Sofia chuckled, and the sound eased Nat’s nerves. “Maybe we should talk about it.” She paused. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Nat’s gaze drifted, her eyes settling somewhere past Sofia’s shoulder, lost in thought. The idea of talking about them—about “this,” whatever it was—felt bittersweet. She was well aware that Sofia’s world existed a thousand miles away, far beyond the cozy lodge and the snowy landscape they now shared. When the holiday season ended, Sofia would return to her life, and this closeness they’d found, would likely fade to a sweet, quiet memory. A tech tycoon and a chalet girl? It would be absurd to even consider it seriously. What could she really offer someone like Sofia?
No. She didn’t expect anything from Sofia, and surely Sofia didn’t expect anything from her either—why would she? And yet, some part of her wanted to savor every bit of this unexpected connection and maybe get things straight, just for her own sanity.
“Maybe we should talk about it later,” she said, “over a glass of wine.”
Chapter Eighteen
Nat reclined on the couch next to Sofia, her feet barely brushing against Moxie's curled form as she settled by the fireplace. It was early enough that the sky outside Pine Creek Lodge’s windows was darkening, but the room was a cocoon of warmth, softened by Christmas lights and the golden glow from the fire crackling in the hearth.
She’d taken special care with tonight’s setup – not so much about quantity, but about the right touch of luxury. Smoked salmon blinis with a dollop of caviar, tuna sashimi with pickled radish, crackers with aged cheese and her favorite fig chutney, and a bottle of excellent Champagne.
Sofia looked up with a half-smile as she reached for a blini and brought it to her mouth. "I could get used to this," she said, her eyes glinting as she took a bite.
Nat chuckled. "Me too. I mean, it’s not every day I get to indulge at work," she replied, a smirk quirking her lips. "In all the best ways."
“In all the best ways,” Sofia echoed, squeezing Nat’s thigh. Her hand hovered over the food again before she glanced back at her with a flirty look, the tension she’d worn in her posture since she’d arrived seemingly melting away, replaced by a lookNat could only describe as… content. “Honestly, it’s been bliss to have my phone off,” she said. “The company’s closed over the holidays, so everything can wait until I get back. Then comes January second, and, well, that’s when the real madness starts."
"Tell me more about your company," Nat said.
Sofia paused while she stacked blue cheese on top of a cracker, choosing her words carefully. “Well, I run a company that combines financial technology with education – an investment app, essentially, but with a focus on accessibility. We teach people, especially those who feel overlooked by traditional banks, how to invest with small amounts. We even have automated tools to help them build portfolios.”
Nat’s eyebrows rose. “Wow, that’s incredible. It’s beyond me, though. You must be super smart.”
Sofia shook her head and chuckled. “I made many mistakes along the way, but you learn as you go, right?” She looked down, swirling her champagne. “It’s a labor of love, and we’ve grown so fast. But sometimes it feels like I blinked and missed it all happening.”
“Was this always the plan?” Nat asked.
“Not exactly. If anything, it was the last thing my parents expected from me. I grew up in a very strict household – my parents were Jehovah’s Witnesses. There was no Christmas, no birthdays, no real technology, even. Just… rules.”
Nat’s jaw dropped as Sofia’s words registered. She stared at her, trying to reconcile the poised, confident woman before her with a childhood so rigid, so isolated from the things she’d always taken for granted. “Wait… so you didn’t have a computer? No phone?” She leaned. “I… I can’t imagine what that must have been like. I mean, I’ve heard of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but… I didn’t know that it was like that. It sounds so… so different.”
“Yeah, most people don’t know much about it,” Sofia said. “I didn’t think much about it myself until I started seeing how other people lived. At first, it was just strange, but the older I got, the more it just felt isolating.” She sighed, her gaze faraway. “I remember going to school and seeing the other kids with their gadgets, the birthday parties, the Christmas presents. I didn’t really understand what I was missing until I saw it all firsthand.”
Nat’s heart tightened as she imagined Sofia as a little girl, watching her classmates with quiet envy. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “You had all these… limitations around you, but here you are. You built this life, this amazing career. I can’t even wrap my head around that kind of transformation.”
“It was a different world,” Sofia agreed. “But once I got a taste of technology, I was hooked. I had to be sneaky about it – I’d save up all my babysitting money to buy this secondhand smartphone. It barely held a charge, but I’d hide it and use it when my parents were asleep. Later on, I got a laptop. I’d take it to the library because we didn’t have WiFi and spend hours learning about everything from coding to finance.”
“You were sneaking around… That must have made it even more fascinating.”
Sofia smiled. “It was. Once I had a taste, I was hooked. I broke every rule, and I loved it.”
“Not exactly a rebel without a cause,” Nat teased. “But sounds like you were a pretty determined teenager.”
“Oh, definitely,” Sofia replied, her face softening with nostalgia. “Eventually, I went to college, moved out as soon as I could, and never looked back. Technology and finance were my passions, and once I combined them, I knew I was onto something. Now, here we are.” She gestured with a hand, encompassing the lodge and all the cozy trappings of the life she’d built. “Quite a different world from where I started.”
“And are you still in touch with your parents?” Nat asked.
“I am, but I only see them a couple of times a year. We’re worlds apart. They don’t even know what I do for a living. I love them, but they’ve never seen where I live. They wouldn’t understand. They’re… different.”
“Sounds complicated.” Nat squeezed her hand. “But you’ve come so far. It’s admirable.”
“Thank you, Nat. I suppose we’re all just finding our way, aren’t we?”
The fire crackled, filling the room with its soothing warmth as Moxie stretched, her tiny paws splaying out beside Nat’s feet.
“This has been…” Sofia’s voice was barely a whisper. She seemed lost for words. “It’s been a long time since I felt this way. So comfortable. I didn’t think I would, especially after… everything.”
