Filed to story: The Billionaire Trying Hard to Win Her Heart Novel (Sophie & Tristan) >>
“We brought you food,” Sophie patiently explained.
“Food? All right. Just stay there. I’m coming back right away.”
After ending the call, Tristan grabbed his suit jacket and prepared to leave.
“Mr. Tristan, where are you going? We haven’t even started eating.”
Felix got to his feet and hurried after Tristan.
“You guys should continue. I need to head back to the office.”
Charles asked, “What’s wrong? Is Lombard Group going bankrupt?”Sean added, “You think? It definitely has something to do with Ms. Sophie.”
Only that girl possesses such a hold on him.Felix was rendered speechless.Forget it. After all, I’m just someone who’s being resented. Despite all my efforts, Ysabelle doesn’t appreciate me at all.In the meantime, Ysabelle was disheartened by the fact that she was barred from entering Lombard Group even though she was a Lombard.
“Let’s just sit over there. I’ve called Mr. Tristan to come and pick us up.”
Sophie dragged Ysabelle to the lounge of the lobby.
“Girls, Lombard Group isn’t the place for you to mess around. Can both of you please leave?”If management sees the two students here, we’ll lose our jobs!“You had better not go too far! Didn’t I tell you that I’m here to see Mr. Tristan?” Ysabelle raged.
“I know that Mr. Tristan is the epitome of a man and is irresistibly charming. However, he has no interest in women at all, so please leave!”Ysabelle snapped, “Does my uncle know that you think of him that way?”Having no interest in women? Is she really talking about Uncle Tristan?Sophie was speechless.Tristan isn’t interested in women? In that case, was it a phantom that hit on me?“It’s true. There has never been a woman by Mr. Tristan’s side. Both of you should just give up.”
Tristan, who had just returned, was walking up to the girls when he overheard the receptionist’s comments.How can she say something like that in front of the girl I fancy? Tristan’s face turned grim.
“Mr. Tristan?”Not expecting Tristan to come back at that time, the receptionist was shocked to the core.
“Mr. Tristan, these two girls insist on seeing you. I’m in the midst of getting them to leave.”
The receptionist finally found her voice.
“There is no need to. Come, let’s go up to the ninetieth floor.”
Tristan took over the food the two girls brought. “This is Ms. Tanner. When she comes to see me next time, please escort her straight to my office on the ninetieth floor.”
The receptionist was dumbstruck, as Sophie was the first ever girl allowed to do that.
“Who is that girl? Why does Mr. Tristan allow her direct access to the ninetieth floor?”
“Exactly! Even his mother has to call him before she’s allowed to go up.”
“Given her age, can she be Mr. Tristan’s niece?”
“How is that possible? How would his niece have Tanner as a surname?”
“So? Is she supposed to be his girlfriend? But I have never heard that he has one. Don’t you dare give me a shock like that.”
Ysabelle and Sophie followed Tristan into the CEO’s private elevator. Ysabelle was disappointed because she didn’t see Felix around.
“Uncle Tristan, where’s Felix? Isn’t he with you?” Ysabelle finally got the burning question off her chest.
“Oh, he didn’t come to the office today.”
Even though Felix stayed by his side to gain experience, there were many times the former had to deal with the Northley family’s affairs.
“Really?” Ysabelle expressed her doubt. “So be it. I want to see how long he can stay angry for.”
After she had painstakingly made the decision to come here, he ended up being absent.With that, Ysabelle decided she couldn’t be bothered anymore.
“Soph, I’m not feeling well, and I’ll head back first. You should stay for lunch.”
The moment they came out of the elevator, Ysabelle decided to go back.
“What? Weren’t you fine just a moment ago? Why are you feeling under the weather all of a sudden? In that case, I had better go with you.”
It would be so weird for me to eat with Tristan here alone.
“You should have lunch with Uncle Tristan. I’m taking my leave.”
