Is this destiny?

~ Villa next to Lake Washington ~

That afternoon, Sarah was working with her laptop on the back patio, which is facing the lake, while Aiden was checking on the progress of furniture assembly in Sophia's and Felix's home.

"They should finish in about half an hour. Then we can go." Aiden sat next to Sarah. "What are you working on?"

"I think that we should add few more sensors, especially in this area...", Sarah pointed on the screen. "Eve does not agree, but luckily, I have the final word."

"I spoke with Jeff last night… and he told me something that might impact your plans."

"Really? What is it?", Sarah was curious.

Aiden made her promise not to tell Sophia and Felix, because he promised Jeff not to tell anyone. It should be a surprise that Jeff and JoAnna got for Sophia and Felix two adjacent properties as a wedding gift. Aiden explained that Jeff managed to get them one property on the left and one on the right of the lot they are currently on. Sarah thought that is a great present. Even if they don't use that land for anything, it will provide them more privacy. And if they don't like structures which are currently there, they can demolish them and plant trees.

"How about we do the same for our property in California?", Aiden asked while carefully observing Sarah's expression.

Sarah puffed her cheeks in frustration. "Don't you think I tried? I spoke more than once with owners of those properties… Those stingy people didn't want to sell no matter how much I offered."

"Maybe you didn't provide the right incentive…", he mysteriously smiled.

Sarah looked at him and understood that there is something behind his words. "What do you mean?"

"I will tell you only if you acknowledge that I'm the best."

Sarah didn't hesitate. "Of course, you are the best… now what do you mean by right incentive? Did you find something that we can use to get those adjacent properties?!" Sarah's excitement was obvious.

He took the laptop from her and logged into his email account. "Done.", he smiled and passed her laptop back.

Sarah stared at two documents he opened side by side on the screen for some time before she whispered under her breath: "You bought them…"

"WE bought them.", he corrected her. Aiden gave her a peck on the cheek and walked inside to check on the progress of furniture assembly. He was happy with her reaction.

It took few minutes for Sarah to collect herself. By then, Aiden was already inside. She rushed after him and he had just enough time to turn around and catch her when she pounced on him. Sarah held him tightly and gave him few juicy kisses which made loud smacking sounds. "You are the best!", she exclaimed.

He was very happy with her reaction.

…

The workers finished furniture assembly, and Sarah and Aiden were about to leave when Sarah's phone rang. It was Felix.

Sarah took the call: "Hello brother-in-law… How are you doing?"

"I'm good… actually not so good." Felix sounded dispirited.

"What happened?"

"It's your sister… she is taking over… everything…"

Sarah laughed. "You unlocked her boss mode!"

"Boss mode?"

"Game reference… how bad is it?"

Felix told her about all the people that were streaming through the apartment in last few hours. "She got me an assistant… and I've met with a nutritionist to discuss my diet…"

Sarah tried to suppress her giggles. "You don't like it?"

Felix answered with a question: "How do I stop it?"

"You can confront her or let the nature run its course and wait until she stops by herself… but she is pregnant, so I'm not sure if it's wise to confront her… and if you plan to let it wear off by itself it might take a while… She likes to be in control. You know that, right?"

"Yes. And I don't mind that side of her… but right now… it's extreme."

"The only way to stop it is to talk to her. If you keep quiet, she thinks you approve, or you don't care which is almost the same thing."

Felix was quiet for some time before asking, "How bad can it get?"

"Did she start matching your clothes?"

Felix didn't respond. After a long silence he sighed. "I see… Thank you."

"You are welcome… and by the way, your furniture is assembled. We are heading out now." Sarah hanged up and walked toward the car.

"Good news?", Aiden asked as he started the car and saw her satisfied smile.

"I got a confirmation that it was a good decision we didn't stay anywhere near Sophia last night… I'm sure Felix will figure it out… Let's go get the other car and see who can reach the Cabin first."

"Edward said no racing…", Aiden gave her a gentle reminder.

"Who said anything about racing?" She was trying to suppress her grin. "I just plan to reach there before you."

"We will see about that…" Aiden knows that she is provoking him, but he can't help it. His competitive side kicked in and he is not able to resist the challenge.

~ Sophia's and Felix's apartment ~

Later that evening, Sophia was next to Felix, feeding him soup with a spoon.

Felix enjoys the attention, but he felt that this is a good time to bring out what is troubling him. "Ma chéri… can we talk?"

"Of course, we can… but finish your soup first." She placed another spoonful in his mouth.

When he finished last bit of soup, Sophia kept the bowl in the tray on the side. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't want to sound ungrateful… but I feel that you took over everything."

Sophia took a deep breath. "Explain."

Felix was hesitant, but he knows that unless he speaks up, Sophia can't tell that something is bothering him. "All the people that came through this place today… I wish that you discussed with me before making the decisions."

"You dislike what I did?"

Sophia's lack of explosive reaction emboldened him to speak his mind. "It's not that I dislike it, but I wish to be involved and not to be on the side, like a decorative vase."

"Well, you would be a very handsome vase…" Sophia smiled for few seconds gazing at his perfect face, and then snapped out of her daze and switched to a serious mode. "What would work for you? If we can do-over today, how would it go so that you are not upset? Is it a problem that I started the process of hiring help for the house? We talked about that earlier, didn't we? And security: Don't you think that it's going to be necessary? … Is nutritionist bothering you? You don't like his suggestions? Then don't take his advice! … How about David? Is he not helpful? By the way, he told me that you are NOT ready with your presentations for the upcoming annual meeting… Is it bothering you that I find time to come and bring you food and snacks, and even feed you? Or that I gave you sponge bath? … Tell me, which part of all this is bothering you?"

Sophia was asking questions, but she didn't give him time to respond to any. Felix saw that her temper is rising… and at the same time he felt guilty. Everything she did was either for them or for him. And besides few not important things, they already discussed most of them previously… When he heard her questions, he realized that individually nothing is a big thing. It's just that everything got packed into one day and it seemed overwhelming. Sophia is pregnant, and she did all that… for him.

"Sorry…" He found a chance to speak while she was catching her breath. "I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. Thank you for taking care of me. It just hurt me, as a man, to see that you are handling all these tasks by yourself while I'm idling in the bed. I want to do something as well."

"But you are hurt… you have no idea how much it pains me to see your hand in such a state. It must be painful. How can I ask you to do anything?"

Felix extended his right arm signaling her to lay there.

Sophia didn't object. She settled next to him and placed her head on his right shoulder.

"It does not hurt… much." He kissed her forehead.

"If you want to do something, let me know… we can negotiate."

"It will help if you tell me in advance what you plan on doing…"

"Note taken.", Sophia yawned while talking.

In less than a minute, she was sleeping. Felix was a bit uncomfortable in that position, but he didn't want to move in order not to disturb her rest. Sophia was used to take naps through the day, and today she didn't take any. She was exhausted.

Felix was touched by all care she showed for him and felt sorry for bringing it up like it's a problem. He needs to step up and do things so that she does not do them by herself.... And what was that about David telling her that his presentations are not ready?!! 'It seems that he is a traitor! I will remind him tomorrow that he works for me. He either sorts out his priorities or he will scram!'

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