Page 57 of Finding Love in the Clouds

Sophie turned, her body language open as she looked at the tray placed before her. She couldn’t hide the little gasp that escaped when she saw the two watches he had chosen.

She picked up the first one with a stunning aubergine dial, her favorite color of purple, but it was set with diamonds, and she wasn’t doing that. “This one is gorgeous, no arguing that, but you know why I can’t do it,” she said, glancing at Fernando, who simply nodded his understanding.

“It was the only one they had in that color. I knew the diamonds would be a sticking point but wanted you to at least see it,” he confessed.

“Thank you. I appreciate the thought. Now, this one might just be perfect,” she admitted, lifting the Datejust 31 in Oystersteel and Everose gold with a silver floral motif, diamond-set dial, and an Oyster bracelet. Trying it on, she turned to Fernando with a questioning look.

“I think it’s perfect. If I remember correctly, you wear a lot of white gold or silver. I was thinking that the rose gold would go nicely with the purple you prefer. It’s your choice; I just thought it looked like you and wanted you to see it. It’s not the cheapest watch in the house, but it is pretty close. Although, they do have the exact same style over in that case with a diamond bezel and bracelet,” he said teasingly.

She swatted his arm playfully, her mood much improved, and agreed to purchase the watch. While she finished her discussion with two of the other salesmen, Fernando arranged to have the watch engraved and delivered to them as they ate dinner at a nearby restaurant. He then collected Sophie and headed her out the door in the direction of food.

They stopped at a cozy, traditional Swiss restaurant just off the square. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with wooden beams overhead and flickering candlelight casting a soft glow on the tables. Fernando and Sophie settled into a corner booth, the menu offering an array of Swiss specialties.

They decided to indulge in a classic Swiss meal, starting with a rich, bubbling pot of fondue. The melted cheese, fragrant with hints of garlic and white wine, was served with chunks of rustic bread and an assortment of vegetables. They savored each bite, enjoying the experience of dipping their food into the warm, creamy cheese.

Next came the raclette, with its slices of melted cheese served over boiled potatoes, pickles, and onions. The dish was hearty and satisfying, the flavors perfectly balanced. Sophie marveled at the simplicity and richness of the meal, her taste buds dancing with delight.

For the main course, they shared a plate of rösti, crispy and golden-brown potato pancakes served with a side of smoked sausages and fresh greens. The rösti was perfectly cooked, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, complementing the savory sausages.

As they enjoyed their meal, Fernando and Sophie relaxed, the day’s emotional exhaustion giving way to contentment. The traditional Swiss cuisine was comforting and delicious, a perfect end to their evening.

The plates were being taken away when Christian stopped by their table with the watch. “Thank you again for the sale. I hope you enjoy your watch and have safe travels.”

Fernando pushed the watch across the table to Sophie, who sat and stared at the box, making no attempt to open it. He could see tears filling her eyelids and reached for her hand under the table.

“Sophie, it’s been a long day. Put everything that happened behind you, and just enjoy this moment with me, please.”

Tears rolled down her face as she finally raised her eyes to his. “I’m sorry, Andy. I don’t know what got into me. I can’t remember the last time I allowed myself to get that angry, and the thing is, I don’t know why it happened. It was such an unreasonable response to the situation.”

Scooting closer to her, Fernando took her in his arms and held her as her tears once more wet the front of his shirt. “Sophie, today was hard for both of us. You are carrying extra weight on your shoulders now, worrying that others will be hurt because of the danger that is tailing you. We had a long day of travel, walked several miles in the warm sun, and we didn’t eat lunch. You feel strongly about spending large sums of money and are still adjusting to having access to my wealth. Part of you seems to also be struggling with the boss/employee relationship, which makes this gift somewhat ill-timed. I bet if it came after the engagement ring, you would have had less of an upset even though you would have had the same opinion on the style.” Using his finger to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes, he continued, “I knew where the anger was stemming from and never took it personally. I’m okay with what happened. I understand it. If there is something I should have done differently, aside from giving in and walking away, tell me, and I will add it to the list of things to do better in the future.”

“No, I know this was important to you. I knew this day would come, and I was prepared to compromise; that is why I don’t understand the outburst. Maybe you’re right, and I just need this day to end. Thank you for being patient and understanding. I appreciate the gift even though it may not seem like it. If you don’t mind, I would like to wait until after the engagement to wear it, though. We have a lot to figure out, and I’m not ready to face office rumors right now.”

“Of course. If you only pull it out on special occasions, that is fine with me too. I just want you to have it, and I really wanted us to get it today while we were here, together, in Switzerland. If I had thought further ahead, we could have headed over the mountains a day early and toured the Rolex factory; now that would have been a great memory. Will you at least open it and look at the inscription before we go?”

“Oh, is that why Christian delivered it? I was wondering why you left it behind. That seemed kind of strange.” Opening the box, Sophie lifted the watch from its packaging and turned it over to read the inscription on the back:Our love, timeless and true.Yours Forever,FK

Throwing her arms around Fernando’s neck, Sophie whispered, “It’s perfect. Thank you. I love you. Forever and always.”

They spent several minutes lost in a sweet kiss until the buzzing of Fernando’s phone distracted both of them.

“Ah, I missed a call from Anthony. Let’s head to the hotel, and I’ll call him back there,” Fernando said, gathering their shopping bags and escorting Sophie out of the restaurant with his hand resting protectively on her lower back.

As they reached the sidewalk outside and began the short walk to the hotel, Fernando’s phone pinged with a string of text messages being delivered in quick succession. He stopped to read them, and Sophie watched as the color drained from his face.

“Fernando, what is it? What’s wrong?” she asked urgently, her stomach twisting with fear. Whatever it was, it had to be serious. She immediately began praying for their loved ones’ safety.

Fernando looked up at her, a steely calmness settling over him that she had never seen before. “There’s been an explosion. Vacation’s over. We’re heading home.Tonight.”

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Within minutes of the explosion, the BBC brothers jumped into action, pooling resources to get Fernando and Sophie home as swiftly as possible while Anthoney, Gabriel, and Enrique worked to assess the situation and minimize the damage.

Marcus and Jace, the two security agents who had been shadowing him and Sophie while they toured Europe, swiftly transported them from Lucerne to Milan’s Malpensa Airport. There, the Braveheart Securities plane Julio’s team had been using for their previous top-secret mission was being prepped for the team’s return home.

Upon arrival at the airport, they were met by a stern-faced operative who quickly and efficiently ushered them onto the modified military cargo plane equipped for rapid deployment. The interior of the plane was stark and utilitarian, loaded with equipment and two armored vehicles, ensuring the team could handle any situation. Seats were bolted to the metal floor, and cargo nets secured equipment along the sides. Despite the military-grade appearance, the seats weresurprisingly comfortable, designed to provide maximum support during long missions.

The operatives had set up a small cordoned-off area that provided privacy for the pair. Whether it was for them or to protect the team seemed like a moot point. Net hammocks, complete with blankets and pillows, were arranged for them to sleep in. Though the surroundings were spartan, the setup was efficient and comfortable enough for the long journey ahead.

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