Sophie's Life

Chapter 51: The Dinner

**Sophie's POV**  

The dinner party was nothing short of spectacular it was hosted for the final brand launching deal . The ballroom glittered with elegance, filled with the buzz of conversations between executives, influencers, and industry leaders. The grand launch of the eco-friendly luxury product line was more successful than any of us had anticipated.  

Daniel, as always, looked like he owned the room—because he practically did. But tonight wasn't about him or me; it was about celebrating months of hard work.  

Emma was mingling with the press, and I had managed to stay busy entertaining clients and sipping champagne. James was there too, and while I avoided him for most of the evening, I couldn't help but notice Ayla standing a respectable distance away, chatting with Alan. The two of them had split years ago, but there was no denying the history that lingered.  

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**The After-Party**  

By the time the after-party rolled around, the atmosphere had loosened. The crowd had thinned, leaving only close friends, clients, and colleagues. The music was louder, the drinks flowed freely, and the formality of the dinner had given way to a more relaxed vibe.  

James approached me near the bar, a warm smile lighting up his face. "You outdid yourself tonight, Sophie. The launch was incredible."  

"Thanks," I replied, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest. "I'm just glad it's over."  

Before he could respond, Daniel appeared beside me, his presence commanding as ever. "James," he said with a nod.  

"Daniel," James replied, his tone polite but cool.  

It was strange seeing the two of them in the same room, even though I'm sure they might have kept in touch.  

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Later in the evening, as I sat with Alan and Jules, a tipsy client sauntered over. He was slurring his words, clearly drunk, but I tried to be polite.  

"You're... you're stunning, Sophie," he said, leaning closer than I was comfortable with. "Why don't you leave all this corporate stuff and let me take you somewhere... more fun?"  

"Thank you, but I'm fine right here," I said firmly, attempting to move away.  

He grabbed my wrist. "Oh, come on. Don't be like that. You're too pretty to waste your time with these boring guys."  

Before I could react, Daniel appeared out of nowhere, his face dark with anger. "Let her go," he said, his voice low and dangerous.  

The man laughed. "And who are you? Her boyfriend?"  

James wasn't far behind, and his expression mirrored Daniel's. "You heard him. Let her go."  

The drunk man scoffed, but he released my wrist. "Two of you? What is she, some kind of prize?"  

That was the final straw. In a blur of motion, Daniel punched him, followed by James. The man staggered back, clutching his face, as the room fell silent. Alan stepped in to defuse the situation, dragging the man out of the party.  

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**Sophie's POV**  

The adrenaline from the altercation left me shaky, and I reached for a glass of champagne to steady my nerves. James was at my side immediately.  

"You okay?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.  

"I'm fine," I said, though my hands betrayed me with their slight tremor.  

Daniel was watching from a distance, his jaw tight as if he was barely keeping his anger in check.  

---

By the time the party wound down, I was more than tipsy. Between the champagne and the emotional rollercoaster of the evening, I was in no state to drive myself home.  

"I'll take her," Daniel said, his voice leaving no room for argument.  

James hesitated but eventually nodded, his expression unreadable.  

The car ride was quiet at first, the tension between us palpable. I stared out the window, trying to keep my spinning thoughts in check.  

"You didn't have to do that," I said finally, my words slurring slightly.  

"Do what?" Daniel asked, his tone softer now.  

"Fight. Protect me. You always... you always think you have to fix everything."  

"Someone had to," he replied simply.  

---

As the alcohol loosened my tongue, words began spilling out before I could stop them.  

"You know what's funny?" I said, laughing bitterly. "I thought I was over you. After all these years, I told myself it didn't matter anymore. But then you show up, and it's like... like no time has passed."  

Daniel didn't interrupt, letting me continue.  

"And James... God, James. I hated him for so long after Ayla. But it wasn't his fault, was it? It was mine. I always... I always thought he'd choose me."  

I looked over at Daniel, tears brimming in my eyes. "Why can't I just let go of either of you?"  

He didn't respond right away, his expression unreadable as he pulled into my driveway.  

"You're drunk, Sophie," he said softly. "We'll talk about this when you're sober."  

He helped me out of the car, his hand steadying me as I stumbled toward my front door.  

As I fumbled with my keys, I looked up at him, my vision blurred. "You always do this. You're always there when I fall apart. But what happens when you're not?"  

"I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice firm but gentle.  

And for the first time that night, I believed him.