Shades of Trust

Chapter 16-2

“No, I hate hospitals. John can patch up me here, can’t you, John?” She tried to open her eyes, but the towel was blocking them. “Make room, Ethan. You’re crowding me.”

“Please, Walter, could you call a plastic surgeon?” Ethan said. “The best one.”

Alistair didn’t budge from his place on the sofa; his big hands resting protectively on Sophia’s hips, the wide expanse of his chest looming over her.

“Gabriela?” she asked, worried.

“Don’t you worry, she’s with Elena, Domitila, and the other children. Do you want me to check on her?” His deep voice soothed her and he put his hand over hers.

She brushed the towel aside and looked at him, bewilderment in her eyes. “No, thank you,” she murmured. “They’ll keep her distracted. She didn’t want to leave yet anyway.”

“Ethan, can you please hold this for me? Apply pressure.” John rose from his kneeling position on the floor. “I’ll see if one of my colleagues can attend to you at the nearest hospital, Sophia.”

“I’ll take her anywhere he deems fit, Walter.”

“No.” Her hand gripped Alistair’s and squeezed it nervously. “I’m not going to any hospital.” She looked at the doctor, her eyes begging, “John, you can do it here.”

“I could, but I’d prefer if you did this with a plastic surgeon, in a hospital where you could also have the necessary tests.”

“Leave this to me, Walter, just call the doctor. And I’ll take her to the hospital. It doesn’t matter the cost.” To Sophia, Ethan ordered, “Don’t behave like a child, Sophia. Walter is a great doctor, but this is not his specialty. I don’t want you to have another scar. The sickening one your husband gave you is more than enough.”

“What?” Sophia looked astonished for a heartbeat before her temper boiled and spilled. She swatted Ethan’s hand away with force, flinging the towel far across the room, scattering ice on the rug. “How dare you mention my husband! It’s over between us. Over!” She turned to John, blood flowing over her eye and on the side of her face. “John, please, call the best plastic surgeon who can come here. I will pay for his services.”

All this to defend a dead man. Alistair was impressed with the spirit of defiance and show of strength in someone so much smaller than Ethan. If only Heather had shown half the same loyalty and love for me.

“Ashford, make room.” John shoved Ethan away and pressed a hand to her shoulder, laying her down again. “And you, Sophia, keep calm and stay down. I’ll call a friend, but you have to promise me you will stop by the clinic for a check-up.”

“I will.” She closed her eyes, calmer now since John had recalled her problem with hospitals, and let him again clean the blood.

Ethan paced away from the sofa, unsteady and dizzy. He poured himself a whisky and downed it in a gulp. “Jesus!”

John picked up a clean towel and looked up at Alistair. “Help me here, hold this, and if she moves, hold her down.”

Alistair leaned over her, pressing down the towel, and pushed her hair away in a caress, commanding, “Stay still.”

Ethan poured himself another drink and rolled it around in the glass. “Oh, come on, darling. Let me pay for it. These kinds of services aren’t covered by health insurance—”

“Shut the f**k up, Ashford! Money is not an issue for her. She’s Gabriel Leibowitz’s widow.” Alexander’s statement caused a silence to descend on the room, except for the low murmur of John’s voice as he spoke on the phone.

Ethan looked so aghast and hurt that he couldn’t manage to say a word.

Sophia’s face blanched, her entire body turned cold, and her eyes flew open. She looked up to regard Alistair’s stunned face and then looked at Alexander. “You know me?”

“Yes. I recognized you when you stepped into the library yesterday,” Alexander confirmed. “Gabriel’s death was a tragedy reported worldwide. And you’re hard to forget, Sophia.”

“Should I take that as an insult or a compliment?” She tried to lighten the mood.

“The last ball Leibowitz Oil gave? I was there. Half the men in the ballroom were in love with you the minute you walked in on Gabriel’s arm.” He grinned at her. “The other half, I suppose, were gay.”

Sophia started to laugh, to just drop her head back on the pillow, a pained groan escaping her throat.

“If you don’t behave, I will take you to a hospital now,” John admonished. “Change the towels and keep pressure, Alistair. Dr. Longman is on his way. I expect him here in about thirty minutes, forty-five, tops. Do you want some painkillers?”

