Trust (41 page)

09:33. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it:
Can I drop by to help dry you?

Sophia could almost see his devilish green eyes flashing. A malicious smile spread over her face as she texted back.

09:34. Sophia: Yes, please. I’m quite wet!

She grinned, imagining his body’s reaction to the text.
Hmm
.

09:34. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

09:34. Sophia:

09:35. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it:

09:35. Sophia: xxx

09:36. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Think this is funny, huh?

09:36. Sophia: Where are you?

09:37. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Still in an endless, boring meeting at the bank. No light at the end of the tunnel.

Sophia smiled. He had never sent her such a playful message.

09:37. Sophia: Poor baby! Call me tomorrow morning, then.

09:39. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Sleep well, Beauty.

09:39. Sophia: You, too.

She grinned broadly and texted again.

09:39. Sophia: Dream of me. Good night.

09:41. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: As if I could avoid it. You’ve taken permanent residence in my mind. Good night.

Sophia switched off her cell phone and chose her classical playlist. She sat on her bed with her Kindle, when a thought startled her.

And in your heart, Alistair Connor? Who resides in your heart?

London, The City. L’Anima.

Wednesday, March 10
^th
, 2010.

1 p.m.

Sophia’s iPhone vibrated for the nth time. It was in her purse she had placed on her thighs. She discretely took out the phone and glanced down at her lap. Alerts and banners filled her screen.
Dear God! Seven WhatsApp messages, three e-mails, and two calls. All from Alistair. Doesn’t he have to work?
She quickly scanned his messages.

10:31. Morning, Beauty.

10:53. Miss you.

11:46. Busy?

12:14. Sarah doesn’t know your whereabouts. Where are you?

12:37. I’m becoming anxious and you’re not helping.

12:49. Answer the damn phone.

01:00. You are so dead on Thursday.

Edward swung his keen, blue eyes in her direction, and caught her looking at her iPhone. He tapped her foot under the table and shook his head at her. “Mrs. Leibowitz shares my opinion about the generator design we have sent you, Mr. Robin.”

Damn
. She closed her fingers over the phone and looked sheepishly at him, who glared at her in return, pushing back the blonde lock.
I’m sorry, Mr. CEO, I’m sorry
.

“Yes, of course,” Sophia smiled candidly at the two technicians and the senior partner of Robin Enterprises seated at the round table opposite her. She ignored the buzzing of another message and paid attention to the conversation.

Edward started to explain about the budget of Leibowitz Oil and his voice became distant as her cell phone vibrated again, and she peered down, incapable of holding back her curiosity.

01:14. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Are you angry with me?

01:19. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Is everything all right with you?

Decidedly, the man has freaked out. Again.

01:19. Sophia: CALM DOWN!

01:19. Sophia: Text you back in 15.

01:21. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: NO NEED FOR CAPITAL LETTERS.

01:21. Sophia: NO NEED TO FREAK OUT.

Sophia smiled and shoved her cell phone in her purse. The lunch finished without any other messages or calls.

Scotland, Inverness. Cafe 1.

1.30 p.m.

Alistair’s face had become so dark and taut that Tavish nudged him in the ribs and whispered, “You’re going to scare the clients away. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” His voice clipped. He put down his silverware. His stomach queasy. “Go on, Tavish, let them know our interest in their account,” he murmured back. “Let me see how you fare in your new position,” Alistair provoked his brother.

Tavish threw him a dirty look and turned to the three men at the table, while Alistair scowled at his iPhone screen as if it were responsible for his bad mood. Tavish glanced at Alistair and kicked his shin to make him pay attention to the business at hand.

As the conversation flowed, he flicked his gaze at his phone a few times.
Fuck. What’s your problem, Alistair Connor? It’s only a woman, for Christ’s sake. Only. A. Woman
. He sang the words in his mind in a futile attempt to convince himself.
If she is just a woman, Alistair Connor, why are you all tied up in knots like this?
His phone pinged and his eyes narrowed at the screen, turning off the sound.

01:47. Beauty: Hi.

He frowned, uncertain of his mood and what he should answer. He went for a rebuke.

01:48. Alistair: Too late for niceties.

His phone vibrated a few more times and he oscillated between the business conversation and the desire to look at his screen.

01:49. Beauty: Breathe!

01:49. Beauty: Breathe in, breathe out!

01:49. Beauty: Calmer now?

How dare she?
He fumed and texted quickly back.

01:57. Alistair: NO!

01:57. Alistair: What were you doing? What took you so long to answer me?

01:57. Beauty: I was in a lunch meeting.

01:58. Alistair: So?

He breathed deeply trying to rein in his emotions. But jealousy had already set in. And he didn’t resist its pull. As she didn’t text back, he sent another message.

01:59. Alistair: All this time? WITH WHOM?

He lost track of the conversation going on at the table. He raised his eyebrows at Tavish in quiet desperation, who just smiled in return. His cell phone vibrated again.

02:00. Beauty: No. I was in a meeting outside the office before.

02:00. Alistair: So?

02:00. Beauty: So, what? It was work, dammit.

He pressed his lips in a thin line as he read her petulant and impatient answer.

02:03. Alistair: With whom?

02:05. Beauty: Drink a glass of water. With lots of sugar.

He saw red and started to type when another message appeared. He rose and excused himself, walking toward the toilet as more messages came in.

02:05. Beauty: Go to a yoga session.

02:06. Beauty: See a shrink.

Fuck. Double fuck
. He entered the bathroom, speed-dialing Sophia’s number as another message came in.

02:06. Beauty: I’m switching off for today. I’ve had enough.

London, on the way to Leibowitz Oil Building.

2.08 p.m.

Sophia switched off her iPhone just as it rang and looked at Edward, who chuckled. She threw her hands up in the air. “I’m done with pushy, overbearing, domineering, jealous, bullshitting CEOs. I’m going to find myself a nice docile trainee, for once. Maybe one of the Strathclyde University students. Someone
I
can bully and push around for a change.”

“I volunteer,” he said immediately, lifting a blond eyebrow at her.

She sighed, “As if I could ever push you around, Edward.”

“You can, Sophia, you can,” he mumbled, under his breath, “more than you know.”

Inverness. Rocpool Hotel, Chez Roux Restaurant.

10 p.m.

Tavish’s permanent, smug smile was irritating Alistair.

“What is your problem, Tavish Uilleam?” He stabbed a piece of Strathdon Blue cheese and bit into it.

“What’s
your
problem? You’ve been furious since the lunch ended.” His smirk broadened, “It’s her, isn’t it? A woman driving the mighty Alistair Connor insane. Come on, she is just one more woman.”