Chapter 4 Fourth Chapter

Indiana could swear that there was something wrong with Crystal and that smile of hers that seemed to get phony by the day. He just could not stop thinking about her, she was all he thought of, morning, noon, and night. It was crazy. There was always sexual tension hanging in the air whenever they stood in a room together and it never made sense to him. Why should he feel attracted to her?

Angry at himself and feeling distracted, he bounded down the stairs to the kitchen and found her cooking.

She turned to him with a sultry smile and called his name cheerily like it was the best thing since technology. "Hope you're hungry? Food's available. My mom always said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach".

Indiana sat down and watched her place a plate of pasta in front of him, the aroma made him think of the day he first met Sophia. That Monday morning many years ago, he had sat at the table and his mom had prepared pasta. What was going on?

"Well, Crystal, are you trying to get into my heart?"

Crystal chuckled in that manner of hers; laughing yet looking so goddamn beautiful, "I don't need to try, I'm already there". She winked at him and licked her lips in an inviting manner.

Indiana could feel himself rising to the occasion, a hundred different images flashed through his mind. They were alone in the house, he could have her, right there, right now if he wanted. He groaned mentally and shook his head.

"What makes you think so?"

"Well, it's all over you, and the eyes never lie, Indie".

Indie? Only his mom called him that. "So my eyes told you I'm in love with you?"

She laughed loudly and Indiana found himself enchanted. "The eyes don't talk silly, I can see it in your eyes".

Indiana stood up abruptly and left the kitchen.

* * *

Chopra felt it was time. He had been away from Alimaj for two weeks now, he best wrapped things up and return to Sophia else he would never get a chance with her again.

"Uh, Indiana, we were supposed to have a talk..."

"No, I'm cool", Indiana said, shrugging. "Never mind, I'm over it".

Inwardly, Chopra smiled. "Does this have anything to do with my intern?" He teased.

"C'mon man, not at all. It's just been so many years, I think it's time to let go and move on."

"Alright my man, I've got to move, gat some unfinished business in Alimaj".

"I'm also going to Hadiraf, a little vacation".

"Do me a favor, take Crystal with you please, I'll call you if I need her."

* * *

The town seemed to buzz with news about Sophia's disappearance, it was all they could talk of and Indiana and Crystal were greeted with banners and posters everywhere all asking the same question, "WHERE'S SOPHIA MATTHEWS?" It was there, on the gates of Harihsav High, in the town's library, on the courthouse building, everywhere.

"So who's the lady? Must be really special and influential", Crystal commented.

"Sophia's a writer, a very good one at that. Daughter of Mirabel and Rowland Matthews, born a twin but her mom left town with the other and never returned. Since then, no one in Hadiraf has seen them."

"Why didn't Sophia try to find her sister? With all this money she could have if she wanted to."

"Touchè. But Sophia doesn't know she has a twin sister, her dad never told her and no one else did. I know because my dad told me. We're here", Indiana said, unfastening his seatbelt and stepping out of the car.

Crystal followed suit and they both walked into the modest bungalow. Crystal looked around the sparsely furnished yet homely house and sighed inwardly. It all smelt of memories and it made her eyes water just to think that Indiana had grown up in a house like this, sure must have had lots of love.

Indiana's mom came into the sitting room and embraced him in a very excited manner.

"You brought home a girl!" She said, her voice colored with excitement.

"Sure did", Indiana said dryly, not at all interested in the conversation. "Mom, meet Crystal, Crystal this is my mom."

Mrs Williams pulled Crystal into a comforting hug that surprised her. "You do look somewhat familiar...you must be Indiana's new girlfriend", she said with a little giggle.

"Aw, c'mon mom," Indiana protested. "She's Chopra's intern".

"I can't hear you", Mrs Williams said in a sing-song voice, "okay, shoo, go get me your friends, Hilda and Davida particularly but you can add Clarkson and Jamie if you wish".

* * *

Chopra's hand was shaking when he knocked on Sophia's door. There was however no answer. He knocked a couple of times more and Sophia showed up at the door, her eyes tired and wet with tears.

"What do you want?" She demanded.

"To talk, Sophia, can you let me do that?" He said.

Sophia hesitated then shook her head in the negative. "No, now is not a good time. I'm working."

"Please Sophia, just a little time".

And so she let him into the room. His eyes darted to the laptop sitting on the table but she quickly closed it and turned to face him, wrapping her arms around her, looking so small and fragile, like a porcelain vase that would break with a little prodding.

Chopra took a deep breath and began, "I'm really sorry Sophia for how everything happened. It was the heat of the moment, but I truly love you Sophia. I love you with everything in me, I love you in a way that there's no me but you and I, and it hurts to be away from you...I can't even explain it".

Sophia had never heard love professed I'm such a manner, she was a writer but she had never come up with such romantic words. Suddenly, everything around her was swaying and her brain was telling her that the only truth in the world was the words Chopra spoke. She found herself embracing him

Chopra detached from her and knelt on one knee, he removed a box from his pocket and opened it revealing a beautiful diamond ring and Sophia gasped. And yes, she was going to marry this man.

* * *

The river that had been Indiana and Sophia's favorite relaxation spot, now had a bridge across it and a deck. The night was beautiful and a gentle breeze was blowing, playing with Crystal's hair as they say next to each other on the neck, their feets caressing the water.

"This feels so good", Crystal said, "being here with you, sitting next to you, I love it".

Indiana heaved deeply, his vacant eyes staring into the horizon."I can never love you Crystal, my heart belongs to someone else and I love her as though she were my own flesh".

Crystal stayed quiet for a while, digesting this piece of information then she said, "I was paid to do this".

That startled Indiana and he turned to look at her sharply. "What do you mean by that?"

Then she told him how Chopra had accosted her at the airport after their plane landed, a dashing smile and $2000 up for grabs if only she could make a man fall in love with her. She had given a buttery laugh, her chin held high and accepted the job.

"My real name is Jasmine. I usually do this for the extra cash, I don't run ads though", she chuckled nervously at this feeble attempt at a joke, "don't know how Chopra spotted me. Anyway, when I saw you, the whole thing became different".

"I do not understand you Crys...Jasmine, what do you mean different?"

"I need a favour from you first. Can you take me to the Matthews' residence?"

"Whatever for?" Indiana demanded, gradually losing his cool.

"I'll explain when we get there I promise", she said.

And so it was that they found themselves in the Matthews' sprawling mansion. Indiana had never been inside it and he could not help but marvel at how well Sophia had done over the years even with her writer's block. With the pleasantries done with, Mr Matthews faced Crystal with expectancy in his expression.

"My name is Jasmine Matthews and my mother's name is Mirabel Matthews. I'm your daughter, Sophia's twin sister".