Chapter 4 Slow but Sure

Tristan sat pensively, his gaze fixed on the rows of skyscrapers visible through the glass of his study.

Sometimes, he seemed to be smiling, and not without reason. It was as if a spark of joy had filled the emptiness in his heart that persisted for a long time. All of this happened because of yesterday's meeting with the woman Edward had brought to his birthday party.

"So, Sophia has been living in Germany all this time?" asked Tristan as he ate the dinner already on the table. Listening to Edward chatter about the woman he brought, Tristan was genuinely curious.

"Yes..." Sophia nodded. "Since I was a child, I have lived in Germany. I just moved here a year ago and finally decided to settle in London," she explained while taking a sip of Edward's wine.

"By the way, who do you live with? Are you alone or maybe with your family?" Tristan asked another question. He was so engrossed in whatever Sophia told him, with undivided attention. It was as if he was already captivated by the beautiful woman sitting next to his best friend.

"Right now, I live alone. My parents and sister are in Germany. But soon, they too will follow and move to London."

"It must not be easy living alone in a city you just moved to."

"Yes..." Sophia nodded in agreement. "At first, I found it difficult. But it's okay. Honestly, I'm happy to be living alone in London. Here, I am free to do my job and pursue all my hobbies without anyone disturbing me."

Once again, Tristan smiled silently. It wasn't a happy smile just because he had met a beautiful woman, but rather a smile that seemed content because the person he had been searching for had appeared before him.

"Mr. Tristan, I brought you what you asked for."

A knock on the door followed by the entry of a man whom Tristan knew well. Slowly approaching where Tristan was sitting, the man spoke again.

"What information have you got, Mario? Please show me," replied Tristan.

"I have summarized everything in one document. I apologize in advance, there may still be some missing information, but I promise I will find the rest for you."

Tristan nodded and took the black folder that was handed to him. He began reading carefully, exploring all the information he might need.

"Sophia Walters. The first child of Alfonso Walters and Anna Maria Walters."

Tristan read what was written in the document and then looked deeply into his assistant's face.

"That means, this woman is indeed the person I was looking for."

"It is certain that it is, Sir," said Mario. "From all the social media pages, biodata listed on the agency's website, and photos circulating, it can be ascertained that this woman is indeed the daughter of Alfonso Walters; a property entrepreneur from London who is now venturing into the construction world and living in Hamburg, Germany."

Tristan looked back at the sheet of paper in his hand, examining some photos while rereading them carefully, as if not wanting to miss a single piece of information.

"Only 24 years old. Single. Modeling by profession and well-known as a social activist. Several relationships with artists. And currently living alone in Marylebone Square's Penthouses."

"That's right, Sir," repeated Mario. "I've included some of Miss Sophia's show schedules, which were officially released by her agency. I've also attached data on people close to that woman, and one of them happens to be your own best friend."

Tristan, still seated, nodded. "Yes, I know. This woman seems to be close to Edward," Tristan's eyebrows rose, and he pulled the corners of his lips meaningfully. "But I won't let them get any further. Never, Mario."

Tristan's voice was low, with a definite undertone of threat. His gaze was sharply focused on the photo of Sophia that he was holding.

Mario remained still in his position. In addition to carrying out his primary duties in the office as a confidant, Tristan had asked him to investigate someone. The young man was willing to pay a high price for a private detective to find the whereabouts of a man named Alfonso Walters and his entire family.

From the beginning, Mario had been curious, but until this moment, he never dared to ask clearly for what purpose the man was looking for Alfonso, who had long moved from London to Hamburg, Germany.

"Thanks for your report, Mario. If you come across any other information about the Walters family, please let me know as soon as possible," Tristan said gratefully.

Mario nodded politely. After providing what Tristan had asked for, he chose to leave the room.

Not even a few minutes later, there was another knock on Tristan's door. This time, it was Raphael's turn to visit the young man.

"Am I interrupting your time?" Raphael asked as he stepped inside.

"Of course not, Uncle Raphael. No matter how busy you are, I'll always have time for you."

There was a sincere tone in Tristan's words. As an orphan, he felt genuinely indebted to Raphael. The man had patiently taken care of him and even raised him.

He had cared for and taught Tristan so many things that had helped him succeed to where he was today. Because of the magnitude of this service, Tristan was always determined to obey what Raphael said and tried his best not to dispute any of his uncle's orders.

"You always know how to touch me," said Raphael. The man then quietly took a seat opposite Tristan.

"What's so important that Uncle came to see me here?" asked Tristan curiously. "Uncle wants to discuss your engagement with Aurora. When do you think is the right time for this sacred event?"

Tristan fell silent for a moment. It seemed very clear to him when the right time was to carry out what his uncle had ordered him to do. He had made a promise, and breaking it was impossible. "Actually, I wouldn't mind having the event at any time. However..." Raphael's brow furrowed deeply. Tristan deliberately paused his sentence, making his uncle curious.

"But what?" he asked with certainty. "I recently met Sophia Walters, the daughter of Alfonso Walters, whom I've been looking for, Uncle."

The statement from Tristan surprised Raphael, as he remembered having sent his men to investigate Alfonso and his family.

However, it had been challenging to gather information, and now, suddenly, the daughter of Alfonso Walters appeared without needing to be searched. It was as if fate had deliberately shown kindness to Tristan, who had been searching for the woman's whereabouts for a long time.

"What are you planning to do now?" Raphael inquired.

Raphael was certain that his two best friends' son had prepared a well-thought-out plan long ago. He knew Tristan very well.

