Is this destiny?

Sophia waited for the elevator, and she heard the voice from the side, "How long are you going to avoid me?" It was a deep voice with a French accent which made Sophia's heart skip a beat. She was not sure if it was because she got startled or because she was happy to hear him.

Sophia turned around and looked at Felix.

He is as handsome as ever, looking sharp in his light gray business suit. Sophia was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions, happy to see him, and guilty that she feels happy at the same time. She believes that she does not deserve to be happy, not until she clears up things in her heart. But what if it takes too long, and by the time she figures out her feelings, Felix moves on?

"I think it's time for two of us talk." Felix was anxious, he felt that Sophia is slipping away from him, and he decided that he needs to make another effort to pull her back towards him, before it's too late.

She nodded. 'Why did I agree? What exactly am I going to tell him?' She was scolding herself, why did her head nod without consulting her brain first?

"Let's go for lunch and talk", he walked next to her and gently placed his arm on her back ushering her inside the elevator.

Sophia found that touch of his palm on her back feels… nice. She smiled.

They ended up in the same French restaurant as last time, it was Sophia's choice.

Felix looked at the menu, "What will you have?"

Sophia didn't look at the menu, and responded, "I would like the same dish that I had last time."

"Confit de canard?"

She raised her eyebrows, not understanding what he said.

"Confit de canard, that is the name of the dish made with slow roasted duck which you had last time.", Felix explained.

Sophia confirmed, "Yes, that one."

Felix's lips lightly curved into a smile. He ordered food for both of them.

The food arrived and they ate in silence.

Felix observed her between bites, while patiently waiting for her to start talking.

Sophia was uncomfortable under his gaze. She knew that he waited for her to talk, to provide him a clarification on why she is avoiding him, but she didn't know what to say. As she progressed with emptying her plate, her pace was decreasing. Before she finished, she kept her utensils next to her plate and looked down. After some time in silence, she lifted her head and looked at him.

Felix was looking at her, his expression unreadable.

Sophia cleared up her throat, "Uhm, you wanted to talk..."

"Yes", Felix confirmed.

"About?"

"Why are you avoiding me." His voice was flat, without revealing any emotion.

Sophia bit her lip nervously and looked at him for a while. Eventually she started talking. She decided to say what is on her mind. "I have some things I need to figure out." She took a deep breath and continued. "I'm aware that you are interested in me, and I feel that it's not fair for me to spend time with you and give you hope until I understand my feelings."

His expression was troubled, but his voice remained steady, "It is very difficult for me to hear that you need time to think about if you like me or not."

Sophia breathed in sharply, "It's not like that. I know that I like you."

Felix raised his eyebrows, "Then what is the problem?"

Sophia looked down, "I'm haunted by my past... and I have a feeling that unless I clear those things up, I can't move forward."

Felix nodded, "I see... how I see it, you have the same problem with food you order for lunch."

"What?", Sophia raised her head and looked at him.

"You always have steak for lunch, even though you don't like it anymore. But you never order anything else. How are you going to know that you enjoy taste of duck if you don't try it?"

Sophia slightly tilted her head, and her gaze landed on her almost finished plate. "Are you saying that you are the duck?"

Felix lightly laughed, "If you wish... what if I tell you that after you get a taste of duck you will realize that you never cared about the steak at all?" He leaned in, and their noses were only few inches away. "What if I tell you that it's not just the duck, but there are many other delicacies you never tasted, and I want to introduce them to you?"

His breath was brushing against her cheeks, and her gaze landed on his lips. She felt a strong urge to touch those lips, they seemed to be very soft, masculine, strong… inviting her to kiss them.

Sophia saw him lick his lips, and they stretched into a charming smile. She lifted her gaze slightly, and their eyes met.

Felix lifted his hand and with his index finger held her chin while his thumb traced her lips.

Her lips lightly parted, enjoying his touch and wanting more. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

His smile widened, "I can tell that you yearn for a kiss. And I have a feeling that unless you work for it, you will not appreciate it."

Sophia opened her eyes. "What?", she was not able to muster strength to talk properly, so her question came out as a whisper.

His thumb continued gently stroking her lips while he spoke, "You are a beautiful and powerful woman. Men throw themselves at you, you don't need to move a finger for that to happen. I feel that you need to experience fighting for what you want."

Sophia was not able to respond. Her lips felt as if they are on fire. Her eyes looked at him asking for clarification.

He let go of her chin and placed his arm on the table. "I will not touch you unless you ask me to do it."

Sophia snapped back to her senses and felt that Felix is playing with her. Her temper was rising. "And what if you touch me without me asking for it?"

Felix lightly shook his head, "Then you decide what the consequence will be."

"Fine.", she said through her teeth.

He slightly bowed his head in agreement and his smile reflected in his eyes.

This is the moment when their game of seduction began. Felix had a goal to make Sophia ask him to make a move on her, while she challenged him to make the first move without her asking.. It is an unreasonable fight between two egos.

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