Before Sophie could react, Ysabelle reentered the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby.Subsequently, the elevator doors closed in front of her.So, what’s going to happen now?“Let’s eat,” Tristan suggested, leaving Sophie no choice but to follow him.After leading her to his private suite, Tristan laid the food she brought out on the table.As Ysabelle had bought enough food for four, Sophie and Tristan were shocked to see how much there was.
“Let’s dig in. After that, you can even take a nap,” Tristan said. No matter how busy senior year is, an afternoon nap is still important.After taking her seat, Sophie began to eat.Nevertheless, there was no way they were able to finish the huge amount of food in front of them.At the same time, Tristan obviously knew that the food was from Pegasus Pavilion after tasting it.Once they were done with lunch, Sophie wanted to leave, as she had no idea what she was even doing there.Tristan then handed her a glass of water after clearing the table.Meanwhile, Sophie felt tired and sluggish after having spent the entire night helping Butterfly resolve an issue.When he saw how sleepy she was, Tristan suggested, “Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll wake you at two.”
“I think I should go.”
“Just take a nap. I’ll send you back later.”
Without protesting any further, Sophie easily found her way to the bedroom and lay down on Tristan’s bed.The room was designed with a minimalistic theme, while the bed sheets were jet black in color. Upon lying down, Sophie could instantly feel how comfortable the luxurious fabric was.For some inexplicable reason, she felt that the black sheets were part of Tristan’s unique taste.Before she knew it, she had gradually fallen into a deep sleep on Tristan’s bed.When he entered the room and saw how soundly she was sleeping, Tristan was filled with a sudden sense of satisfaction.At that moment, Sophie was curled up in bed without her school jacket on. She had taken off her jacket before she napped.When he saw the grimace on her face, Tristan furrowed his brows. What’s she dreaming about?Walking over, Tristan kneeled by the bed and held her hand.With his other hand, he gently patted her on the shoulder.Sophie, who was having a nightmare, gradually calmed down. The painful look on her face was then replaced by a blissful smile.Tristan stayed by her side for a long while.It wasn’t until he was sure she was sleeping better that he got up from the bed and observed her.In that instant, he was filled with an overwhelming sense of contentment just from watching her sleep.Sophie, too, didn’t expect that she was able to sleep that soundly.By the time she was awake, it was already half-past three. Walking out of the bedroom, she saw Tristan working in the living room.Given how engrossed he was with work, Sophie didn’t feel like disturbing him and planned to slip out quietly. In the end, he looked up before she could even take two steps.
“Come here.”
For some inexplicable reason, Sophie had never liked to be ordered around.Nevertheless, she quietly obeyed his words at that very moment.When Tristan extended his hand toward her, she gave him a baffled look, which elicited a delightful smile from him.Before she knew it, he pulled her over to sit by his side.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already applied for leave on your behalf. There’s no need for you to return to class in the afternoon.”
“Didn’t you promise to wake me? Why didn’t you?” Sophie had just woken up from a nap. Her languid voice was tinged with sensuality.Tristan couldn’t help but pull her into his embrace and plant a kiss on her cheek.
“You’re so irresistible.”
When Sophie looked up at him, he could feel his being gravitate toward her.Pulling her closer, he gave her lips a kiss.By the time Sophie gathered her senses, she stared at him in surprise.
“Mr. Tristan.”
“Don’t let other men touch you, for it will drive me mad.”
He had initially wanted to give her more time, but whatever self-control he had would always falter in front of her.Sophie blushed, her cheeks and ears turning as red as a tomato.Enchanted by her coy response, Tristan was delighted.Sophie gave him a look before wanting to get off him.Whoever comes in and sees us will definitely get the wrong idea!“Let go of me.”
Sophie began to worry, cognizant of Tristan’s naughty intentions.In spite of that, he had always treated her with respect, causing her to forget that there was an uncompromising beast underneath that facade of the man.Tristan kept her locked in his embrace.
“Do you hear me? I have no desire to wait any longer, as there are just too many men around you.”
With so many men coveting her, he was worried about losing her to someone else.
“No. What gives you the right to demand something like that from me?”Her response intensified his refusal to release her.
