“Here, milady.” Softly, he pushed the ring on her finger.
She grinned at him, “It’s only coming off this hand again, when it goes on to the left one. Understood?”
He bowed his head, smiling back, “Absolutely.” Christ, Sophia, this is not about your next shopping spree. It’s serious.
Change the subject, Alistair Connor. I will never let you go.
The door opened after a knock and a petite Chinese woman wearing a white coat over a blue printed dress emerged in the room. “Ah! I see our patient is awake,” she said with a smile. “I’m doctor Chen Lan. How are you feeling?”
What do you think? “Apart from hurting all over? I’m fine. I just want to go home,” Sophia answered.
The doctor checked her vital signs with practiced movements, talking the whole time in a light tone. She wrote on Sophia’s chart and signed it. “You’re free to go. I need your promise to rest. You’re very lucky the cut was not too deep. Still it is a stabbing, so it needs care. I’ll be right back with your out-patient instructions and the list of medicine you’ll have to take.”
Atwood House.
8.37 p.m.
Standing before the TV, clutching a remote in one hand and his cell phone against his ear, Alistair swung round as she emerged from Gabriela’s room into the TV room, “Aye, I think it’d be better. Come by.”
“Who’s coming by?” Sophia was using a loose black long flowing dress, her hair pilled high on her head.
“Davidoff and Ash. They need to talk to you. They’ll be here in a few minutes,” he said as he consulted his watch. He ran a hand over his tired face. “Sit, Sophia.”
What now? She cocked her head to the side gauging his mood, but his characteristic poker face was in place. She sat on the comfortable sofa and stretched her legs on the ottoman he had pushed in her direction.
“Comfortable?”
“Spill, Handsome. I’m not made of glass,” she patted the sofa beside her where he sat.
“The police have been here, when you were with Gabriela. They need your statement. I told them-”
“I won’t press charges,” she whispered.
You’re kidding me, right? His jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes at her before asking, “Why not?”
Because. “I don’t want to go to the police or to court. I don’t want the newspapers sniffing around and writing more than they already are. I don’t want to see our lives transformed into a circus, Alistair Connor.”
“She could have killed you.” These excuses are ridiculous, Counselor. I’m not convinced.
I’m here, aren’t I? “Yeah, she could have,” she sighed. “But still, I don’t want to press charges.” She could seek revenge on you. On us.
“This is not-” Something in her eyes made him stop. “What is it, Sophia?”
Your past haunting you. “I’ve gone through this once. I don’t have the strength to do it all again. Please... Try to understand.”
“I see,” he breathed not seeing at all, but he let it go. She was already too distressed to start a discussion. Without a word, he turned on the TV.
Sophia closed her eyes and rested her head on a cushion, enjoying the homely and peaceful feeling. Alistair’s fingers fluttered over the back of her hand and her forearm lulling her into a delicious sleepy haze.
“Mrs. Leibowitz,” Zareb’s voice came through the sound system, “Mr. Davidoff and Ms. Carruthers have arrived.”
“Mmm,” she complained, opening her eyes and grabbing the phone on the side table. “Okay, Zareb. Send them up, please.”
Alistair rose to greet them as they appeared at the top of the stairs, “Davidoff, Ash.”
“MacCraig,” Edward shook Alistair’s hand and came to Sophia’s side, squatting beside her. His blue eyes were concerned when he pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Hello, love. How are you?”
“Beaten,” she breathed and blinked to whisk away the tears that gathered in her eyes. Sophia was having trouble keeping her feelings in check. She was going through a whole mix of emotions - fear, anger, pain, guilt. All at the same time.
“I know the feeling,” he whispered, hugging her in his arms. “It’ll get better in a few days.”
A shuddered breath left her lips, “Yeah, I know. Dr. Kent was here earlier and we talked.”
“Hello, my dear. We were worried.” Ashley kissed her cheek and smiled, “I’m booking you for my defense class.” She sloshed in the armchair across Edward with a wry smile “Maybe you can teach us a few moves.”
That drew a smile from Sophia.
“What can I offer you?” Alistair asked as Edward took off his jacket and loosened his tie.
“Just water,” said Ashley, “we haven’t had dinner yet.”
“Then you’ll eat with us.” Sophia picked up the phone and informed Aisha that they would be four at dinner.
Edward’s eyes searched Alistair’s before he flung himself in the armchair and stared at Sophia. “Sophia. Listen closely. I- We think it’s best if you disappear for some days until everything is back to normal.”
Disappear? “I beg your pardon?” she whispered. What do you mean?
A happy female voice coming from the TV called Alistair’s attention and he stiffened when he saw the images. The camera had filmed Sophia and Emma leaving the gallery in ambulances.
Fuck. He reached for the remote control to switch off the TV when Sophia ordered, “Don’t.”
His gaze riveted to her face. Her face was pale and she had thinned her lips.
“-Gabriel Leibowitz’s widow, owner of Leibowitz Oil International. She’s been living here in London for two years hiding under her maiden name. She has since become engaged to Lord Alistair MacCraig, the Marquis of Ells and CEO of The City of London Bank. Yesterday, she was stabbed during the VIP opening of his art gallery, The Blue Dot, in Chelsea. The crime is still unexplained and, it is believed, was perpetrated by Lord Ells’s late wife’s sister, Emma Miller. Until this edition, no charges have been pressed and the police chief said he could make no comments. We’ve tried to reach her family in Rio de Janeiro, but no one was available to answer our questions. All the Leibowitz Oil employees are refusing to comment on the episode. From São Paulo, Brazil, our correspondent, Silvia Marques, has more news.”
Alberto Leibowitz appeared on the screen, with his arm around Rose. The reporter introduced them and asked what Alberto could tell her about his daughter-in-law.
“Sophia Espírito Santo, the woman our son married, has been declared psychiatrically unstable more than once by doctors and has even lost custody of her daughter.” He shook papers to emphasize his statement. “She kidnapped our baby granddaughter after our son died and has disappeared with her. We’re taking legal measures to correct this. Our lawyers have been directed to petition the English courts, proving her incapacity and requiring that custody of our granddaughter be given to us. Justice will prevail.” Alberto’s voice had the kind of mad tone one would be scared off.
No! Never! A strangled sound left Sophia’s mouth and she bit down on her bottom lip to avoid the tears that seemed unending.
“Fucking press,” Alistair switched off the TV after the subject changed. He didn’t need a degree in psychology to guess how it would rankle such a proud woman as Sophia to hear her life being dissected publicly. He knew she used her pride as a mask to avoid people getting near her. Anxiety flowed from her body, and when she reached up to dry her eyes, Alistair gently lifted her onto his lap. His fingers slid into her raven locks, pushing her head in the hollow of his shoulder. His large hand rubbed her back, to take away some of the stress he had caused. He would do anything to ease her pain.