Trust (4 page)

“We’ve hired a law firm. The business is really becoming too big for me to handle the legal side alone.”

“That’s good,” she smiled at him. “I’m glad to hear. How are Grandma and Carolina?”

“Well, you know those two. Always bickering and always making peace right away.” They laughed together.

“Carolina is dating an American.” His face clouded. “His name is Thomas Drake Westwood.”

“Really?” Sophia sounded surprised. Carolina never went out on dates. “You don’t approve of him.”

“He’s too old for her and a Hollywood film producer.”

“I’ve heard of him. He’s quite a morsel.”

Sophia smiled when Felipe tsked at Valentina’s comment. “How much older?”

“Ten or eleven years.”

“Now, Felipe, you’re being prejudiced. Gabriel was nearly fourteen years older than me and was the best thing that could have happened in my life.”

“Don’t compare the two. Gabriel was special.”

An unhappy grin flashed over Sophia’s features, “Yes, he was.”

“Stop being the older brother, Felipe. Carol is twenty-three,” Valentina pondered and smirked, “I’m glad she’s found someone at last.”

He laughed. “Well, I’m the older brother. And the only one you have! Best heed my advice.” He frowned and turned to Sophia. “I haven’t explained myself well. There is something about him… He’s… too friendly and… there is something weird when he looks at people, as if they were specimens under a microscope. I don’t know how to define it. In any case, I’ve talked to her, but you know Carol.”

“Yeah, I do.”

Sophia turned to the floor plans. “So do you think the house is worth its price? How long will all the work take? What’s the estimate?” She practically hopped from one foot to another.

“My God, Sophia, slow down,” Valentina said, “I don’t know why you’re constantly in such a hurry. These things take time.”

“Life is too short to waste time, my dear. One day you will learn that. You’re too young to understand.”

“Too young? Sophia, I’m seventeen years old.”

“An old woman,” Felipe teased.

“Maybe I’m the one who’s too old.” Sophia sighed deeply and hugged herself, her shoulders sagging.

“Hey! I only want to see smiles this weekend,” Felipe ordered.

Sophia managed to give him a small smile.
Do as I say, not as I do
.
Typical of Felipe
.

In a meeting room of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva.

12.54 p.m.

Daydreaming, Sophia’s image haunted Ethan.
She is stunning. Slightly tanned skin; almond eyes. Mmm, her mouth is a delicious shade of red. Her hair falls sinfully over her breasts. I bet they would fill my hands…

“Mr. Ashford, don’t you agree that this new turn of events in the Afghanistan War demands a postponement of a few months, let’s say, eight to twelve months to start our first payment? We know that your shipment will arrive on time. We don’t know if we will manufacture, contact, and distribute our products in the expected time, so you see, we need to delay our first payment,” the head of the Arab team at the end of the table put forth.

“Oh, yes-”

Leonard interrupted Ethan. “Excuse me, gentlemen, I need a moment with my client. Mr. Ashford, if you will just follow me into the adjoining room?” Leonard requested.

When he closed the door of the smaller room, Leonard exploded in a low voice. “What got into you today? Goddamn it! I have been conducting this fucking meeting for at least two hours, all on my own. The first time the motherfuckers speak to you… worse, speak to you with an unreasonable demand, you give in without even looking at me? What’s your problem, Ashford?”

“I’m sorry, Allenthorp. I didn’t hear the proposal. My mind was elsewhere,” Ethan excused himself, with a grimace.

“You should be sorry,” Leonard sighed. “It’s the woman, isn’t it? Yes, she’s quite distracting.” A small smile crossed Leonard’s face. “Nonetheless, we cannot afford distractions here,” he sighed. “Now, you know how these guys are about to pledge honor and blah, blah, blah. How many months are you willing to give them?”

“Give them ten days. Of course, they’ll bargain for more. I cannot give them more than one month. I’m sure they’ll be satisfied with that.”

“I’m willing to bet your
absentmindedness
is going to extend the meeting for at least twenty-four hours beyond the anticipated. Just because of a woman. I should charge you more for this.” Leonard grinned, “In fact, I will.” He put his hand on the doorknob, but didn’t turn it. “Forget her for a few hours. I will not be held responsible for any new problem. Let’s get on with this.”

Quai General Guisan.

1.37 p.m.

Sophia shook Mr. Brenton’s hand outside the bank. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, sir.”

