And with that, she pulled Ilias toward the doors. They followed Teddy into the conference room as people filtered in. When they were finally alone at the front, waiting for the panel to begin, Sofia turned to him.
“He’s baiting you,” she said, her voice sharp. “You can’t fall for it.”
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, raking a hand through his curls. “I didn’t expect—”
“It’s okay,” she said. “We’ll figure out what he’s up to. But for now, it’s just us, okay? We’ve got a room to win over.”
“It’s us against the world, habiba.”
Sofia wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug.
“I’m glad you walked into my life,” she whispered.
And before he could say a single word, she turned and began chatting with Teddy, already wearing that perfect composed smile.
He stared at her for a moment longer.
God, he was fucked.
31
SOFIA
So Easy (To Fall in Love) – Olivia Dean
The panel had been a fuckingsuccess.
Sofia still couldn’t believe how many people had shown up, and how well it went. She had braced herself for endless questions about their “relationship,” but instead, the room had been filled with people genuinely curious about who they were, what they did, and why they did it.
Someone even asked Ilias about Azul—a Moroccan guy living in Australia, visibly nervous but excited. When Ilias admitted he was considering turning the surf school into an international hub, the crowd cheered. If Ilias was still on the fence with that idea, that answer should be everything he needed.
“I mean, learning to surf from an Olympic gold medalist and two-time USL champion must be an experience in itself,” Sofia had said, smiling wide.
And she meant it. Ilias was magic in the water. His skills were unmatched. Even with the suspension, even with the pressure, he could still win it all. She believed that.
“Ilias,” Mark, the moderator, grinned, “have you taught Sofia a few moves out on the water?”
“Sofia already surfs really well,” Ilias replied, casual and proud. “She started around the same time as Alejandra López Romero, they’re best friends. She doesn’t need my help. She’s incredible out there. She’s more of a longboarder, though,” he added, squeezing her thigh gently.
“I like baby waves.” Sofia shrugged, grinning. “I leave the big ones to him.”
The Q&A flowed into questions about Salacia, her new research, and how she’d transitioned from Neptune to founding her own business. And by the end, when the crowd stood up clapping, her heart was so full she didn’t know how to carry it.
They took a group selfie onstage, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the backstage area.
“That livestream did crazy numbers,” Leo said, laughing. “You two are unreal. You look like the real deal. I’ve been married for twenty years. I can tell.”
Sofia nodded, thanking him, still buzzing. Ilias gave him a thumbs-up, and after a few more goodbyes, they were finally free.
“I’ve got a suggestion for the rest of the day,” Ilias said, stretching his arms behind his head.
“I’m all ears.”
“You, me, sunset surf session… and then dinner by the beach. Aussie-style. Laid back.”
As always, he slung an arm around her shoulders as they stepped into the elevator.
“I call that an excellent plan.”
