Chapter 5
After delivering the documents, Sophia didn't leave right away.
She said, "James, Arthur's birthday is coming up in a few days. Can you go with me after work to pick out a gift for him? I really have no idea what he likes."
James replied, "Arthur doesn't care about that stuff. As long as it's from the heart, that's enough."
Sophia shook her head. "No way. I haven't celebrated Arthur's birthday with him in years. This time, I really want to pick out something he'll actually like."
She added, "Come on, go with me, please?"
James was no match for her cute act and ended up nodding in agreement.
He said, "Alright, I'll go with you after work."
With her goal achieved, Sophia didn't push her luck. She practically skipped out of James' office, grinning from ear to ear.
After work, Sophia was feeling upbeat as she headed to the garage. She swung open the passenger door, only to find Wesley already sitting there.
Her face froze for a moment before she quickly switched back to her usual cool self. Honestly, if I hadn't been right there beside her, I probably wouldn't have caught it.
"Wesley is here, too," Sophia said.
Wesley looked a bit embarrassed, but he quickly pulled himself together and put on his usual professional face.
Honestly, Wesley didn't really want to tag along, but James had insisted.
He nodded at Sophia in greeting.
"Miss Brooks," he said.
As James' right-hand man, Wesley was second only to James himself at Bennett Group.
Even though he outranked Sophia at work, she was the daughter of the Brooks Family.
Plus, Sophia relationship with James was anything but ordinary, so Wesley always made sure to treat her with extra respect.
Sophia was about to close the passenger door and sit in the back with James.
But James spoke up first. "Come on, get in the car. I've got work to do later."
Sophia had no choice but to take the passenger seat.
As Sophia squeezed into the passenger seat, I had no choice but to float over to the back.
I shot James a glare. I was perfectly comfortable in the front, and now I had to move again. Ugh, this is such a pain.
From the rearview mirror, I could tell Sophia wasn't exactly thrilled.
Honestly, I get it. She thought she'd be out shopping with the guy she liked, but now there's a third wheel tagging along.
What she didn't realize was that it wasn't one third wheel. There was also me, the ghost, lurking in the background.
If Sophia ever found out that I, the ghost, was always there whenever she was with James, she'd probably be scared out of her mind.
The gift for Arthur definitely wasn't something you could grab off a shelf at some store.
The car rolled up to the largest auction house in Riverside City.
Most folks don't even know this place exists, much less get inside.
I'd only been here once before, when my senior Felix Lane brought me along a few months back.
It was also for picking out a birthday gift for Arthur. Back then, Sophia had returned, and things were really heating up between her and James.
I didn't want to get in the way, so Felix brought me instead.
I knew I probably wouldn't live to see Arthur's birthday party, but he was the only one in the Bennett Family who ever showed me any kindness.
So I still wanted to get him a birthday present, as a way to say goodbye one last time.