“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 17th, 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.”