Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 27

~Sofia~

Have you ever felt your world crashing down into pieces around your feet? Then the next time you blinked, it's whole again as though no storm went by to shatter your life? I felt that.

Despite all his declaration of wanting me back, of regrets, all it needed was his 'I love you' for the invisible wall surrounding my heart to crack.

"Kyle..." his thumb continued caressing my cheek as I stared into his chest, peering at the buttons of his white dress shirt as if they were the most astonishing thing I had ever seen. "Don't do this...."

"But I do, Sofia," he murmured, pressing our foreheads together. "It's the truth. I don't love Katerina, and I don't care if my parents cut me off. I had been living on my own for a long time. All I need is you. Please... give us another chance."

My throat shrank. I licked my lips, and my fingers trembled as I covered his large hand, cupping my face. Feeling boneless, I gathered every bit of strength and removed his hold on me, pulling away. "I can't, Kyle... I'm really sorry, but I can't." Weak on the knees, I stepped away from him. Blinded by emotion, I rounded the corner and collided with a wall of muscle.

"Sorry," I uttered without lifting my gaze. I skirted past the man, but a hand shot to my arm. I glanced up. meeting dark ocean pools clouded with a whirlwind of emotions. "Chase...

His dark look tells it all. He heard.

Without a word, he whisked me away, dragging me further into the second floor, away from the event. "Where are we going?" I struggle to match his long strides. "Chase, the auction is about to start," I reminded him, mindful of my step as we descended the spiral staircase. He pushed a metal door that opened into a dimly lit alley. Harley was the lone vehicle in the area.

Chase shoved the helmet into my head. I removed it, but he flipped my hand. The helmet dropped with a thud on the ground. "Awl We can't just leave. They need you in there!"

I gasped when my back collided with the hard wall. Chase fenced me with his hand on either side of my body. "I don't care what they need me for, Sofia." He gripped my jaw enough to make me feel his anger, but not enough to leave me bruised. "I wanna go back and rip his head off. I need to get out of here." His voice was stiff with need, restraining himself from doing something he knew he would regret.

"Okay," I breathe out, nodding.

He picked the helmet from the ground. My hair, styled in a bun, made the helmet tight around my head. Chase removed his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulder. I shrank like a hanger on it. Chase parked Harley on the beach. There was no one else in sight, no sound apart from the crashing waves ten feet away. The large moon glows above us, surrounded by a thousand sparkling stars.

Chase hopped off Harley and offered me his hand. The ten-minute drive washed his anger off... I hoped. "You lied to me." Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. I froze. He took a step back as I removed the helmet, pondering my next words. "I kept my end of the deal, and yet... you didn't tell me that fucker had been calling you. In the office, at the penthouse. He even sent you a dress, for fuck's sake! And now this. He's done so much, and I knew nothing about it," he growled, the sand crushing beneath his Italian leather shoes.

"Chase..."

"You know why I had to leave? Why did I have to take you away from there?" He invaded my personal space, cupping my face.

His eyes were so dark, determined to read my soul.

I shook my head, melting under his intense gaze.

"I wanted to hurt him. The entire time he's telling lies, I wanted to wring his neck and end him for hurting you, for lying to you. But you made me proud. You held your ground, but these f*****g tears make me so mad."

Touched by his declaration, I covered his hand with my trembling ones. I had forgotten how overprotective Chase can be. His mad sense to defend the people he cares about is one of his allures. "I'm sorry. I will tell you tonight, but things just got out of hand." Chase sighed. "I understand, but from now on, tell me everything. He's a danger to you."

I ignored the underlying threat in his tone, nodding. "I will"

Chase sighed, pawed my nape, and guided my face to his chest. His waterfall and rain scent surrounded me. "I would kill anyone who hurt you," he murmured over my hair, a promise I hadn't heard since he left.

I curved my arms around his waist. He had always been my safe place. "Thank you, but no killing... I don't need that in my conscience."

Chase chuckled. It zinged my entire body to life. "I wouldn't tell you then."

I giggled, holding him tight.

Carlos and Mich were on the stage when we arrived. All eyes were on the painting of Christ the Redeemer by one amazing kid at the Warm Heart Orphanage. Chase and I easily slipped onto our table without being seen. I felt eyes on me, though. Following my gut, I locked eyes with Kyle.

He sat by the table assigned to Ramona, surrounded by other board members. He had Ramona on her left, and when I glanced to his right, I paused, stunned.

Katerina glared at me. If she could shoot bullets with her eyes, I would be lying on my blood by now.

"Sofia." Chase's voice pulled me back to our table. He pulled a chair for me.

I sank into it on autopilot. Georgia immediately grabbed my hand as Chase sat beside me. "I didn't know they'd be here," she whispered so no one else could hear her.

"Me either," I whispered back. If I did, I would've been prepared for the confrontation with Kyle, and seeing his fiancee wouldn't surprise me.

"They knew the Fernandes family. Katerina's father is friends with them," Rafael explained. I don't question how he knew Katerina since the auction was already on the roll. Numbers were raised, and bids were murmured.

I was aware of two intense eyes on me the entire time. Chase gripped my hand under the table, throwing me a warning sidelong glance. To quash my anxiety, I down a few glasses of wine. My sight was already spinning, and tingles teased my fingertips. I was borderline tipsy. I leaned back in my chair and paused my drinking steak as Lucas, The CEO, made a pretty impressive introduction of the boss.

"Good evening," he says. He was a dashing debonair in his classic tuxedo. He was older than Chase, his cousin from his father's side, and I heard they were close "Ah, where to start?" He smiled, showing perfect white teeth. "I don't want to stroke my cousin's already big ego." Laughter erupted from the crowd. "But I am truly grateful for Chase's presence at Montiero Holdings. Before he came, we were just a family company aiming to provide staple needs for every home in Brazil. Under his leadership, we became more. We had more reason to strive at what we do."

"Five years, three years as operation manager and two as the CEO. He opened a foundation, headed outreach programs for orphans, and assisted countless students in making their way through college. He had a soft spot not only for beautiful women," the crowd laughed, "but also for the kids at Warm Heart Orphanage. A round of applause for Chase Montiero."

The spotlight followed Chase as he walked up the stage. I didn't notice how handsome he looked in a white tuxedo with black lining. His hair was a mess of blond due to our ride, but nevertheless, he sported the messy look elegantly.

Lucas and Chase did one of those brotherly hugs, exchanged a few words, and patted each other's back. Thank you," he started. "This charity isn't about me. It's about sharing what we have with the kids at the orphanage and the foundation. Monteiro Holdings is merely an instrument to help those kids have access to a better life than living on the streets. I'm grateful for the donations you made tonight. Hold on to my word that every dime would help change a kid's life. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the night." As he stepped down from the stage, people crowded over him. He smiled at them and murmured a few words, but he was at our table within a minute.

"Let's go," he said, tipping his head towards the exit.

"We can't leave," I argued.

"Says who? Let's go, or I'll throw you over my shoulder."

Georgia gasped. I glanced at her. She had that look saying I've got a lot of explaining to do.

This night blew my mind.

I don't take Chase's threat lightly, so I stood up and trailed behind him, wondering where he was taking me this time.