Blurred Lines Book 1: Chase

6|Dinner?

~Sofia~

I sipped my coffee to hide my face from them, but choked on it. After seeing him with Carlota, this news shouldn't surprise me anymore.

Rafael chuckled at my reaction. "Come on, Sofia..." he teases, "you saw him and Carlota. That's the fuck-ups you have to cover up. Are you sure you are in for a wild ride called Chase Montiero?"

Chase huffed, downing the alcohol, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he glared at Rafael.

Clearing my throat, I straightened my spine and met Chase's cool blue eyes. "I've worked with extensively complex clients before, and I did a pretty good job at rebuilding my their image, pushing forward their passion instead of those 'fuck ups.'"

A ghost of a smile crossed Chase's lips, but it's hard to tell if it was out of appreciation for my comment or annoyance.

"Well said," Rafael commented, tucking his hands in his pocket. He peered at the silver clock on the wall, frowning. "Chase."

Chase set his glass on the frosted wood table between us.

"Dinner at eight," he said, standing up to his full height. In response, I stood on my wobbly legs too. My knees felt like jelly. "I'll pick you up."

"What?" I asked, quickly gathering my things.

"You and I, dinner," he reiterated, a little firmer than the first time.

"What?" I parroted, frowning.

Is he asking me out?

A sudden flashback hit me like crashing waves. Chase was Derek's best friend, and I've known him since forever. I was twelve when I saw him making out with some girl from school. And I felt a strange pain in my chest. That's when I started to realize that I had a crush on him. It strengthened as I grew older. At the same time, Chase's list of girlfriends accumulated like bricks crushing my chest.

Yes, they may be envious of my closeness with him, but it also meant that I could not act on my feelings. I was always too young for him. I fantasized about us, though. A happily ever after, a wedding, kids... him asking me out on a date.

I am reminded of that dream. My chest filled, and my heart skipped beats. "D... dinner?"

I want to pinch myself. Am I dreaming? Will I wake up and find myself in my apartment in Boston? God. Will I call this a dream or a laughable nightmare?

"Yes?" Chase replied. "To talk business. I have somewhere else to be. Sorry to cut our meeting short, Sofia."

~~

Tomás, one of Montiero Holdings' company drivers, took me to the penthouse where I'd be staying for the next six months or until I finished working for Chase.

Unlike Rafael, Tomas was a man of few words. Once he opened the door, he dragged my luggage inside and gave me the key card.

"Tenha uma boa noite, Senhorita," he said.

I frowned. I gathered it must be something related to a farewell. "Have a good night, miss," he repeated, catching on to my lack of Portuguese comprehension.

"Oh, you too, Tomás. Thank you."

Once the door closed, I breathed out, the events of this entire day suddenly crashed on my shoulder.

I sank down on the nearest couch; the leather protesting at my weight. The first thing I noticed when we entered this place was the smell, like a five-star hotel... leathers and roses. I scanned the entirety of the penthouse. It was warm inside, all mirrored glass. Everything was white, gray, and black. The living area is larger than my apartment. A glass door on the far wall leads onto a balcony overlooking Rio de Janeiro as it slowly comes to life at night.

To my right was the kitchen area. In front of the glass wall was a dining table that could fit twelve people. Oh, there's even a grand piano tucked in the corner. Beautiful artwork adorns the wall in different shapes and sizes, breaking the white, black, and gray aesthetic.

This place looked like a cutout from a magazine. I can't believe this is the lodging Georgia forgot to mention. She's one for luxury. If she knew this was part of this deal, maybe she'd even take this one personally.

I want to sink deeper into this very comfy couch, but I remember my dinner with Chase. I only had three more hours to go.

The wheels of my luggage rolled silently against the marble floor as I searched for my room. There were four rooms in the penthouse. The first one was the gym... "nice," I whistled, admiring the complete amenities which would be within my reach.

'Just how rich is Chase Montiero?'

The next door to the gym was a home office. An endless collection of books lined one wall, and I can't wait to check it out on a closer light on my off.

On the other side were the bedrooms. The first one was locked, and the next wasn't. Stepping inside, I was in awe of the view from the sliding glass door. Leaving my luggage by the side of the bed, I threw my messenger bag and headed to open it, the warm breeze caressing my skin.

Hands clutching the railings, I closed my eyes and tipped my head back, soaking in the warm air. I could see the clutter and buzz of the city down below, but I couldn't hear them from the twentieth floor. I wanted to stay there longer, but I still had to cross out the few tasks on my to-do list.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I dreaded the next thing I must do. I pulled out my phone and laptop, turning both on. As expected, my phone notification was like pellets of rain hitting the ground... from the office, from my colleagues. I scrolled through the screen, and as if she knew I was online, my best friend's name flashed on the screen.

I took a deep breath and answered the call. "Hey, Jess!" I greeted.

"Sofia Adeline Collins!" I pulled the phone away from my ears, saving my poor eardrums. At arm's length, her enraged tone could blow up my eardrums.