10:58. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Tavish Uilleam is throwing daggers at me. 
11:00. Sophia: I’m going to lick your lips and dip my tongue inside your mouth; caress your chest with my nails, while my hand dives in your tailored trousers looking for something hard.
11:01. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: ENOUGH. See you tomorrow.
Sophia laughed harder and sent her last message.
11:01. Sophia: Tomorrow, Handsome. Sweet dreams… if you can sleep.
Chapter 19
Leibowitz Oil Building.
Friday, March 12th, 2010.
4 p.m.
Sophia sat still for several minutes looking at the pulsing cursor on the blank page of her e-mail.
Standing up, she blew an irritated sigh that made a lock of midnight black hair fall over her eye. Impatiently, she pushed it aside. She never had any trouble figuring out how to solve Leibowitz’s problems before. Since lunchtime, she hadn’t managed a decent thought and now the day was ending. I can’t call Edward again. He’s going to tell me to fuck off. Literally.
Alistair kept popping into her head. He hadn’t returned yesterday and she missed him. A lot. She went to the window and placed her hands on the glass, not really looking at the astonishing view of the river.
What shall I do? Am I prepared to plunge into another relationship so soon? Oh, damn! Who am I fooling? I’m already in it. Deep.
She flexed her shoulder muscles and as she remembered her chat with Felipe the day before, a daring smile twisted her mouth. She returned to her table and picked up her iPhone to call Alice. Ariadne answered the phone.
“Hi, little princess. How are you?”
“Hello, Sophia. I’m fine, thank you. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, darling. Is your mother home?”
“Yes, hold on.” She shouted, “Mummy, Sophia’s on the phone.” Returning to the speaker she said, “She’s coming. How is Gabriela?”
“She’s okay. Planning our next trip,” Sophia chuckled. “She’s always plotting against me.”
“Can I come with you? Can I?” Ariadne begged.
“Sure, darling. Well, I mean, if your parents allow it.”
Sophia heard Alice’s voice, “Let me talk to Sophia, Ari. Go finish your homework.”
“Bye, Sophia, don’t forget me.”
“As if I could, dear.” Ariadne had won a special place in her heart. In truth, the whole family had.
“Hello, Sophia. How are you?”
“Hi, fine, thanks, Alice. And you?”
“I’m fine, dear. But I bet you’re better. There’s something different in your voice today. I’d say, uh, that you’re happier. Am I wrong?”
Sophia’s laugh tinkled in her office. “No. You’re right. I’ll confide in you, since I need your help. But you have to give me your word that you’ll keep this a secret until I, uh, tell you that it’s not a secret anymore, all right?”
“Oh! I love secrets!” she said in a whispered voice.
“Look, I haven’t decided yet because I haven’t talked to-Well, before I let know you know what I’m planning,” she said nervously, “I need to know if Gabriela can stay with you tonight?”
Sophia heard Alice catch her breath on the other side of the line.
“I don’t believe it,” she gushed. “You’re- Alistair- You decided to-” Alice didn’t know how to say it.
The whole idea so excited Sophia that she laughed huskily at Alice’s attempt to phrase her thoughts and asked, “How do you know we haven’t done it?”
“Oh, come on, Sophia. I know my brother. In fact, I think everyone can feel his tension when you’re near him. You’ve been giving Alistair a hard time.”
“Indeed. But it wasn’t my intention. However, I have decided to give him a chance. He’s too much of a temptation. Besides, he’s been a gentleman so far.” She laughed again, “I’m going to end his suffering. Alice…” she turned serious, “What do you think?”
“Sophia, you’re the best thing that could have happened to Alistair. I’ve never seen him happier than he is now.”
Sophia felt a chill envelop her, “But?”
“I- I don’t know if I ought to say this, but he still carries a heavy burden. Heather was-”
Sophia cut Alice short, “I’d prefer to hear the story from Alistair first, Alice, if you don’t mind. I know he still feels a great pain about Heather and Nathalie and their deaths, but I also have a past. I think we can, at least, try to work it out together.” She exhaled, feeling the cold seep away from her, “I don’t know about Heather, but I’m certain Gabriel wouldn’t want me miserable. Plus,” the smile returned to her face, “I like your brother as he is.”
“In that case, dear, if he does accept your invitation, tell Maria to bring Gabriela over. Anytime you want. And she can spend the weekend with us. How’s that?”
“Wow! Fantastic. Let me call Alistair.” She paused and asked, “Alice, do you think he won’t expect it? Will he be shocked? Would he prefer to take the lead?”
“Shocked? No, not at all. But then, tell me, what man wouldn’t like a surprise like this? Be bold.” She laughed, “I like this hidden side of yours.”
“Call you back in a few minutes.”
Sophia tapped her nails lightly on her keyboard absently, trying to decide what to do, what to say, excited and aroused by the prospect of making love to Alistair.
She picked up her phone and called him. At the first ring, he answered with his deep voice.
“Sophia,” he breathed, “I’ve missed you.” His way of answering the phone always amused her. No words or time wasted.
“I’ve missed you, too. How was your trip?”
“It could have been better. Nonetheless, I solved some big problems that required my attention. I’ve just arrived. I’m heading home. No more work today. I’ve had enough for a whole year.”
“You’re not pleased, are you?”
“Nae. I’ll have to go back, probably next Tuesday. It’s terrible.” His voice gruff.
She started to doubt if this was a good day to seduce him. “Listen, I thought that perhaps we could do something different today.”
“Like what?”
“Of course, if you’re up for it-”
He cut in, “I’m up for everything with you, Beauty. Just tell me what it is and I’ll be there.”
“Oh, nothing special. I thought about a quiet evening. You like pasta. I cook a mean pasta with carciofi. We could drink some of the French wine I bought and had no one to share it with,” she babbled. “Perhaps, we could watch a film. At my place. I mean if you like the idea.”
“Sounds great. Better than anything I could think of. I love pasta with artichokes. Want me to pick you up or shall we meet at your house?” His voice grew lighter.
Talk about mercurial moods. Sophia exhaled the breath caught in her lungs. “If you can pick me up at six, that would be fantastic. Call me just before you arrive, I’ll wait for you in the hall.”
“Perfect. Until six then, Beauty.”
Well, well, well. Until now, everything is going as planned.
Sophia called Alice first to tell her about what she had arranged with Alistair. Then she spoke to Maria, informing her that Gabriela and she were going to spend the weekend with the Allenthorps. And finally, Lucy, her housekeeper, giving some instructions for the evening.
From that minute on, Sophia couldn’t concentrate on anything. She decided to transfer the criminal case under her review to Paul Evergreen, a brilliant lawyer working for her foundation. She talked with him for a few minutes explaining her strategy. Unfortunately, the girl had killed her boyfriend, self-defense or not, with five shots. Evergreen could only try to alleviate the verdict.