Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 122: Lucky Charm

Chapter 122: Lucky Charm

Thinking of that day Sophia felt her heart racing.

She knew some players are sentimental and do certain routine rituals that made them feel confident. She was glad she was his lucky charm in that match. Among the sea of girls cheering for him, he found her to be lucky. That thought made her feel elated and unable to sleep at nights. She started to have feelings for him and wanted to know him more. She used to go often to that school afterwards to attend matches he was playing, but he never looked at her and he didn’t score better either.

I am his lucky charm!

She strongly believed that and she wanted him to let him know that. She wanted to meet him. For that she needed to be closer to him and so even though her father insisted on attending private school, she chose to go to the public school he went to.

Her father was opposed to it, but when she opened up to her mother her wishes to marry the third son of the President, her family supported her decision.

With great expectations she entered high school, but she was shocked to see the hot, athletic hunk she fell for smitten by Talia Brunton. She was devastated and hated Talia to the bones. She wanted to ruin her but she knew she had Cyrus protecting her and she couldn’t do anything against her.

She hated the difference in their status very much. That girl, younger than her by an year yet was in the same year and same class as the boy she loved.

After much thoughts she decided to pursue him. She was sure, with the feud between the Brunton and Sinclair family, they didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting together.

But she was the one who had no chance to even near him. One day she gathered all her courage to ask him out, but he wasn’t even looking at her the whole time and left with a blunt ’no’ right to her face.

When she turned, she saw him running behind her;Talia.

She watched for two years how Arthur changed behind that Talia. He stopped playing basketball, his cheekiness and cheerful attitude was slowly getting replaced with serious contemplation. All the while that Talia was the same.

Standing tall, stomping around like she owned the whole place; all with grace and posh.

To be honest, she did own the whole place; her grandfather funded the school.

And Talia... Sophia could understand why there were a bunch of boys and men trying to get close to her; to woo her.

For one, she was filthy rich and also she was classy and elegant. Those traits any man would want with the woman they want to marry.

Talia was like a bird- a peacock to be precise. She walked with elegance and she flew with dominance. Girls wanted to be her; boys wanted her.

There were some woman men wanted to play and discard with, but Talia... She’s the one anyone would want to marry. It’s not a surprise the man of her dreams is smitten by her too. But reality will hit him one day and she thought he’d realise he can never marry her.

She’s a bird who sat on his branch for sometime and will fly away to be with someone her grandfather chooses for her.

But Cyrus died! How marvelous is that? He actually was killed by that Talia. But that event that should have destroyed her, did the opposite. Arthur and Talia got married somehow... And she disappeared... Arthur seemed to be waiting for her return, wearing that ring on his finger.

She used the chance to get closer to Arthur and by now her entire family helped her get close to him. Her father, mother, uncles and cousins. But still... She, the little ant who had no status or money, couldn’t get near him. He was like a tall oak tree high up the hill, unapproachable and immovable. While she was just a little ant with her little legs and body cannot reach him no matter how hard she tried.

A small ant who watched the oak tree even though getting mightier gets less lustrous as if it was sad. She knew he needed her, his lucky charm by his side to make him happy like he was once before. Like that day he smiled as he played in that court to his hearts content.

She tried to get him to look at her, but failed.

But that changed some days back. When she was told she was now engaged with Arthur, she felt like she finally reached the top. Like a swift wind carried her and she was placed near that resplendent oak.

Finally!

When she suddenly got the invite to dinner today, she was exhilarated beyond belief. She even wore the best blue dress she had because she knew he loved the colour blue. Talia wore blue often and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her when she wore blue. So even though she knew pink suits her more and she liked pink more, she chose blue to wear on their very first date.

But when he gave her the worst flower anyone can gift and didn’t even notice her the entire meal, she realised one thing. And he now proved it with his question.

I’m still an ant while he is an oak! An oak never has to care for an ant.

She heard him say, ’I love Iris’. She knew Iris was the pet name she used for Talia.

Yeah, she is an ant who can never be in his vision while Talia is the bird who can fly back to him anytime.

Sophia could see the burning gaze of Arthur on her and in the end, decided not to speak her heart. Her anger subsided as she knew she has to be patient with him and let him realise that he cannot trust a bird.

