Chapter 26

Vince

As I stood at the doorway of Sophia's suite, a sense of finality settled over me. My arm brushed against hers as we watched the maids and guards make their way up the stairs, carrying pieces of my life into her space. She hadn't protested much after I'd made the decision, though I could feel the tension in the air between us. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, but she didn't look back. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared ahead, focused on the commotion of people moving in and out.

I could feel her discomfort, but I wasn't about to back down now. This wasn't just about logistics—it was about us. The distance between us was no longer just physical, and I needed to be closer to her in more ways than one. Moving in was the first step, and I wasn't going to let her retreat into the safety of her own suite like nothing had changed between us.

"You're sure about this?" Sophia's voice broke the silence, but she still didn't look at me.

I turned my head toward her, watching her carefully. Her posture was stiff, defensive. It was the same stance she took when she felt out of control. I knew this move was a lot for her, maybe too much too soon, but I couldn't pretend it didn't make sense for us.

"I'm sure." My voice was steady, but I kept it soft, not wanting to push her too hard. "We're not just playing house, Sophia. This is real. I want to be here with you."

She bit her lip, her eyes following the movement of a large leather armchair that two of the guards were hauling into the suite. It was one of my favorite pieces, a place where I could sit and think, plan, and decompress after a long day. Now, it was being placed in her space—our space.

"I guess I just thought we'd have more time to figure things out," she muttered.

I leaned against the doorframe, the weight of her words settling over me. "You don't need more time. We've been figuring things out for a while now. This is just the next step."

She exhaled sharply, finally looking up at me, her eyes searching my face. "But what if I'm not ready for this? What if this is moving too fast?"

I stepped closer, my hand finding the small of her back, gently guiding her to face me. "Sophia, I'm not trying to take away your independence. I just... I don't want to be apart from you. Not anymore."

Her eyes softened for a moment, but I could still see the flicker of uncertainty there. She was a woman who valued her space, her ability to make decisions for herself. I admired that about her, but I also knew when to push—when to pull her closer even when she was trying to put up walls.

"Look," I said, lowering my voice, "this isn't about controlling you or your life. This is about me wanting to be where you are, all the time."

For a moment, she didn't say anything, just held my gaze like she was trying to figure out if she could believe my words.

One of the maids passed by us, carrying a stack of books that belonged to me, and Sophia's gaze flickered over to the scene in her suite. Her expression was a mix of curiosity and reluctance, but beneath it all, I could tell she was warming up to the idea. Even if she wasn't ready to admit it yet.

"I like my space," she said, though her voice had lost some of its earlier conviction. "I like things to be... in order."

I smirked, stepping back and crossing my arms. "Are you saying I'm messy?"

She glanced up at me, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "I'm saying you have a lot of... stuff."

I couldn't help but laugh. "It's just the essentials. Besides, you'll help me keep things organized, right?"

She rolled her eyes, the tension between us easing slightly as the conversation shifted. I watched as the maids continued setting my things into her—our—suite. The guards moved with precision, each item placed carefully as if they knew this was more than just a logistical move. It was symbolic.

Sophia sighed beside me, rubbing the back of her neck as if the weight of the day had finally caught up to her. I reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

She nodded but didn't say anything for a moment. Finally, she turned to me, her eyes clear, though still holding that familiar fire. "I'll get used to it. But don't expect me to give up all my closet space."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied, leaning down to brush a kiss across her forehead.

As we stood there, a sudden burst of energy raced down the hall. I barely had time to register the sound of paws hitting the marble floors before Mr. Barksalot, Sophia's dog, skidded to a halt in front of us, his tail wagging furiously. He was clearly excited by all the activity, his tongue lolling out as he looked up at us, waiting for attention.

Sophia's face lit up at the sight of him, and she crouched down, holding out her arms as Mr. Barksalot bounded toward her. "Hey, buddy! Look who finally decided to show up!"

The dog gave a happy bark, tail whipping back and forth as he leaned into Sophia's embrace. I watched her pet him, the tension easing from her body as she focused on the dog, her fingers running through his fur.

But then, to my surprise, Mr. Barksalot turned toward me, his tail wagging just as enthusiastically. He trotted over, nudging his nose against my leg and looking up at me with those big, soulful eyes, practically demanding my attention.

I couldn't help but smile as I reached down to pet him. "Looks like someone's trying to make friends," I muttered, scratching behind his ears. He leaned into my hand, his tail thumping against the floor.

Sophia looked up, a laugh escaping her lips. "Looks like he likes you now. Don't get too cocky, though. He's just buttering you up for more treats."

"I'll take it," I said with a grin, continuing to scratch Mr. Barksalot's ears. "He's a smart dog. Knows who to cozy up to."

She rolled her eyes but smiled, and I knew we were getting somewhere. Maybe the dog was the key to easing the tension between us.

"Come on," I said, standing up and offering her my hand. "Let's see how everything's coming along inside."

