“I’m afraid you’re mistaken, President Fuller. These his-and-hers watches could never be meant for us because we aren’t a couple at all. You should take them back for Miss Gray and yourself.”
With that, Sonia took the box from the manager and closed it before she shoved it perfunctorily into Toby’s arms.
Toby’s expression stiffened as he was seized with the urge to throw the box out, but he eventually resisted the temptation to do so and tossed the box over to Tom instead.
After having caught the box, Tom briefly glanced at it. He noted the unhappy expression on Toby’s face while his own lips twitched in a show of helplessness. What am I supposed to do with this?
The manager, on the other hand, fixed his gaze on his shoes as regret washed over him. Had he known that the watches would only cause President Fuller to bicker with the young lady, he would not have taken the box out in the first place.
No one said a word as the tension in the room rose to nightmarish proportions. After what felt like a long moment, Toby broke the stifling silence and said, “Let’s go.”
Upon hearing this, Tom hurried forward to help Toby get on his feet.
Sonia reached out as well, making as if to help him, but as a sudden thought crossed her mind, she retracted her hand and let it fall to her side.
Toby did not miss the movement, which caused the air around him to grow cold. She could have helped me if she wanted to. Why did she change her mind halfway through?
The few of them exited the restaurant and arrived at the parking lot.
She opened the door to her car and ushered Douglas inside. Upon seeing this, Toby frowned and asked, “Are you going over to Zane’s place?”
Sonia closed the door to the backseat and answered curtly, “No.”
“But Douglas—”
“Douglas will be staying over at my place,” she replied plainly as she eyed the man steadily.
Toby was somewhat relieved to hear that she would not be going over to Zane’s, but he did not show it and merely nodded to acknowledge her answer.
Sonia rounded the car and stood at the driver’s side before she courteously announced, “I’ll be making a move now, President Fuller.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Drive safely.”
Astonishment registered on her face when she heard this. Did he just ask me to drive safely? Is this the Toby I know?
“What’s wrong?” Toby asked gently at the sight of her distracted expression.
Sonia shook her head and snapped out of her reverie. “Oh, nothing. Drive safely as well, President Fuller.”
His eyes glittered briefly with amusement as he hummed in response.
She gave him one last look before she opened the door to the driver’s side. Then, she slid behind the wheel, thereafter pulling out of the parking lot.
Meanwhile, Toby watched her car depart from where he stood in front of his Maybach.
Sonia caught the way he stared at her after she placed the gear in reverse to drive away. The anomaly of it was enough to make her perplexed.
This was not the first time she had felt this way and in recent times, she found herself being caught off guard by his strange behavior.
In the past, he would never have spared her a second glance, nor would he bother giving her anything more than monosyllabic answers. Now, she could barely count the times his gaze had lingered on her and he had spoken to her on more occasions than she cared to remember. He even told her to drive safely!
Her brows furrowed as she thought, What’s going on in that head of his?
At this moment, Douglas wrapped his arms around the driver’s headrest and leaned close to Sonia. “Hey, Aunt Sonia, Mr. Toby is still staring at you.”
“Huh?” Sonia narrowed her eyes and cast a brief glance at the left side mirror.
True enough, Toby was still rooted to the same spot with his eyes fixed in her direction. She pursed her lips as she was a little irked by his odd demeanor. What in the world is he looking at?
Douglas suddenly said something that nearly made her slam on the brake. “Mr. Toby likes you, Aunt Sonia,” the little boy commented as a matter-of-factly.
She almost choked, and the itch in her throat was soothed after a few dry coughs. Flustered, she was torn between crying and laughing as she retorted, “Aren’t you a little young to be saying stuff like this, buddy? Mr. Toby doesn’t like me since he likes someone else.”
“But I can tell he really likes you, Aunt Sonia. I saw the way he was looking at you. It’s the same way my dad looks at my mom,” he argued, blinking innocently.
“Wow, Douglas! You must be really brilliant if you can tell all that just by one look.” Sonia beamed at the child and did not take his comment to heart, dismissing it as a childish remark. He was only a little boy, after all. He couldn’t possibly decipher the look in anyone’s eyes at his age.
Besides, the suggestion that Toby had feelings for her was the biggest joke of the century.
Presently, Douglas pouted and huffed irritably when he saw that she didn’t believe a word he said. With newfound insistence, he declared, “I’m telling the truth, Aunt Sonia.”
“Okay, Douglas. I know you’re telling the truth. Truer words have never been spoken,” Sonia placated, humoring the kid as she nodded in affirmation.
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