If he allowed, she’d be the little ant living in his protection, never leaving his side and never take his thunder away from him. Solely for his happiness and wellbeing.

Doesn’t men like women who are obedient and supportive? She’d be one for him.

Arthur looked to the front in annoyance. It seemed like this woman is so despicable and arrogant to answer him. It maybe she was plainly dumb to answer him.

Tch!

He regretted offering to drop her in her home and lighted up a cigar. He didn’t eat properly as he was listening to the old couple and now he felt hungry.

Not minding Sophia coughing by his side, he took puff after puff.

If she really didn’t like the smoke, she should speak out.

"I knew what those flowers meant and I ordered it for you nonetheless," he said. Through the thin film of smoke, he saw her eyes clouding.

"Was it because you still love her?" Sophia who felt her heart was smashed by a hammer to pieces, decided to ask. She felt suffocating. She didn’t know if it was because of everything happening or because of the smoke. "Talia?" she added seeing him sitting unmoved.

Arthur’s lips curled as she mentioned his Iris’ name, "Does it matter?" he snorted.

Will she just back off if he said that? Will her father give up his ambitions for the sake of his daughter? Will anything change if he professed his love?

No! These people who want power will still try to pursue it. They don’t care about hearts. They care about money and money alone!

Sophia could feel the distance between them widening more and more. True! It doesn’t matter. She waited for him all this time and she is not going to back off.

"Talia is not good for you, Arthur... She’s-"

"A murderer?" he interjected. "Or is it because apparently she swings both ways breaking marriages like your dear cousin wrote?" his eyes got darker and the luxurious space they were in felt like a suffocating wooden box for her.

"I... I had no idea until she published the article, Arthur. Trust me!" Sophia tried to hold Arthur’s hand on the armrest but he swung it away from her grasp.

"I only read it after it was published and my cousin affirms the authenticity of that photograph. It was not the camera angles. It actually happened. How can you not believe it?" Sophia asked with her doe eyes misty.

Arthur could only snort. How would he believe it?

" Those two are even living together for almost a month and even go shopping and sleep together. I heard she lives in an one bedroom flat and you bet they’d be sleeping together. She went to that country and they have different culture and they are not innocent as us. Who knows what -"

"Lady Sophia seems to have a pretty good idea about beds and stuff that goes on it pretty well also about every person in A- country," Arthur interjected her with a smirk, "Enlighten me then Lady Sophia! What were you and Olivia Graham doing for more than an hour in the privacy of your own bedroom? I gather Ms. Graham is from A- Country too. Too - "

"Arthur!" Sophia raised her voice.

She was scared how that private meeting got leaked to him and she was dumbstruck how Arthur just accuses her like it was nothing.

How could he speak to her this way?

Arthur just snorted. "I’m not familiar with you Lady Sophia. Watch how you address me," he said with disgust visible in his eyes and told the driver through the intercom to stop the car.

"This arrangement between is made by the council. I have agreed to it since I have a goal to achieve. I can achieve it with or without you. Any woman will do for me as long as I get what I want and I don’t think I will have to search long to find a woman to take your place. Be mindful of what you say to me. Now get off! " Arthur spoke gritting his teeth.

It’s not like he had to be engaged to her, why would he have to hear her talk about his Iris in a demeaning way? And that too with that repugnant woman!

" I apologise, Mr. Sinclair, "Sophia teared up and tears flowed through her cheek." I won’t speak out of turn from now on. "

" Good! Now get off, "Arthur clenched his jaw seeing the tears in her face.

Sophia looked out to see they were far away from her home. These roads are hard to get cabs at night and with her heels, she won’t be able to walk far.

Is he just going to throw me away like this?

" Mr. Sinclair, thank you for the meal. Whatever your intentions were when you decided to give me these flowers, these are the flowers you gave me. So I will treasure them. Good night," she stood up slightly and bent towards him to kiss him in the cheek.

Arthur didn’t even hear what she said as he felt a sudden head ache that was so terrible he feared he’d faint.

But suddenly he sensed the approaching lips towards him and he became livid. Holding her neck in her hand, he bashed her head at the partition glass.

"If I order you to get off, GET OFF!!"