Faint whiffs of lemon lingered in the rooms Mrs. Huang and I had cleaned earlier.
Harley had left hours ago for work, and Mrs. Huang was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Uncle?" I asked.
Mrs. Huang finished washing her hands in the kitchen sink before looking at me. "He left for Hawaii last night."
"Oh."
She grabbed a tall glass from the cupboard and filled it with cold water before taking a seat at the kitchen table.
I sat down opposite her.
She took a sip of water. "You and Harley have been getting along great lately."
I smiled at her while playing with the ends of my hair. "I didn't think we would get to where we are now."
"Harley thinks the world of you," she said with a wink. "I knew he would come around."
Warmth spread across my chest.
I stood before the full-length mirror, admiring my evening look. My hair was straight and draped down my back.
I wore a white T-shirt with medium-wash skinny jeans. Simple. Chic. Cute
Mr. Lu was already waiting in the drivers seat of the BMW at the entrance when I exit the mansion.
I climbed into the backseat on the passwnger side of the car. "Good evening Mr. Lu. Lumen lounge and bar please."
He nodded and drove off.
The mansion slowly disappearing in the background. The ride towards Lumen was quiet, my mind drifted to my conversation with Amy earlier today.
What could be so exciting she had to tell me in person?
I snapped out of my thoughts when the car pulled up at the main doors of Lumen. After thanking him, I climbed out an shut the door behind me.
"Sophie."
I looked to the left and saw Harley walking towards me, with a lit cigarette in his hand.
I watched as he place it between his lips and inhale before exhaling a trail of smoke going upward.
I shot him a glare. "Smoking is bad for you."
He took one last puff before throwing it on the ground, snuffing it out with his black shoes. "Let's go in."
"Hey!" I called as I follow after him. "Don't ignore me."
He stopped in his tracks causing me to bump into his back. He glanced over his shoulder, smiling. "Never."
My heart skipped a beat when I look up at him. I looked away immediately with my arms crossed and lips pursed, mumbling under my breath.
"Come on. We're meeting them in the vip room."
I followed after him towards the private elevator. The ride to the second floor was short and quiet.
When we exit the elevator, I glanced out the floor-to-ceiling glass window at the bar.
Looks like a slow night.
Harley opened the door to vip room one and walked in. If I am not mistaken, this room is solely for him and his friends to use.
As soon as I walked in, Amy made her way over and hugged me tightly.
"You're finally here," she said.
I nodded as she released me. Harley had taken his seat in his usual spot, filling an empty glass with alcohol.
James and Dylan sat on his left side on the two-seater couch. While Nicholas sat opposite them, with a drink in his hand.
Amy went and sat down beside him while I took a seat next to Harley. "Hi James, it's been a while."
James looked over and smiled. "Hope all is well."
"My sweet Sophie," Dylan said in a teasing tone. "You are looking beautiful as usual."
I rolled my eyes at him.
James took a puff of his cigarette. "Behave Dylan."
"Guys," Amy said excitedly, getting our attention. She looked at Nicholas with a knowing smile.
Nicholas cleared his throat. "We are getting married in Hawaii this July."
My face lit up with excitement. "Oh my god. Congratulations Amy, Nicholas. I am so happy for you guys."
"Thank you," they replied in unison.
James and Dylan congratulated them while Harley remained quiet, eyes fixated on me. I nudged him softly.
"Congratulations," he said.
Amy glanced at Nicholas again before looking at us. "We want you guys to be a part of the wedding."
"We would be honoured to," I said and then glanced at Harley. "Right?"
He nodded.
The rest of the evening Harley and his friends chatted and laugh while Amy and I moved to a quiet corner to talk.
"What happened since we last me?" Amy asked. She glanced at Harley from the corner of her eyes and saw him looking our way. "He looks at you gently now."
"We made peace. We are friends again."
Amy groaned in frustration. She placed her hands on my shoulder and stared into my eyes. "Seriously Sophie. After everything that has happen, you chose to remain friends."
I nodded.
"You are impossible," she said before take a sip of her alcohol.
I drank the last of my alcohol and stood up to go refill my glass, when my head started spinning and I lost my balance.
I don't know how because the last time I check he was busy socializing with his friends on the other side of the room, but here I was in his arms, looking into his eyes, intoxicated.
"No more alcohol for you," he said.
With his help, I stood up straight and looked at him, smirking. "Will you do it for a kiss?"
Silence filled the room and all eyes were on us, waiting to see who will make the next move.
Harley stared at me as if he was contemplating the idea. His eyes widened when I tiptoed, moving my face close to his, with my lips puckered.
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. He gently pushed me off him, at arms length. "Be have yourself Sophie."
I puffed out my cheeks at him. I was about to say something when my eye lids got heavy and I fell forward into his arms.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a room that I did not recognize. I sat up in the bed and looked around.
The furniture looked expensive, far too luxurious for a normal hotel room.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, I spotted Harley standing on the balcony, a cigarette between his fingers. I frowned.
He's going to quit that dirty habit one way or another. Or my name isn't Sophie Huo.
I pushed the blanket aside and climbed out of the bed, wincing when a dull headache pulsed behind my eyes.
The memories of last night were blurry at best. I remembered Lumen… drinks… Amy laughing… and then nothing.
Great.
I walked toward the balcony and slid the glass door open. Harley glanced over his shoulder when he heard me.
"You're awake."
I crossed my arms. "Why am I in a hotel room?"
He took one last drag from the cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray on the railing.
"You were drunk," he said calmly. "Taking you home would've woken my parents."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "So your solution was to bring me to the presidential suite?"
He shrugged slightly. "It was available."
Of course it was.
I leaned against the doorframe, studying him for a moment. "Did I do anything embarrassing?"
His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary before he looked away.
"No."
Something about the way he said it made me suspicious. I narrowed my eyes. "Harley."
He leaned his elbows against the railing, completely unfazed.
"You were drunk," he said calmly. "You don't remember half of what you said."
That was not reassuring.
I crossed my arms. "What did I say?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Nothing important."
That only made me more suspicious.