“I took an ibuprofen before I came down.”

“You can have another. This is going to hurt like hell,” he muttered. “I’ll ask Elena for some. Alice, if you could draw the curtains a little bit, it will help. There’s too much light in here.”

“Why did you lie, Sophia?” Leonard asked, with a hurt look on his face.

Sophia bit her lip. They deserve some explanations.

Alice sat by Sophia’s head and raised an eyebrow at her brother, looking pointedly at his hand, which still gripped Sophia’s.

Alistair sustained the look and entwined their fingers, in an explicit demonstration of his stubborn will.

Alice rolled her eyes heavenward.

Drawing courage and strength from Alistair, she tried to explain it the best way she could, “I never lied. I am Sophia Santo. Sophia Gonçalves Espírito Santo. Or rather, I was before I married Gabriel and took his name—oh, it’s a mess!” She sighed and closed her eyes. Never in her whole life had she felt so ashamed. “I was shot. Gabriel was kidnapped and murdered. The criminals, drug dealers, knew all our schedules, Gabriela’s included. As soon as I was able to fly, I fled to protect my daughter.” She gazed around, making eye contact with everyone in the room, ending with Alistair. His impassive face didn’t give her a clue of his feelings. “I only give my married name when absolutely necessary, it’s a matter of survival.”

The room was silent again, each one of them immersed in their own thoughts.

Sophia searched for Alice. “Please, Alice, I need to make a phone call.”

“No way,” John answered, returning to the room with the painkiller and a glass of water. “Here, take these.”

She struggled to rise on an elbow but the room spun.

“You stay right where you are,” Alistair said in his deep, low voice, wrapping her in a cocoon of safety. He helped her drink the water and stayed seated by her waist, not even making room for the doctor.

Alistair was so gentle that Sophia felt tears welling in her eyes. “Please, I’m expected in London for an urgent meeting. I need to make a phone call.”

John narrowed his eyes. “Is that true?”

She exhaled. “There’s been an explosion at one of the platforms in Rio.”

“Do you want me to place the call for you?” Alice offered.

“Please. My iPhone is inside my bag. Look for Edward Davidoff’s number.”

“I’ll do it for her. I know Davidoff,” Alexander interceded. “Ah, Sophia? Who should I say is calling?”

“Just Sophia.” She started to smile remembering ‘just Chambers’, but her face and head throbbed too much. She bit her lip to control the pain.

Alistair noticed the movement at once. Delicately, he squeezed her hand again, sharing his warmth and support.

“Davidoff? Alexander Allenthorp. Hold on a second. I’m passing you over to Sophia.” He handed her the cell phone.

‘Thanks,’ she mouthed. “Edward? I’m sorry but you’ll have to conduct the meeting alone. I had, ah, an accident and cut my forehead, badly.” She paused as she listened to him. “No. There is no need. I’ll be fine, it’s nothing but two or three stitches.” She listened for a while and looked at John. “I don’t know, just a sec. Do you think I could work tomorrow?”

John stared at her gravely, and shook his head. “I wouldn’t recommend work for a few days.”

She sighed, dispirited. “Edward, keep me informed. If I’m feeling better I’ll return later today or tomorrow morning.” Sophia closed her eyes, her body going lax with relief as she listened to him berating her for worrying about work instead of herself. “Aye, sir, I’ll rest. Thank you, Edward. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I’m impressed,” Ethan mocked, eyebrows lifted high on his forehead. “You’re a tough girl, darling.”

Sophia flicked her eyes open and she glowered at him. “I’m a survivor. I learned it the worst way possible.”

His expression darkened and his body went stiff. He strolled out to the garden without a word.

“Alice.” Sophia slightly moved her head back to look at Alistair’s sister. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t imagine Ethan—I ruined your sofa and made a mess of your rug.” I should have seen Ethan’s reaction coming. I deal with this on almost a daily basis.

“Sophia, there’s nothing to forgive. It was an accident,” Alice replied politely, not believing her own words.

Alistair snorted at his sister’s reasoning.

Sophia turned her head carefully to look at him. His eyes were blazing with fury and his mouth was set in a harsh line.