“My pleasure, young lady. And, please, if you meet Juliette,” he looked down a second, as if ashamed, “don’t mention how and where we finished our transaction. She only knows about the first part of the payment you made in London.”

“Don’t worry. Take care, Mr. Brenton.”
I hope I never meet that bitch again
.

“You too, my dear. I hope you’ll be happy in your new house.”

Sophia stood there looking as the old man entered his car, snowflakes falling delicately on her gray felt hat. When it turned the corner, Sophia jumped into Felipe’s arms. “I did it. I did it.”

“Yes, you did. Congratulations. Now, you had better take me to a restaurant. I’m starving.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve made reservations for us at l’Auberge du Lion d’Or and asked for a special Krug champagne.”

“Hmm! Felipe, prepare yourself. Sophia has chosen well,” said Valentina from behind.

Sophia turned and hugged her sister, too happy to care if she was making a scene.

Sophia called her driver and in a few minutes they were seated at a table beside a huge window with a clear view of Lake Geneva.

“I don’t think we’re going skiing this afternoon, Sophia,” Felipe smiled at his sister, a hand on his flat stomach. They had been drinking, eating and catching up for more than three hours.

Valentina licked her lips. “Everything here is scrumptious. My oven-roasted cod was more than delicious.”

“Yeah. But I’m happy that I’m not sleeping with you tonight. All that garlic, Val! Ugh!”

“I’m not sleeping with Felipe again,” Valentina stared at her brother and taunted, “he snores.”

“I do not!”

“You do, too,” Valentina pouted, “I want to sleep with you, Sophia.”

“You know I only sleep alone, dear.” Sophia squeezed Valentina’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

“Still having nightmares?” Felipe asked.

Sophia handed him her flute, “Can you pour me some more champagne, please?” evading the question.

“Sure. This champagne is quite tasty. It’s the first time I’ve tried this one.”

“You’ve never had Clos D’Ambonnay before?” Sophia smiled. “I first tried it on my honeymoon. I fell in love with it. All of Krug’s champagnes are aged for at least six years in theirs cellars. The grapes are handpicked and pressed.” She tasted her champagne. “They still ferment in oak.” She smiled at him, sheepishly. “It was perfect for my roast supreme of sea bass but your Scottish Angus beef merited a red wine.”

“It doesn’t matter. You know I love red meat.” Felipe’s eyes gleamed with admiration. “You’ve become a very refined woman, Sophia.”

“It’s not difficult to like these kinds of things, you know. Gabriel was a good teacher.” She smiled softly, fond of the memory. “The Krug caves in Reims are absolutely sensational.”

“When you live in Europe it’s so much easier to learn and access these kinds of luxuries.”

“Yes, but then it also depends on personality, Val. Sophia has always been refined. She has always been special.” Felipe gripped Sophia’s hand, his thumb caressing her knuckles. “Sophia cooks as few women do. You eat like most.”

Sophia giggled and Valentina pouted.

“The truth is that Sophia has always been the apple of your eye. And you, hers.” Valentina complained.

“And you’re jealous!” Sophia made a face and held Valentina’s hand. “There’s no reason, little sister, because you and your twin, Vic, are
our
favorites.”

The dessert arrived. “You’re about to taste the most delicious dessert in the world.” Sophia licked her lips.

“I don’t know how you are so thin, Sophia. You have such a sweet tooth.” Valentina sulked.

“I don’t sit idle all day like you, dear. I wake up early. I run, swim, workout and ride. Every day.” She dipped her spoon in the warm ultralight soufflé with lime-skin and a scoop of vanilla, delicately positioned on a disc of chocolate. “Mmm!”

“Valentina does only the bare minimum,” Felipe commented, “she isn’t like us, Sophia.”

With a devilish smile, Sophia teased, “It’s the blonde hair. It causes-”

Felipe laughed. Valentina threw her napkin at Sophia, scowling. “Both of you stop! I have to study to graduate.”

“Excuses, excuses. You’re lazy and you know it,” Sophia declared. “Let’s see if you have really been studying… How long will the renovation take?”

“Well, it depends on what you want done. We came up with a timetable to discuss with the architect who’s going to supervise the job.”

“I did some designs on the floor plan I have and I will show you in London. Mostly, I want modifications in the rooms at the back of the house and the kitchen.” Sophia tilted her head to the side, musing, “Also, I want another full changing room at the pool lounge. I want rooms, with an independent entrance, for my staff on the third floor.” She ate another spoonful of the soufflé, savoring it. “And, of course, a cellar.”