Sophia hesitated for a moment but eventually took my hand, letting me pull her up to her feet. Together, we walked into the suite, following the steady stream of workers as they placed the last of my things into the space. It still felt strange, seeing my belongings in her suite, like two worlds colliding, but in a way, it felt right. Like this was where I was supposed to be.

Mr. Barksalot followed us, trotting behind happily, as if he was just as invested in this new arrangement as we were.

The room was starting to take shape, though it still had the feel of Sophia's space—soft, elegant, and undeniably her. But now, there were traces of me woven in, subtle hints of our worlds merging. My leather armchair sat by the window, my books lining a shelf she hadn't used. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was enough to remind her that I was here, and I wasn't going anywhere.

Sophia wandered around the room, her fingers grazing the spines of the books on the shelf, her gaze distant. I gave her space, knowing she needed time to process. This was a big step, for both of us, and I wanted her to feel like she was part of the decision, not just swept along by it.

"Still think it's too much?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe, watching her carefully.

She turned to me, her eyes scanning the room before landing on me. "It's not about being too much. It's just... different. I've never done this before."

I pushed off the doorframe, walking toward her. "Neither have I."

Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, the air between us felt heavy again, but this time, it was different. There was an understanding there, a shared vulnerability that we didn't often show each other. We were both stepping into new territory, but we were doing it together.

Sophia took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Okay," she said, her voice soft but steady. "We'll figure this out."

I smiled, relief washing over me. "We will."

As the last of the maids and guards filed out of the suite, leaving us alone in the newly shared space, I walked over to the large windows, pulling the curtains back to reveal the view of the sprawling estate. The horses grazed in the distance, the sun casting a warm, golden glow over the fields.

I felt her come up beside me, her shoulder brushing against mine as she looked out at the view. We stood there in comfortable silence, watching the world outside, our lives shifting around us, but in that moment, it felt like we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

Mr. Barksalot padded over, flopping down at our feet with a contented sigh. I glanced down at him, then at Sophia, and couldn't help but smile. This was the beginning

I allowed myself a rare moment of calm, my mind briefly shutting out all the chaos that had led up to this point.

Then, the knock on the door shattered that peace like a stone breaking still water.

I strode across the room and pulled open the door. And there he was.

Luca, with that cocky smirk plastered across his face, leaning against the doorframe like he owned the place. His dark eyes flicked from me to the space behind me, no doubt taking in the scene, before they landed on Sophia. His smirk widened.

"Well, well, well," Luca drawled, pushing himself off the doorframe and stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Look at you, Vince. Moving in already? Didn't think you were the domesticated type."

I crossed my arms over my chest, giving him a hard look. "What do you want, Luca?"

He waved a hand dismissively, brushing past me and making his way toward the center of the room. His eyes gleamed with mischief as they swept over the newly shared space, lingering on the small details that marked the blending of my life into Sophia's.

"Oh, nothing much," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just thought I'd drop by and offer my congratulations."

Sophia stepped forward, her arms crossed, eyebrow arched. "Congratulations for what?"

Luca turned to face her, grinning like he was about to deliver the punchline to a joke. "For finally snagging this guy," he said, gesturing at me with a tilt of his chin. "Word around the house is, you two are officially shacked up. The maids and guards downstairs are buzzing about it like a bunch of schoolkids. 'Did you hear? Vince is moving in with Sophia!'"

He mimicked their voices with exaggerated whispers, his grin widening as he saw the faint flush creeping into Sophia's cheeks.

I groaned inwardly. Of course, Luca had overheard the gossip. The man had a way of finding out every piece of information before anyone else even knew it existed. I shot him a warning look, but he just laughed, clearly enjoying himself.

"I always knew you had a soft spot, Vince," he continued, stepping closer and giving me a mock pat on the shoulder. "And look at you now, all moved in, playing house."

Sophia's face hardened as she stared Luca down, but I could see the slight embarrassment flicker in her eyes. I wasn't going to let him rile her up, not now. I stepped forward, blocking Luca's view of her, my voice cold and flat.

"Are you done?"

Luca raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "Relax, relax. I'm just messing around." He turned back to Sophia, giving her a more genuine nod. "But seriously, congratulations. You've somehow managed to get him to settle down. Never thought I'd see the day."

Sophia didn't smile, but she didn't snap at him either. She just kept her gaze steady, arms crossed, clearly not interested in entertaining any more of Luca's teasing.

"That all you came for?" I asked, my patience running thin.

Luca's expression shifted slightly, the playful glint in his eyes dimming. He glanced at Sophia, then back at me, his grin faltering for just a moment before returning, though less convincingly.

"Actually, no," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I need to talk to you. Privately."

I felt the shift in his tone immediately. Whatever had brought him here wasn't just about teasing. I gave him a sharp nod and turned to Sophia.

"Give us a minute?"

Her gaze flickered between me and Luca before she nodded. "Sure," she said quietly, though I could see the curiosity in her eyes. She walked over to the window, her posture stiff, but she didn't press for details.

I gestured for Luca to step out into the hallway. As soon as the door closed behind us, the tension in his posture became more apparent. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something far more serious.