Is this destiny?

Felix approached Sophia who was sitting on the dock. Afternoon sunlight was reflecting on the surface of water and it provided a magnificent sight. Sophia looked like a fire goddess who channeled her powers into the lake.

As Felix walked toward Sophia, he called her few times, but she didn't respond. He guessed that she is thinking about something, maybe enjoying the view.

Felix squatted next to Sophia and touched her cheek.

His touch startled her.

"We are ready for you." He smiled and didn't notice her strange mood.

She saw his smile and could not believe that he can show her that expression after what happened inside the house. "I'm not ready." Sophia stood up while avoiding his gaze and put her shoes on. "Please, get me my purse."

Sophia walked toward the house while he followed next to her. He was trying to understand meaning of her words that she is not ready.

Sophia stopped few steps away from the patio where tea was set up. Sylvie was humming a tune while arranging bite size desserts on a display platter.

Sophia turned to Felix. "My purse, please." She bent to adjust strap on her shoe, and she didn't get up until he was holding her purse in front of her. She took the purse from his hands and their eyes met.

Felix froze and found it difficult to breathe. Her gaze reminded him of a distant Sophia he met as she exited elevator on the 37th floor in New York. That Sophia didn't want to tell him her name. It was a cold and distant gaze. The only difference was that now it had a hint of sadness. He watched her turn toward his mother, and he heard her say. "Mrs. Martin, you have a lovely house. I wish that I can say how it was nice meeting you." Her voice matched her gaze: cold, distant.

There was a sound of a car beeping from the street. Sophia walked toward it.

By the time Felix snapped out of it, Sophia was not in sight. He ran after her as fast as he could.

…

Sophia heard the car beeping and knew that is the cab she called earlier. She walked toward it hoping that she can keep herself together, that she will not break down. Just a little bit more. She can see the cab waiting for her. Just few more steps. She reached the car and pulled the door open.

"Sophia, wait!" She heard Felix call after her and hesitated.

Sophia closed her eyes, took a deep breath and started counting. She didn't count much when she felt his hand holding hers.

"Where are you going? What is going on?" There was confusion and panic in his voice.

"What do you think?" She didn't turn around. She didn't let go of the door.

"I don't know what to think."

Sophia pulled her hand out of his grasp. "I believe you do... but let me give you a hint." Sophia turned to him and their eyes met again. Sophia reminded herself that she needs to stay strong. "Few days ago you told me that you are worried because you don't have a special background. I don't expect you to have one. I never did. The man I fell in love was kind, and brave, and made me feel special by flooding my office with flowers and feeding me duck even though I ordered a steak. The man I fell in love would stand up for me and defend me no matter who wanted to harm me. Even if someone looked at me in a wrong way, my man wanted to teach them a lesson. The man I fell in love said once that I am the best in the world, and that he will use every opportunity to treat me as such... and I believed him." Sophia took a deep breath and continued. "Today, since we met with your mother, you made me feel invisible, non-existent. I can respect that you love your mother, but if you refuse to see that she is mistreating me, I have a problem. When she said that I'm not a good woman for you, and you should get together with Charlotte, you kept quiet. I don't know and I don't care if you didn't respond because you don't want to argue with your mother, or you agree with her. Any of those cases would made me feel miserable. Today was a far cry from being treated as the best in the world." Sophia's eyes were red, and she struggled not to let her tears fall.

She reached out and placed her palm on his cheek. "Felix, I love you more than you can imagine. But I will not let you bully me."

They stood in silence for few seconds before Sophia turned to enter the cab. "I am leaving now. I can only hope that you take your time to think about what I said. Consult your mother if needed, since she said that you need her to guide you." Sophia finished with a hint of mockery in her voice.

She entered the cab and closed the door.

Felix stood on the street, watching the cab drive away. His legs trembled and he fell on his knees, his eyes were locked on a cab in the distance. His mind was blank for some time and then it started racing. 'What did I do? What did I do? ...' the question echoed in his head.

Sylvie came, "Felix, dear... are you, all right? Did she leave? I told you that she is not good..." She was speaking in English.

"Shut up..." Felix's voice came as a whisper.

Sylvie didn't hear him, she continued, "Now that she is gone, you can call Charlotte. She is much better, you will see..."

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" Felix's whisper transformed into a roar. "Give me your car keys!"

Sylvie looked at him in shock. "Why are you raising your voice at your mother?"

"Car. Keys. NOW!"

She didn't move. Felix stood up and rushed inside the house.. Few seconds later, he was in the Sylvie's car, speeding away.