Sophie's words left a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Her tone was so humble, so vulnerable, that it made my chest tighten.
I was torn, unsure of what to say in response.
But before I could find the right words, Sophie suddenly slapped me on the shoulder with her usual nonchalance.
"Forget about that. Come on, let's go for a walk."
Relieved, I quickly followed her.
For the next few days, Sophie led me around the villa complex, showing me all the sights, never once bringing up work.
It was like living in some kind of dream—a peaceful, carefree existence. But something about it didn't sit right with me.
Every time I voiced my doubts, Sophie just shrugged it off.
"We're just experiencing life, Lucas. This is part of the job."
Part of the job?
I stared at her, confused.
She caught my expression and explained with a grin, "This mountain resort is part of our new project. We're not just playing; we're here as guests to experience it firsthand."
She said it so seriously, I almost believed her.
"Well, if that's the case..." I trailed off, still unsure.
A mischievous glint flickered in Sophie's eyes.
"Then for the next few days, I'm going to need you to focus. Our feedback is critical to whether or not this project gets off the ground."
I suddenly felt a heavy weight of responsibility on my shoulders.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to pay attention."
Days passed in a blur of leisure. Without work, time seemed to slip through my fingers.
Before I knew it, we had already been in the villa complex for over half a month.
I couldn't shake the feeling that my professional skills had deteriorated over this time—my hands had become stiff, my focus had dulled.
It was as though the laziness had seeped into my bones.
"By the way," I said one evening, as we walked through the garden, "Shouldn't we be heading back soon?"