Felipe grinned at Valentina, shaking his head, “I told you she would practically pull the house down.”

“No, of course not. I want to maintain the hall, the reception room, the dining room, the garage, and the back garden. And I’m okay with the bedrooms and bathrooms. Of course, they need redecorating. You can start with that, Val. The first floor won’t be difficult, either. You won’t have great problems with it because I’m keeping it as before. It’s just some wallpaper and, of course, a thing or two. One thing we can say about the tacky previous owner is that she liked new technologies.” She licked the spoon. “The only thing I do require is floor heating. I want to move in by February and have the house ready by March first.”

Val’s eyes rounded. “Are you crazy? That leaves us four months.”

“So? I’m not sparing any expense.” She shrugged. “Hire as many different crews as you need. Put one in each room. Set the schedule. You and Felipe are the bosses. You’re going to love Lauren Starch, the architect I’ve hired. She is your age, Felipe, and has fantastic ideas.”

“I can’t come over every week. And Felipe-”

“I know. I’ll be there. We can have our meetings on Skype. I know I can’t expect you to move for me. I’ve learned to live alone.”

“Sophia, it’s not as if we’re abandoning you,” Felipe scowled, “we have our lives.”

Sophia gave him a small smile, “I understand.”

“We’ll see what we can do,” Felipe answered. “Let’s hear your plans.”

Chapter 3

Geneva International Airport.

Saturday, October 17
^th
, 2009.

6 p.m.

“I. Don’t. Believe. It. I don’t,” Sophia huffed. “I received a message from your company saying our flight had been changed to eight o’clock this evening due to the weather.”

“
Je suis desolée
. Your flight has already departed.”

“You’re sorry, my ass,” Sophia heard Valentina murmur from behind her.

Sophia fished her iPhone from her bag and showed the attendant the message. “Here. Please, read the message.”

“You owe me a thousand pounds, Allenthorp,” Ethan said from his comfortable seat, watching the scene.

“No, I don’t. Our bet didn’t include you cheating and arranging to send fake messages from the airline company. Sometimes I don’t know how you can live with yourself, Ashford.”

“I can see you’ve never read
Dell’Arte della Guerra
by Machiavelli,” he frowned slightly. “Very interesting, Allenthorp. He taught ‘Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious,’ and ‘he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.’ Although she is not an enemy, I followed his instruction to the letter.”

“If you hadn’t noticed, she’s not alone.” Leonard was clearly annoyed. “And if she discovers your plot?”

“Another quote from Machiavelli for you, Allenthorp. ‘All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger, but calculating risk and acting decisively.’ I find your education is lacking.”

“On the contrary, Ashford. I just don’t agree with Machiavelli’s beliefs. If for him ‘the end justifies the means,’ for me it doesn’t.”

“Bravo, Allenthorp, a true lawyer speaking. Don’t be a boring moralist now. We have a ride to offer.” He stood and walked up to Sophia.

“Even so, there’re no more flights this evening, madam.” The attendant finished what she was doing. “I’m sorry, again.” She looked at her watch. “I have to close, madam.”

“This isn’t happening.” Sophia shook her head, her raven hair dancing around her.

Felipe put a hand on Sophia’s shoulder. “Sis, it’s okay-”

“It seems I have to rescue you again, darling.” A deep voice came from behind Sophia.

Felipe, Valentina, and Sophia pivoted to find Ethan and Leonard at the corner of the counter.

“Ethan!” She smiled at him. “What a coincidence! I thought you were going back yesterday.”

Felipe put an arm around her waist, protectively, and eyed the men, distrustfully.

“No. My meeting only concluded late this morning. And I convinced Allenthorp to join me for lunch at l’Auberge du Lion D’Or.”

“Hmm. We went there on Thursday,” she nodded, absently. “How are you, Your Grace?” She raised her eyebrows at the lawyer, as if daring him to deny his title. “If I may introduce you, these are Felipe and Valentina Santo, my older brother and youngest sister.” She turned to Felipe and Valentina and her hand flicked in the air toward the men. “Leonard Allenthorp, the Duke of Galewick, and Mr. Ethan Ashford.”

Leonard immediately interjected, “Oh, no, please. There’s no need for formality.” He stretched his hand to Felipe. “Leonard Allenthorp. How do you do?”