Chapter 2 Difference

"I must be crazy," Sophia murmured to herself, shaking her head in a futile attempt to banish the image of the impossibly handsome man from her thoughts.

No matter how hard she tried, he lingered there, a vivid presence in her mind that she couldn't escape. With a sigh, she pushed herself to focus on the day ahead, determined to shake off the distraction.

She went to class, her mind wandering as the professor droned on. During lunch, she barely tasted her food, her thoughts circling back to the man who had unexpectedly captivated her.

Even when she returned to class in the afternoon, her attention was half-hearted at best.

Finally, when the day was done and she walked home at 5 p.m., her mind was still caught in the web of curiosity and fascination.

Who was he? What was he doing at this very moment? Each question reinforced her earlier notion that he must have cast some sort of spell on her.

It was irrational, she knew that, but how else could she explain this overwhelming obsession? She couldn't concentrate on anything else, and the constant fluttering in her chest only made things worse.

The more she thought about him, the more she longed to see him again.

"BEEP! BEEP!" The sudden blast of two car horns jolted her out of her reverie, making her jump. She looked around, startled, as the windows of a sleek car rolled down.

A familiar voice called out, cutting through the buzz of the street.

"We meet again, girl. Hop in."

Sophia froze, her heart pounding in her chest. It was him—the handsome man who had been haunting her thoughts all day.

He was even more breathtaking in person, his chiseled features framed by the evening light. For a moment, she could only stare, dumbstruck, as he smiled at her.

He was a living, breathing fantasy, the kind of man who turned heads and made people stop in their tracks. His presence was magnetic, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.

"Sophia! He's calling for you! Go quickly!" One of Sophia's friends, who had been walking with her, nudged her urgently, breaking the spell. Sophia stumbled slightly, her feet feeling unsteady beneath her.

Her friends were practically buzzing with excitement, their wide eyes and eager smiles showing that they were even more thrilled than she was.

As she hesitated, the man's smile widened, a playful glint in his eyes. The invitation was clear, and the anticipation thrummed in the air between them.

She couldn't believe this was happening—that the man who had occupied her thoughts all day was now right in front of her, inviting her into his world.

What was she to do but hop in to the car of a stranger. This was a stupid decision and absolutely dumb but Sophia was hypnotized by the man's charm.

She let herself be goaded by her friends, the man's epic attractiveness, and her own impulse and want to make her fantasy now come true.

"Where are we going?" Sophia asked, finally finding her voice as she regained her composure. The car sped down the road, the engine roaring with power.

She didn't know much about cars, but it was clear that this one was expensive— a sleek sports car designed for speed, with only two seats.

To her, that seemed rather impractical, especially considering the whirlwind of emotions she was currently experiencing.

"I'm taking you out to dinner, then we'll do some sightseeing in a nice place, and after that, I'm going to eat you next." Finn flashed a confident grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he spoke, completely unbothered by the implications of his words.

"Stop the car."

"What?" He glanced at her, clearly surprised by her sudden demand.

"I said, stop. the. car. I'm not some cheap girl you can sleep with after one meeting and then forget the next day. You disgust me," Sophia retorted, her anger boiling over.

She felt a surge of indignation rise within her, fueled by the realization that he was treating her like just another conquest.

"Finn. My name is Finn. You can call me that," he replied, his tone still casual, as if her words hadn't impacted him at all. "Okay then, just eat and enjoy the sightseeing."

She stared at him in disbelief, her heart racing for all the wrong reasons. He seemed so nonchalant, as if he hadn't just dismissed her feelings with a wave of his hand.

The playful smile lingered on his handsome face, making it all the more frustrating.

They dined at what was undoubtedly the most expensive restaurant in the city, where each dish was priced at a staggering thousand dollars or more.

The atmosphere was opulent, with dim lighting casting a warm glow over the elegantly set tables, and soft classical music playing in the background.

"What is this? Are their dishes made out of gold or something?" Sophia exclaimed, unable to contain her disbelief as she stared at the extravagant menu in her hands.

The pages felt thick and luxurious, yet the prices listed on them made her stomach churn. She tightened her grip, half-expecting to drop it and be charged a handsome sum as recompense.

In her opinion, this place was nothing short of a rip-off. Only fools would dare to eat here, and yet here she was, caught in the web of this high-stakes dining experience.

"Probably. Who knows? I certainly don't care about the price. Just pick what you want," Finn shrugged, his nonchalance evident as he casually ordered several items.

The waitress, impeccably dressed and graceful, jotted them down with a professional smile, seemingly unfazed by the exorbitant prices.

Sophia's heart raced as she scanned the menu again, her mind racing with thoughts of practicality. "Is it really worth it?" she wondered.

She focused intently on the options, desperately searching for something—anything—that wouldn't break the bank.

To her dismay, the cheapest item was still a staggering thousand dollars, and even a bottle of water was priced at an outrageous two hundred effing dollars.

This was a terrible business concept, and yet here they were, enveloped in luxury.

She glanced at Finn, who appeared completely unfazed by the prices. He was chatting animatedly, a charming smile on his face, as if they were in a casual diner rather than an extravagant establishment.

A pang of frustration surged within her. How could someone be so carefree about money? It felt as if they were living in two different worlds.

As she continued to peruse the menu, a thought struck her. Perhaps she could turn this into an opportunity. After much deliberation, Sophia finally settled on a dish of wagyu beef.

This would be a significant moment for her; she had always wanted to try it but never had the chance.

The reviews online praised its exquisite flavor, and she was eager to discover if the hype was truly justified.

With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, she placed her order, her heart racing at the thought of indulging in something so luxurious.

Finn turned to her, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "You'll love it. It's a delicacy for a reason," he said, his confidence infectious.

Sophia found herself smiling back, momentarily swept up in his enthusiasm.

When the food arrived, the two began talking, eager to get to know each other better.

"What? You're already 40 years old? But that's… that's impossible!" Sophia exclaimed, her eyes widening as she looked at the handsome, charismatic man across the table.

He appeared no older than her own youthful eighteen years.

"It must be the genes. I was lucky, you could say," Finn laughed heartily, his amusement infectious.

Sophia couldn't help but chuckle, finally understanding why he had referred to her as a girl earlier that day. In comparison to this "old man," Finn, who was twenty-two years her senior, she truly felt like a little girl.

"Age doesn't matter, I guess," Sophia smiled, her thoughts drifting. She was genuinely enjoying her time with such an attractive man.

It wasn't every day that one met a wealthy older man who looked as if he had just stepped out of high school, with not a wrinkle or sign of aging in sight.