A Late-Night Ride

Sophia gathered her things, feeling the buzz of a job well done coursing through her.

The interview with Hades and Aurora had gone better than expected, and the entire crew had already left the studio.

Only a few lingering sounds of cleaning staff and late-night security remained in the quiet building.

As she headed toward the exit, her boss, Mr. Grant, approached with a rare smile tugging at his usually serious face.

"Sophia, you did good tonight," he said, his voice carrying the weight of approval. "If you keep this up, we might be looking at a salary increase."

Sophia felt a surge of happiness.

It was rare to hear praise from Mr. Grant, and a raise? That was even rarer.

"Thank you, Mr. Grant," she replied, trying to keep her excitement in check. "I'll keep giving my best."

"Good," he nodded. "Get some rest, you deserve it."

Sophia smiled to herself as she stepped outside into the cool night air, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks.

She was grateful, not just for the success of the interview but also for Hades and Aurora agreeing to participate.

Without them, tonight might have been a complete failure.

She'd have to thank Aurora later, but Hades? She wasn't even sure how to approach him after everything.

As she stood at the curb waiting for a cab, her thoughts drifted to the interview, to the way Hades had looked at her when she was all business, acting as though they had never shared something so personal.

The connection between them was undeniable, but they were both careful to hide it, especially with Aurora around.

Just then, the smooth purr of an engine caught her attention.

She glanced to the side and blinked in surprise as a sleek, expensive car rolled to a stop beside her.

No one this rich would ever bother stopping for her, especially in this area.

Her first thought was Aurora, maybe coming back to check on her.

Sophia stepped forward, curious, but as the driver's window slid down, her breath hitched in her throat.

It wasn't Aurora.

It was Hades.

"You?" Her surprise was evident, and her heart raced, though she kept her expression neutral. "I thought you left earlier."

"I did," Hades replied smoothly, his gaze steady on her. "But I had to meet someone nearby. I was just done when I saw you here." His words were calm, but inwardly, he had been waiting for her, biding his time to cross paths once more.

Sophia hesitated, caught off guard by his presence. "Oh, well... thanks, but I was just about to head away. I don't want to trouble you."

He glanced at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I can give you a ride. It's late, and finding a cab around here isn't easy."

She smiled politely, shaking her head. "No, it's okay. I'll manage."

Hades tilted his head slightly, watching her carefully. "Is this because of our past?"

Her breath caught for a moment.

"No," she quickly said, but the tension in her voice betrayed her. The past between them was too complicated to dismiss so easily.

Glancing around, she realized he was right; cabs weren't exactly frequent in this part of town, especially at this hour.

Reluctantly, she sighed. "Fine," she muttered, opening the door. "Thanks."

As she slid into the front passenger seat, the tension between them was clear.

The car's interior was cool and sleek, much like Hades himself—polished, yet a little too controlled.

The silence stretched as he pulled away from the curb, and for a while, neither of them spoke. The hum of the car's engine was the only sound that filled the space between them.

Finally, Hades broke the silence. "I'm curious," he said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "How come you're still working so late and... living like this?"

Sophia blinked, turning to face him. "What do you mean 'living like this'?"

Hades shrugged, his eyes on the road. "You're a reporter and journalist, working long hours, but you don't seem to be... reaping the rewards. You work hard, yet it seems like you're barely keeping up."

Sophia frowned, her hands tightening in her lap. "It's not as easy as you think. Reporting doesn't pay as much as you'd imagine, and I'm juggling both jobs just to keep up with my bills. Not everyone is a multi-millionaire businessman, you know." Her tone had a slight edge, but she kept it polite.

Hades glanced at her again, this time with a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. They held each other's gaze for a moment before both looked away, the tension between them thickening.

After a few more minutes of silence, Sophia cleared her throat. "You can drop me off here," she said, gesturing to the street ahead.

Hades slowed the car, but his eyes darted to the surroundings.

It wasn't anywhere near Aurora's mansion.

He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Isn't Aurora expecting you back at the mansion?"

Sophia hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Yes, but I need to visit someone first."

Hades's brow furrowed.

He couldn't help the wave of jealousy that surged through him, but he masked it well.

"Someone?" he asked, his tone casual, though his mind raced.

Who could she possibly be meeting this late at night?

Before he could stop himself, the question slipped out. "Who?"

Sophia gave him a sideways glance, noting the slight tension in his voice.

She raised an eyebrow but decided not to press it. "It's nothing serious," she replied smoothly. "Just a visit."

Hades couldn't shake the growing suspicion. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, and he forced himself to maintain his calm demeanor.

Who the hell is she visiting?

The thought gnawed at him. The idea of her seeing someone else, especially some other man, sent a ripple of jealousy through him.

He swallowed hard, trying to push down the emotion.

What if she's dating someone?

Hades clenched his jaw, his thoughts growing darker.

If it was some guy, someone he didn't know, he could send his men to deal with him. Make sure he knew who he was messing with. No one would ever touch her and get away with it.

And then, as he glanced at Sophia's profile, the jealousy turned to something more primal.

"Whoever she's seeing couldn't be as good as me," he thought, bitterness seeping into his mind.

"He's probably not even half as handsome. And in bed? Please." Hades fought the urge to scoff aloud at the idea.

But he quickly smothered the jealousy, keeping his tone casual as he said. "I could take you there," he offered. "Save you the trouble."

Sophia hesitated. "I don't want to bother you any more than I already have."

"It's no bother," he replied quickly, his eyes briefly flicking toward her before focusing back on the road.

He couldn't help the possessive thought that crossed his mind. If she's seeing some guy, I'll find out. And he'll regret ever meeting her.

Sophia finally relented. "Fine. Take me to LK Hospital."

Hades's hands tightened on the steering wheel, a flood of thoughts racing through his mind.

A hospital?

Now he was even more confused.

"Who are you meeting at a hospital?" he asked, unable to keep the curiosity from his voice.

Sophia just smiled softly, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and sadness. "Someone who matters."