Perhaps, if the girl had gone to the authorities asking for help as soon as the guy started beating her, the crime wouldn’t have happened. But if is a word that life doesn’t consider. She shook her head aggravated at the way women let themselves get involved in damaging relationships.
Now Leibowitz’s problems. She touched the intercom, “Edward, could you please come here for a second?”
“Yes, Sophia?” Edward entered her office and stopped dead in his tracks. He raised a finger, silencing her. “Don’t tell me. I already know.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Sophia, you are as transparent as glass.” He perched a muscular thigh on her desk. “You decided to give the big guy a chance, huh?”
She laughed, nervously, “Yes, I think so. I planned a quiet evening at home. Pasta, soft music, and you know…”
“Hot sex,” he grinned at her.
“Edward!” she blushed.
“I didn’t know that grown women still blushed.” His grin widened at her blush. “Let me give you some advice.”
At a quarter to six, Sophia stood naked in her office bathroom and drying off from the shower she’d just had. Trying to get herself somewhat ready for the evening, she regretted arranging for Alistair to pick her up at the office, instead of meeting at her house.
Now, I’m still wearing the same clothes I put on this morning. Damn! Way to go, Sophia!
She did her best. She put on a few drops of her favorite perfume from Creed, Sublime Vanilla - Sublimely Alistair - brushed her teeth and styled her hair until it shined. She dressed, putting on the heavy silk ivory blouse and long, loose caramel silk skirt. A varnished brown belt clung to her small waist and varnished brown peep toe pumps covered her feet.
When she exited the bathroom, she found Edward waiting for her. He leaned on her bookshelf with an open book in his hand. He whistled and turned his finger for her to twirl, “He won’t be able to resist. Don’t worry.” He closed the book and put it in its place.
“That’s not what’s worrying me,” she laughed nervously.
“Hey, love.” He rested a hand on her shoulder and curled his fingers under her chin, making her look at him, “There’s no need for this. Don’t try to impress him. Just be yourself. You’ve already caught him. I’m sure he isn’t expecting any more than you’re willing to give. Got it?”
“Thanks,” she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re the best friend a woman could want.”
“I’m glad you’ve met someone worthy of you. And you know what they say about number three, don’t you?”
She looked at him, puzzled.
“It’s the charm, love. Number three is the lucky one.” He swatted her butt. “Go. Enjoy your night. I’ll want a full and detailed report on Monday.”
She blushed and he laughed.
She threw her Louis Vuitton monogram bag on her shoulder, picked up her redingote, and exited the office. While heading to the lifts, she looked at the iPhone screen. Two calls from Alistair.
Damn! I hate being late.
She sprinted through the corridors and tapped her shoe while waiting for the lift to go down, looking at her Cosmograph Daytona Rolex. The seconds glided fast, making her even later. As soon as the door opened on the ground floor, she ran to the sliding doors, almost slamming into them.
He stood waiting for her next to his Range Rover. A lock of his hair, still damp from a recent shower, fell across his eyes. He looked absolutely incredible with a six-button double-breasted gray cardigan with its collar up. He had tied a long black-and-white scarf around his neck Ascot style. The scarf’s tips ended below his cardigan. His dark gray faded jeans hugged his long legs and made her mouth water.
When he saw her running, he grinned widely and scooped her by the waist, lifting her up, “Where are you going in such a hurry?” He kissed her on the lips.
“I’m late, sorry.”
“You’re worth the wait. You smell good,” he nuzzled her neck with his nose. “So, are you going to cook for me tonight?”
“Are you hungry?” she asked, her lips near his.
“Famished,” he said with a sensual innuendo in his voice and pulled her into his embrace for a real kiss, before opening the door for her.
He sat behind the steering wheel, starting the car, “How was your day?”
“Nothing special,” she said, plugging her iPhone into the car stereo and choosing a song list to play. “I missed you so much I couldn’t concentrate on what I was doing.”
“That’s bad,” he said dryly.
“You think so?” she stared at him, a gullible look at her face, imagining he was joking. “Why?”
“You shouldn’t let me disturb you,” he answered, seriously. “If you feel disturbed, it’s because your emotions are out of hand.”
Out of hand? OUT OF HAND? “You didn’t disturb me today, Alistair,” she said, hurt showing in her voice, “I missed you. You were away the whole week. I…” Damn you, Alistair Connor! Here comes one of your dark moods. “Stop the car!”
He looked at her, flabbergasted, “I beg your pardon?”
“I said: stop the car! Now, please!” She said with a low voice, but loaded with strength.
He found a place to park and turned to stare at her, “All right. I have stopped the car. What are you going to do now?”
“Talk. We’re going to talk, because either you meant something completely different from what I heard, or I heard it right and I didn’t like it.” He started to speak but she interrupted him, “I’m not finished. We have been going out for nearly a month. We see each other almost every day. Before this started, you once mentioned the attraction between us. You have been trying to get me in your bed since then. Now, pray tell me: Why shouldn’t I miss you? Why shouldn’t I think about you?” She frowned and shook her head. “What do you think I am? A robot? That I can switch on and off as I want?” She pierced him with a fierce gaze, “You didn’t disturb me, Alistair. On the contrary. I missed you, a lot. I like being with you. But, if this is bothering you, we can solve this problem right away. I won’t burden anyone.”
Alistair watched her as she vented her frustration, trying to remember what he said that had generated that outburst. He pinched the bridge of his nose, “Let’s start from the beginning. What did I say that hurt you so much?” Damn mercurial woman.
“You don’t know what you said?” Her eyes wide. Am I so insignificant?
“Listen, I’m tired. I know this isn’t an excuse, but I had a bad week. I might have said something wrong.” He exhaled a gust of breath, grabbing her hand, caressing it with his thumb, “I missed you, too. A lot, as you said. I also like being with you, more than you can imagine. Tell me, what did I say that made you so angry?”
“I said that I couldn’t concentrate on work because I missed you and you rebuked me, saying it was a bad thing. That I shouldn’t let you disturb me and that my emotions were out of hand.” She shook her head hard. “What do you want? Do you want a relationship with a woman who does not miss you and feels nothing for you? Who can spend a week without seeing you and not care? Is this what you wish? I’m not that woman. So, I’m not the woman for you.”
Not the woman for me? His facial expression registered shock. How can you be so stupid, Alistair Connor? He had spent all his nights alone in Scotland thinking about her, wishing she were feeling his absence as much as he did hers.
Since I discovered Heather’s betrayal, I’ve only had empty sex and never felt anything for a woman, but anger. He stared into her eyes, struggling to unveil her feelings. Her teeth biting her lip gave her - and her feelings - away. Again something stirred inside his chest, almost paining him. What do I want? Just a good fuck? Something more? Am I trying to push her away with words? Am I going to hurt her?