Chapter 142 - Getting closer (5)

Sophia heard Sarah's question about what is in her heart, and responded, "I don't understand."

"You are talking about love, feelings... not about some business proposal. It has nothing to do with mind. You need to ask yourself what your heart wants.", Sarah explained.

"Not long in love, and already a love guru", JoAnna teased Sarah.

Sophia ignored JoAnna's comment. She was thinking about what Sarah said. "I don't know how to find out what my heart wants."

Sarah responded without hesitation, "I realized how much Aiden means to me when I thought how I would feel if he is not part of my life. The thought of losing him made my heart ache. Whenever I'm with him, I feel like anything is possible.

Sophia, this is not about Mark or Felix, it's about you. How do they make you feel? Does any of them make you feel stronger, bolder? Do you feel safe with any of them?

Maybe both of them are good for you... can you pick one? And maybe neither of them is good."

There was a long silence.

JoAnna was admiring Sarah while listening to the advice she just gave to Sophia. 'I'm happy that Sarah found her love.' From the types of questions, she asked Sophia, JoAnna can tell that Sarah is deeply in love and that she understands her feelings well. 'Will I ever fall in love so madly that I would only think about being with my love? Will I find a man who makes me stronger?' JoAnna thought how it would be nice if she finds a man who makes her grow as a person and become stronger. Among three sisters she is always the timid one. She is always the one being protected by older brave and younger reckless sister.

After few minutes of not moving a muscle except for blinking, Sophia finally nodded. "I need to think about these things. Once I come to a conclusion, I will make sure to clear up things with Mark and Felix. Last six years I was not firm enough in rejecting Mark, so he holds onto a hope that someday I will accept him, and we can be a couple again. And now I'm leading Felix to think that relationship between us is possible, without clarifying my heart first."

There was another period of silence.

"Thank you, thank you both." Sophia said. "I will got get ready for bed now." Sophia dropped from the conference call without waiting for her sisters to respond.

JoAnna frowned, "This is the second time she did this. Are we going to talk about the Simmons or not?"

Sarah smiled, "Let's leave it for next time. There is no rush, few days of delay will not mean much to us. But Sophia needs this time, she looks troubled."

"I know, and I agree." JoAnna admitted. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing great. How are things on your side?"

"All is as usual. Life is good, steady and boring. Looking at you two I can't help but wonder: where is my prince charming?", JoAnna pouted.

Sarah laughed, "Well, that is something I can't help you with."

JoAnna is in her apartment, sitting in front of the PC, watching Sarah laugh on the window of video conference call. "It seems that you, ladies, finished", JoAnna heard Aiden's voice from the speaker of her PC. JoAnna could see that Sarah shifted her head to the side and nodded. Sarah was smiling while looking away from the camera, and then her expression changed into one of shock. Sarah quickly glanced at the screen and then back to the side. "JoAnna is still online", Sarah said in a rushed voice. "Wish her good night", Aiden's voice was heard. Sarah looked at the screen and awkwardly smiled, "It seems we are calling it a night, talk to you later..." the camera view moved as Sarah started closing her laptop, JoAnna could now see the keyboard. She heard Sarah panic, "Wait, wait...". Aiden's muffled voice drifted through the speakers "Oh, baby...". Then they got disconnected. It seems that one of them closed the laptop and ended the conference call.

JoAnna was not moving, she looked at her screen and blinked few times with a blank expression. After some time, her eyebrows got raised. 'Did they just...? Are they right now...?' She took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair. "My prince charming... where are you?" JoAnna sighed. Both of her sisters had love in their life now, yet she still didn't find anyone who would move her heart.

...

Next few days Felix was coming to CEO office to pick up Sophia for lunch, but every time Sophia's secretary gave him the same answer: "CEO Hill went out, and she will be back later." Felix didn't try to contact her other than at lunch time. Sophia and Felix attended several meetings together, but their interaction was kept professional.

Every day flowers arrived for Sophia, orchids and carnations filled her office.

Sophia was looking at the flowers, and sighed, feeling guilty.

She tried to analyze her feelings. For hundredth time. She definitely has feelings for Felix. But is that enough for a relationship? Sophia can't deny that he is handsome, and charming, and smells nice, and those muscles… she still remembers shape of his forearm… and those eyelashes… and lips… Sophia forgot where her mind was originally going. She closed her eyes, and Felix's image appeared in front of her, and he was smiling… one adorable dimple on each of his handsome cheeks. And he is tall… and that voice with French accent enters through her ears, shakes her core and hits right into her heart. 'Am I daydreaming about him? Is this how it feels when you like someone?' Sophia was not sure. But she finds that her thoughts often drift toward Felix.

It was close to lunch time, so Sophia put her coat on and headed toward the elevator. Sophia thought how long this game of evade-Felix-for-lunch will last while she pushed the button to call the elevator.