The young man was born with strong instincts, never reckless, and always full of calculation in every action and decision he took. That was why Tristan could compete with competitors in the business world he was in.

"I will slowly approach her, Uncle. Please allow me to win Sophia's heart first. When all the plans are carried out smoothly, I promise to marry Aurora immediately."

Hearing those words, Raphael raised his eyes and locked gazes with Tristan. He tried very hard to read the plan that the man was proposing. "Are you sure about this plan of yours?"

Tristan nodded confidently and made a respectful gesture. "I've calculated everything very carefully, Uncle. This is the only way to gradually dismantle Alfonso."

"That's not what I meant," said Raphael. His face showed concern. "What if you end up falling in love with Alfonso's daughter?"

"That won't be possible, Uncle." Tristan denied immediately, full of confidence.

"How could I love the daughter of the man who destroyed my family?"

Tristan's cold words dispelled Raphael's worries. Especially when he saw the unyielding look of hatred on Tristan's face, it was implausible for Tristan to fall in love with the child of his enemy.

"Alright. Uncle entrusts everything to you. But you need to remember, Tristan." Raphael looked deep into the face of the man he considered his son. "In any case, you still have to be careful. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Tristan nodded again. He grabbed Raphael's wrist and held it tight, giving reassurance that nothing wrong would happen to him in the future.

"Trust me with everything. Alfonso will be held responsible for what he has done, eventually."

***

Tristan took a sip of the caramel macchiato he had just ordered. After finishing all his work, he decided to stop at one of his regular coffee shops located not far from his office.

While watching the lights and vehicles going back and forth, Tristan enjoyed his solitude tonight. Every now and then, thoughts of his parents flashed, showing the memories of happiness they had shared. Not long after, a woman's voice interrupted what he had been doing all this time.

"Tristan," said a beautiful woman whose voice was unfamiliar to Tristan's ears. When he looked up, he found Sophia standing in front of his table.

"I didn't expect to meet you here. Can I join you?"

Tristan smiled faintly, rising from his seat. He politely invited Sophia to sit down. "With pleasure, please have a seat. I just happen to be alone tonight." Sophia smiled happily and sat down without hesitation.

"Would you like something to drink? I can order it for you," Tristan offered politely.

"Of course." Sophia immediately nodded. "A cappuccino latte seems fitting for me to drink with you tonight."

Tristan then signaled the waitress to take their order. Afterward, he invited Sophia to talk. "Where are you from? Just finished work?"

"Yes, I did. I just finished a photo shoot at a studio not far from here. And you? Are you alone? How long have you been at this cafe?"

Tristan nodded, then reached for his caramel macchiato cup. He took a slow sip and then shared a story. "My office is not far from here. I usually stop for a while to sit and enjoy coffee before heading home."

"Oh, I see. Are you always alone, or do you sometimes come here with your partner?" Sophia asked cautiously.

Tristan glanced at her and chuckled softly after a moment. There was a sense of amusement seeing Sophia's expectant face. "Always alone. Currently, I don't have a partner."

"Ah, you're really good at teasing," Sophia said with a laugh. How could she believe that there was a man as handsome as Tristan who didn't have a partner?

"I'm not teasing," Tristan replied with a smile. "I really don't have anyone I'm involved with right now."

"Then who was the beautiful woman you were with that night?" Sophia inquired curiously, remembering that Tristan seemed close to the woman he was with at the birthday celebration.

"Beautiful woman?" Tristan furrowed his brow for a moment, trying to remember until he finally said, "Ah, you mean Aurora? The woman I was with at the birthday party?"

Sophia nodded immediately. "Yes, is she your girlfriend? You two looked really close and got along very well that night."

"But she's not my lover," Tristan clarified. "Aurora is like a sister to me. We've been close friends since childhood."

"I see."

"How about yourself?" Tristan asked back.

"What do you mean?" Sophia asked, confused.

"Your relationship with Edward. Are you two close at the moment?"

Sophia nodded, not denying what Tristan said. "Yes, we've been really close in the last few months. But for now, we're just friends. Nothing more than that. I haven't thought about being in a relationship with anyone."

"So, I don't have a chance to get close to you either?" joked Tristan with a small laugh, which made Sophia pause for a moment, as if digesting what he had just said.

"Oh my gosh, Tristan, I was just kidding," he quickly corrected himself.

"You... You make me nervous," Sophia protested playfully.

The two continued their conversation, discussing lighthearted topics until they lost track of time and eventually decided to go home.

"Do you have a vehicle?" Tristan asked as they walked outside the café.

"No, I rarely use my own vehicle. I'll probably call a driver to pick me up soon."

"Then let me take you home," Tristan offered politely, thinking he had to approach her slowly.

"No need. I don't want to bother you."

"Of course not," said Tristan quickly. "Besides, it's very dangerous for a beautiful woman like you to wait here alone to be picked up." Calling her beautiful made Sophia's face turn red, and she felt flattered by Tristan's sweet attitude.

Seeing the sincerity on Tristan's face, Sophia blinked for a moment, contemplating whether to accept his offer. Eventually, a sweet smile spread from Sophia's lips. She thought it was not wrong to accept Tristan's invitation, as he was not a random man.

"It's okay if you insist. Besides, there's nothing to lose with a handsome man like you," she said honestly. Yes, Tristan was very handsome in Sophia's eyes, and she couldn't deny this fact. Tristan politely guided Sophia to her car, parked right in front of the café. Without hesitation, he opened the door for her and let her in, then escorted Sophia to her destination.