There's a lot of things I want to tell you. That's why I've been calling since the last time we met. If you spared me ten minutes, we wouldn't be talking like this... we'd be making love. I'd be taking that dress off you and worshiping your body like it's my salvation."

My inside shivered, remembering all the times we'd spent together. I missed him, his touch, his kisses, his embrace at night, but I cannot let my need for him cloud my mind.

"If you hadn't slept with Katerina, we wouldn't be having this conversation at all, Kyle," I stated firmly. "I don't want to listen to your explanation."

He is good at turning any situation in his favor. No doubt he'd be using that to his advantage. I am saving myself from headaches and heartaches by refusing to listen to him.

I spin, determination coursing through my system. "Leave me be. Let me move on, and you focus on your family with Katerina. You two are good for each other. She fits perfectly in your life, Kyle. You don't need to sacrifice anything by being with her."

Warm liquid streams down my cheeks. I hate that I am crying before him, but I need to say my peace. "I appreciate what we had. I will remember us, but I can't look past the pain you brought me.

I still care for you, but I have to figure out my next move, and you being here is making things hard for me."

Kyle regarded me sorrowfully. He pressed his lips on a hard line, reaching for my face, his thumb swiping my tears. "I hate to see you cry, Sofia, but I am not giving up. I can't give up. I love you."