The garden door banged as Ethan returned to the room. “I need to talk to you, Sophia. Now!”

She looked over at Alice and the men and asked, “May I have a minute alone with him?”

All of them turned to glare at her as if she’d gone completely insane.

“I won’t get up from here, John. Ethan can hold the towel for me. I’m fine. We’ll be fine,” she said, glaring at Ethan, as if to reassure them and herself that she could deal with the situation.

Alistair stared at Sophia, shaking his head imperceptibly, trying to communicate that it was crazy to be alone in the room with Ethan.

Sophia pried his hand softly from the cloth and squeezed it. “Please.”

“Nae,” he mouthed.

“Please?” she asked again.

Alistair hesitated. He didn’t want to leave her alone. His most intimate desire at that moment was to take her with him, cradled in his arms. To protect her from everything that could ever hurt her. “I’ll wait outside if you—”

“It will be okay. I can deal with him.”

He gave her a look that said I don’t believe so as he shifted on the sofa, still observing her, contemplating the acute need to whisk her away with him. But he couldn’t go against her wishes even if everything inside him screamed for him to do so.

“Sit here, Ethan.” She motioned to the place where Alistair was sitting.

“I’m just outside the door,” Alistair growled, letting the other man see the rage in his face before getting up.

Sophia waited for Alistair to close the door, feeling the weight of his gaze on her.

“Sophia, I’m sorry. Please, I can’t let you go.”

“You don’t understand, do you, Ethan? Everything for you is veni, vidi, vici, and life is not a war. You have to commit, compromise, love, respect. We can’t go on like this; we’re going to hurt each other.”

“Sophia…”

His expression held so much pain that Sophia pitied him. No. He’ll hurt Gabriela. He’ll hurt me. “I’m sorry, Ethan. Let’s remain friends.”

“Impossible. I don’t want your friendship. I want more and you know it. I love you, Sophia.” His eyes were so sad that they lost their light. “I can’t live without you.”

Sophia’s heart clenched. Sophia, you know how these situations turn out. Don’t falter. “Come now, Ethan. You’re a witty, intelligent man. Love isn’t like this. We have known each other for so little time.”

“It’s never been like this for me, Sophia. I’m sure of my feelings,” he whispered fervently. “You’re the one for me.”

“This was an unfortunate accident but it was caused by jealousy. I can’t stand it anymore, Ethan. You’re jealous of my daughter. Of my dead husband.”

“You don’t know the effect you have on men, do you, Sophia? That you have on me?”

“Always trying to charm me.” Sophia smiled a little. “Let’s finish this in peace, as friends, before anything worse comes out of it.”

He shook his head, a dejected look in his eyes. “You’re special. Unique. Won’t you reconsider? Please?”

Never. Gabriela will always come first. “No. This is my final decision. I won’t change my mind, Ethan.”

“I’ll miss you.” He caressed her hair, an air of longing stamped on his face. “I’m sorry I hurt you. So very sorry. I’m going back to London now, so you’ll feel more comfortable. Leonard can give you a ride back or if you want I can send Wilkins to drive you back.” His hand caressed her cheek, his fingertips memorizing her perfect features. He bent over and kissed her forehead. “I—Sophia. I’ll call you. Please, answer when I do. Promise?”

“I promise,” she whispered.

“Oh, Sophia.” Her name was a prayer on his lips. “I love you.”

“Ethan. Don’t make things harder.”

“I bought you a gift for Valentine’s day. I’ll leave it on the bed.” As she opened her mouth to refuse it, he said, “Please, accept it. As a parting gift.” He opened his mouth to say something else but a knock on the door stopped him.

“Excuse me.” John entered the room with a bald, short man carrying a black bag, with Alistair on their heels. “Dr. Longman has arrived.”

There were still so many things Ethan wanted to say, but he gulped them down, bent, and kissed Sophia’s forehead.

Good-bye, Ethan. Sophia watched as Ethan, looking completely and utterly lost, rose, and walked away avoiding the others’ stares.

At the door, anguish showed in Ethan’s expression. Then the sight of Alistair hovering over his beloved Sophia, turned his anguish to rage.

And something on his face told Sophia it was not the end.