Shades of Trust

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

London, The City, L’Anima restaurant

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

1:00 p.m.

Sophia’s iPhone vibrated for the umpteenth time. It was in her purse which she’d placed on her thighs. She discreetly took out the phone and glanced down at her lap. Alerts and banners filled her screen.

Dear God! Seven w******p messages, three e-mails, and two calls. She quickly scanned his messages. Doesn’t he have to work?

09:31 a.m. - Morning, Beauty.

10:43 a.m. - Miss you.

11:39 a.m. - Busy?

11:57 a.m. - Sarah doesn’t know your whereabouts. Where are you?

12:33 p.m. - I’m becoming anxious and you’re not helping.

12:58 p.m. - Answer the damn phone.

01:00 p.m. - You are so dead on Thursday.

Edward caught her looking at her iPhone and tapped her foot under the table. “Mrs. Leibowitz shares my opinion about the generator design we have sent you, Mr. Robin.”

She closed her fingers over the phone and looked sheepishly at him.

He 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, focusing her 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 p.m. - Are you angry with me?

01:19 p.m. - Is everything all right with you?

Decidedly, the man has freaked out. Again.

Sophia. 01:19 p.m. - CALM DOWN!

Sophia. 01:19 p.m. - Text you back in 15.

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

Sophia. 01:22 p.m. - NO NEED TO FREAK OUT.

Sophia smiled amused 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 tae scare the clients away. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he replied, his voice clipped. He put down his silverware, his stomach queasy. “Go on, Tavish Uilleam, grab their account.”

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 more 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, why are you all tied up in knots like this?

His phone pinged and his eyes narrowed at the screen, turning off the sound.

Beauty. 01:47 p.m. - Hi.