Chapter 195 - Party at Hill villa (4)

Sophia led Felix to the area of the villa where older generation gathered. Sophia left Felix with her father, exchanged glances with Stella, and then went back to join her sisters.

Stella saw that Edward is talking to Felix and introducing him to other people in the room. She was pleasantly surprised to see that Edward accepted him without any issues and breathed out in relief.

"Sam, come here to meet someone!", Edward called out to his good friend. "This here is Felix. He is our new star in security area."

"Really? Sam Peterson... Nice to meet you.", Sam extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you too." Felix shook his hand. "Peterson? That sounds familiar."

Sam shrugged. "It is not an uncommon last name." Sam looked at Felix and rubbed his chin. "I'm interested in your area of expertise, maybe we can meet up and talk..."

Edward interrupted him. "Don't even think about it. We found him first." He looked at Felix and shared a background story. "Sam here is interested in small devices and for years he is trying to poach our talent for his small company."

"What small? We are doing just fine." Sam lifted his nose defiantly.

Edward snickered, "Hehehe... if you say so."

"I would not try to poach of YOUR talent if you accept to work with me." Sam told Edward.

Edward shook his head. "My friend, your conditions are not favorable for me... you know that." Edward got serious. "Friendship is one thing, and business is another. And keep your hands off of Felix, you don't stand a chance."

"Oh, how come you are so confident?" Sam looked like he is ready for a quarrel.

Edward raised his nose and said proudly. "He just might be my son-in-law."

"I thought that Sarah is dating some student." Sam was suspicious.

Edward chuckled. "Did you forget that I have three very capable daughters?"

"How can I forget? You always talk about them...", Two of them laughed while glaring at each other. Felix was still dazed from when Edward said that he might be his son-in-law. Did he really accept him to such a degree? Isn't a bit too fast to call him son-in-law? It's not that he minds… but he didn't think about it.

In truth, Edward was not comfortable to call Felix his son-in-law, but he wanted to make a point to Sam that he can't have Felix.

After some time, Edward took Felix to another person. "Hey, Mark, here is someone you should meet."

Mark and Felix exchanged poisonous glares. Edward didn't notice and continued enthusiastically. "Felix just joined our company. He could use few friends... you are both young and capable, that means you have at least two things in common."

"We met... and we definitely have more than that in common." Mark said through teeth.

"Yes, we did meet. It's just that one of our common THINGS is NOT interested in you." Felix responded, making a big emphasis on few words as he spoke.

Edward noticed strange atmosphere and decided that it's best to move on. "Ehm... good that you met already, that is good..." He turned to Felix. "Right, let's go there..." Edward ushered him. "I want to introduce you to Robert, he is..."

Mark looked after them with a sour face. Then he got an idea. 'If Felix is here, that means that Sophia is not with him.' Marks eyes lit up and he left the room swiftly.

...

In the playroom where younger generation was, Mark entered and headed straight toward Sophia who was chatting with JoAnna and few other young ladies.

"Hi, Sophia... can we talk?" Mark was polite, and almost timid.

"Talk", Sophia responded coldly.

"Ehm... in private, please?" Mark pleaded with his eyes. He could not say what he wanted to say in front of others.

JoAnna shoot a warning look to Sophia.

Sophia nodded to JoAnna that she understood. "It's OK... I feel we need to clear up few things if we are going to move on." She turned towards Mark. "Let's go." She walked out of the room, and he followed behind.

Sarah didn't miss this. She took Aiden's hand and walked to JoAnna. "What was that?"

JoAnna shook her head helplessly. "He wanted to talk in private. Big sis said that they should clear up some things."

Sarah frowned. "I just hope that if Felix comes before big sis returns, he does not misunderstand." Sarah was concerned for Sophia and Felix.

Aiden put his hand on Sarah's shoulder to comfort her.

Sarah looked at him feeling grateful to have him by her side.

...

Sophia and Mark walked next door, to the swimming pool and she stopped in the locker room area which was visually blocked from the party. "We can talk here. No one should disturb us. What do you want?"

"Don't be so cold... I just want to understand what is going on." Mark calmly said.

"Which part you don't understand?" Sophia was certain that he is pretending. How come he does not understand that she is with Felix?

Mark's tone changed. In a cold voice he asked. "When will you stop playing with Felix and come back to me?"

Sophia was exasperated. "Mark... we are not together for more than six years. You know that, right?"

Mark didn't like her tone. He squinted his eyes. "What happened after that does not mean anything to you?"

"Do you call that a relationship? I don't."

"I see you are stubborn... I can wait." Malicious smile showed on his face. "You will get bored of him sooner or later."

Sophia shook her head. "Mark, I hope that you will move on... I did." She looked at him and said honestly. "Felix showed me what means to love someone... Even if in the future we end up breaking up, I will not get back to you. Can you understand that?"

Marks face darkened. He looked at Sophia with cold eyes and slowly advanced towards her. Sophia never saw him like this, and she sensed danger.