“Sophie…”Nonetheless, all he could do was sigh in the face of her defiance.After all, he couldn’t even bring himself to raise his voice at her. Left without a choice, he personally walked her out.As it was still within office hours, the office was filled with staff coming and going. The sight of Tristan escorting a girl in a school uniform in a protective manner triggered mass envy among the female employees of the company.Coincidentally, Charles, with Winter in tow, had arrived at Lombard Group to hand a document over to Tristan. Much to their surprise, they ran into Sophie and Tristan, who were on their way out.When Winter saw that both of them had come down from the ninetieth floor, her expression drastically changed.Even I have never set foot in there. And yet, Sophie gets to access it with such ease?“No wonder you left even though the dishes had already been served. I knew it had to be because of Sophie.”
Charles couldn’t resist teasing him.
“That’s right. Who else could it be, aside from her?” Tristan was totally unabashed about his favoritism toward Sophie.Hearing him say that gave Winter a feeling of tightness in her chest. It was as though she was suffocating from being throttled.
“It’s been a while, Mr. Tristan.”
Winter finally regained her own voice. No matter. It’s not too late so long as they are yet to marry.Tristan merely acknowledge her with a nod.
“Let’s go and get this document signed then. A good thing that I got here in time too, as I wouldn’t know where else I’d be able to find you otherwise.”
“Stick around for a bit. I’ll drive you over later.”
Tristan reiterated as he did not want her to leave on her own.Only after he saw Sophie signal her agreement did Tristan take Charles upstairs. His personal seal had still been left on the ninetieth floor.That left Winter and Sophie inside the lobby.Not the chatty sort, to begin with, Sophie was not that fond of Winter either. Hence, she had no inclination to interact with the latter and simply sat there in silence while she waited.That made Winter feel indignant.A real snobbish one, aren’t you? You’re only getting to remain by Mr. Tristan’s side temporarily, and that’s it. What’s there for you to be so stuck up about?“I heard that Transfix Cosmetics are making real progress under your stewardship, so congrats!” said Winter while she absentmindedly tousled her own hair.Sophie merely grunted and made no attempt to build on the conversation.
“You’ve seen for yourself, Sophie. Mr. Tristan and you aren’t in the same league, no matter how much effort you put in. We ought to be aware of our own limitations so as not to make life any more difficult for ourselves than it needs to be.”
Hearing that elicited a chuckle from Sophie.
“Isn’t that the truth? Given your reputation, never mind the Lombard family, even the Laird family might not think much of you. Being as young as you are, you may not understand where I’m coming from, but I’m only saying this for your own good.”
“For my own good?” Sophie could not stifle a laugh. “Is it because you think that I’m young and impressionable, Ms. Quigley, or because you think I’m a moron? Aren’t you telling me these just to make me leave Mr. Tristan?”That yielded a frown from Winter that the exquisite makeup on her face was unable to mask.Yet, an instant later, she got that smile back up on her face.
“No. Sincerely, I only hope that you may be able to appreciate the reality of the situation for yourself.”
“Mr. Tristan, huh? Perhaps others may think that I’m unfit for him, but I,
Sophie Tanner, am definitely good enough if that’s what I desire.”
Did she seriously believe that I’m some ignorant girl who could be brainwashed that easily?“Don’t you know that there are many things in this world that are immutable and completely beyond your control, Ms. Tanner? Like, the status quo that you’re born into!”
“Ha!” replied Sophie with a sneer. “Are you that lacking in self-confidence? Having to bring in your family background to back you up even in matters of love?”
“Self-confidence? Do you believe that the people in high society do not care about these things? You did not strike me as such a naïve person, Ms. Tanner!”A fling is something else, but when it comes to the question of marriage and having to spend the rest of your lives together, it will no longer be the concern of two individuals; It’s the business of two families.
“The Lombards are a family that you Tanners can never hope to get in with. Besides, you’re the notorious Ms. Sophie, an outcast even to your own family.”
“I see! It looks like I’m really not good enough for Mr. Tristan.”