Con

CHAPTER 33

Elijah’s POV

I settled back into my office chair, the familiar surroundings offering some comfort after my business trip to Italy. Connor, my assistant, was updating me on the latest developments when he hesitated, a furrow appearing on his brow.

“Is something wrong, Connor?” I asked, noticing his sudden change in demeanor.

“Well, um, I heard something… about Sophia,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “She’s back here in the city. It seems like she’s planning to stay for a while.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name. Sophia, back here in our city. The thought filled me with a mixture of emotions, but I kept my composure, not wanting to show any vulnerability.

“Thank you for letting me know, Connor,” I replied calmly, though my mind was racing. I wanted to ask more questions, to find out where she was staying, and what she was doing, but I couldn’t bring myself to

do it.

Instead, I focused on the task at hand, trying to push aside the thoughts of Sophia that threatened to

consume me.

She doesn’t want to see me or have anything to do with me, so why should I bother seeing her?

I then remembered how she’d looked at me from afar during her graduation. There was no emotion in her eyes. It was like I was invisible, and it broke my heart.

“And your stepmother has also met up several times with our newest luxury resort investors while you were away,” Connor continued.

That piece of information caught my attention, drawing me back to reality. I narrowed my eyes because I really didn’t want Morgana to get closely involved with company matters. However, I chose not to say anything for the moment. “Thank you, Connor. Is that all?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, you may go.”

When I was finally all alone again, I poured myself a glass of wine and gulped it all down. Slowly Lwalked to the window, thinking about this new project that Morgana had proposed. It was certainly challenging and required an innovative design, especially with the target market in mind. But that wasn’t the reason I first turned it down. It was simply because I didn’t want Morgana to take charge while using my company’s resources. And now she’s meeting up with potential investors already.

“Well, I think it sounds great,” Trevis had told me when we’d talked some time ago while he was still in France. Only a few days ago, he had called me to say he was already back in the US, but we haven’t met up yet.

“I don’t know…” was my reply to him when we had discussed the new development. “This is definitely going to be challenging. We’ll need a skilled designer and architect to work together and be very creative and resourceful, to think outside the box and come up with something new and different.”

“I think I can help you with that.”

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CHAPTER 33

+25 BONUS

“Thanks, Trevis. I appreciate it. Perhaps I’ll consider it… After all, if it turns out very well, then it’ll be very good for the company. If not, then I’ll have a reason to refuse Morgana.”

Trevis had chuckled. “Very clever, Elijah. Good thinking. But I have just the right pair in mind for this project.”

“Alright, Serena can take charge of screening them. I’m assigning her as the program director of this luxury resort project. Send her their details.”

“Okay, sure. I won’t let you down, Elijah. This is the perfect first venture for our partnership in the US.”

“Yeah, let’s see what happens… But hey, listen, enough about that. What’s happening to Chris? Is he still there in Paris?”

“Yes, but I haven’t talked to him yet. I think he’s still trying to convince Julia to have a DNA test.” He sounded sorry. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told him about Julia.”

“Well, it’s too late. Just let him be, I guess. He needs it.

As my mind drifted back to the present, I thought about meeting Trevis later today. He’d sent me a message earlier that we could talk over lunch. Then I remembered seeing him and Sophia talking during her graduation.

Hmmm… What was that about? How do they know each other?

Maybe I’ll find out soon enough.

The hours passed by quickly, and I got immersed in meeting after meeting. When I finally went over to the restaurant where I was supposed to meet Trevis, I was already running late.

In my hurry, right before I rushed through the entrance, I almost collided with a small child about the age of two or three. The beautiful little girl looked up at me and smiled sweetly.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her big, innocent eyes gazing into mine. She was so adorable.

“What a polite little girl!” a familiar male voice exclaimed. I looked up to see Trevis behind her, smiling.

I was about to say something more when I got a good, close look at her. That’s when I felt my heart race. Holy shit! She’s like a miniature version of Sophia! And she even reminds me of Sabrina too.

As Trevis motioned for me to join him toward a nearby table, a strange woman came running forward, taking the little girl’s hand. She looked at me, saying, “I’m sorry she almost hit you”

“Oh, no, it was my fault,” I replied quickly. “I was in a hurry and I didn’t see her coming. Is she your daughter?”

Her eyes widened. She shook her head. “She’s my sister’s child.”

Suddenly, the child gave me a bright smile. “Hello, there! My name is Reese.”

That’s when the woman, her supposed aunt, pulled her away, giving us once again an apologetic look. I couldn’t help but follow them with my eyes as they sat hear a window on the other side of the restaurant. Even when Trevis and I were already seated and eating, I kept glancing in their direction.

“Serena has given the go signal,” Trevis informed me. “Do we have a deal then?”

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CHAPTER 33

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“Sure, I’ll have my people draw up the necessary contracts.”

Trevis went on to tell me about their initial ideas for my latest real estate development. He thanked me as well for partnering with his company. I nodded absentmindedly, my mind still drifting back to the little girl who seemed to have captured my attention.

“Thanks again. Sorry, I need to leave early. I have some more stuff to deal with in our office.” Trevis stood up, shook my hand, and left.

I decided to go to the restroom first before heading back up to my own office. That’s when I saw the little girl, her green eyes fixed on the hallway leading to the restrooms. I wondered if she was waiting for someone. The woman who was with her was busy tapping on her phone’s screen.

As I made my way down the hallway, my mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the little girl, I turned the corner and nearly collided with someone coming out of the restroom.

“Sophia?” I exclaimed, hardly daring to believe my eyes.