C23 The Other Side Of The Door

Sophia held a paintbrush as she stood in the brightly illuminated studio in front of her easel.

She made an effort to concentrate and lose herself in the cadence of her strokes, but her thoughts kept returning to the kiss with Lucas.

She could still feel the heat of it, the hidden promises it held, each time she closed her eyes. She reprimanded herself, "Sofia, focus," and tightened her hold on the brush.

She was startled out of her reverie by the gentle creak of the studio door opening. Lucas was leaning against the doorway with his sleeves rolled up, his tie loosened, and that ubiquitous smirk tugging at the corner of his lips when she turned around.

Though the fire in his eyes betrayed him, he asked casually, "Busy?"

Sophia stood up straight, resolved to resist his influence. “Indeed. Some of us have due dates, deadlines.”

Lucas shut the door behind him and entered. "Time constraints can wait."

She brushed a lock of hair away from her face and said firmly, "Not if you want this painting finished."

As always, his presence was dominating as he stepped closer. "Is that how you say I'm interfering?"

"Lucas," she said sharply, but her determination faltered in the face of his mocking stare.

"I just wanted to say that," he continued, pausing a few steps from her. "You might want to rest for a while. Get your mind straight.”

She tried to seem assured as she said, "I don't need a break. I need you to, like, stop—"

"Mispronouncing the lines?" He raised an eyebrow in interruption.

She blushed as she answered, "Yes. This should be done professionally."

Lucas gave a warm, low laugh. "Sophia, considering what went down last night and this morning…last night especially, I believe we've passed being professionals.”

She turned her face away shyly and muttered an expletive under her breath. Forcing herself to remain cool although her heart skipped a beat, she "Well, we still need to differentiate work from…..”

“From what?” Lucas teased her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ignoring his antics, Sophia returned to her canvas. "Lucas, I have to work, get this done in time."

He remained silent for a while, and the emptiness between them was oppressive.

Then she heard his retreating footsteps, which relieved her and at the same time, disappointed her. "All right," he said, his voice light but slightly menacing. “I’ll let you get back to work. For now.”

Sophia let out a breath and put a palm to her chest as the door snapped shut. She couldn't allow her emotions to interfere or let him divert her attention.

But the more she tried to concentrate, the more she couldn't help but be curious about everything going on.

***********************************************

Sophia found herself standing in front of the enigmatic door on the top floor that evening after the house had become quiet.

She knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t resist. She was drawn to that place and the secrets it probably contained.

There was something about the way Lucas lured her away from it when he took her to browse the floor. And the hum from within? There was also the fact that no one ventured there like the rest of the mansion.

Her heart was pounding as her hand lingered over the doorknob. She was about to attempt the lock once more when she was startled by a deep voice.

“Are you trying to find something?” Lucas was standing at the end of the corridor, his brows raised as she turned around.

“I was just...” she started, but the words deserted her.

“I should have known you're this curious and impatient," he stated as he approached her slowly. “You always are.”

Sophia tried to hide her humiliation by crossing her arms. "Maybe you should not have so many secrets if you didn't want me to be interested."

A few feet away, Lucas came to a halt, his eyes sharp. “And maybe you shouldn’t go snooping around my house. I believe this is not the first time.”

She surprised herself with her boldness and shot back, "Maybe if you trusted me, I wouldn't have to."

Lucas's jaw tensed, and she briefly feared that he would snap. However, a slight, almost melancholy smile appeared on his lips as his shoulders relaxed. "You're genuinely curious about what's inside?" His voice was softer now as he inquired.

She answered without hesitation, "Yes."

He looked at her for a long time, as though considering his options. At last, he reached into his pocket and produced a key, which he extended to her.

He answered, "You have a right to know the truth." Sophia's heart was racing as she gazed at the key in his hand.

This was it—the moment she’d been waiting for. She was wondering, though, if she was prepared for what might be on the other side of the door as she reached for it.