MY SECRET LOVER

CHAPTER TWELVE

STANDING HER GROUND

SOPHIA'S POV

It's been a day after I walked in on Lucien and his lady friend, Miss Vaughn.

I didn't see George again after that day but he did drop a party invite printout for me in front of my door.

It was exactly as I had asked him to make it for me.

I grinned and held it in my hand as I went in search of him.

I decided against searching for him as I got close to the kitchen. I didn't want to stumble upon something I don't want to see.

I took the corridor that was facing away from the kitchen itself and got to the sitting room.

I sat there, gladly reading the prints of my letter invite.

“George even made it cooler, wow!” I mock whisper to myself, grinning widely.

“Who are you talking to?” A high pitched voice asks, startling me from the peace and quiet bubble I wrapped myself in.

I looked up to see Lucien's bed toy, Miss Vaughn standing there in an impeccable red two piece. Her makeup was flawless as well.

I ignored the bitter taste in my mouth and answered her as cheerily as I could be,

“Oh! Miss Vaughn, I was actually talking to myself. I was quite excited.”

The way I talked almost made me sick to my stomach.

I sounded like I was sucking up to her. I shouldn't feel intimidated by her.

I looked up at her again and felt thoroughly insignificant compared to her.

She eyes me with very cold and calculated eyes.

“What are you doing in Lucien's house?”

I stare at her again pretending to be dumb at her breach of privacy question.

“I asked you a question blondie,” she adds this time, her nostrils flaring.

I felt angry instantly. Why am I intimidated by this woman? I took have enough money myself, probably more than she does herself.

This sudden thought gave me a boost of spirit and my gaze tightened as I kept stating at her making her to take one of her perfectly carved eyebrows up in mild surprise.

“Miss Vaughn, my presence here is and should not be of any importance to you. I am a welcomed guest here and who I am and why I am here are questions you should direct to the kind host whose house I am staying in,” I replied in a very strong voice.

After delivering this speech, I felt the sudden urge to stand up and whoop around. I sounded so sophisticated.

“How dare you?” She asks in an almost crazed shriek.

Geez, the woman seems to be a bit unhinged. Does Lucien like his women a bit crazy?

The sudden thought made me want to chuckle, but the look on Miss Vaughn’s face deterred me.

I just feeling quite amused within myself and watched her.

I wasn't even scared for a moment. I decided that instant that if she so much as lay a finger on me I would gladly make use of dad's people and deal with her.

The idea made me feel quite heady. The sought of power dad wielded was intoxicating.

“Who do you think you are to sit there and reply me like that?” She asks, her eyes trying to pop clear off her face.

It made her look pretty ugly at that moment.

“She, Miss Vaughn, isn't someone you want to trifle with. She isn't someone you can do as you please with, that is if you value your life.”

“George!” I stand up to go meet him standing at the entrance of the sitting room.

Miss Vaughn paused, a startled look crossed her face, her hands fell quietly by her side as if she wasn't sure what to do with it.

She is looking at me like she could figure out exactly what made me important enough to get a threatening warning from George.

I wanted to confirm for her that George wasn't bluffing and I could very well give her a demonstration at that moment.

Instead I said nothing and kept staring at her.

She flicks her gaze down my body and humphs as she leaves.

“You should stay away from her, Miss Sophia,” George says and walks into the sitting room.

He sits on the widest couch and looks up at me.

“She is his source of distraction,” George adds with a sigh.

He takes off his glasses and presses his palm to his forehead.

It was startling to see George look sad and defeated. He was always steadfast and never changed.

I sit down beside him silently and allow him to gather himself.

“Things haven't been going quite well for Mr Thorne. Miss Vaughn, here is a mistake he allows himself to indulge in to get through whatever challenge he is facing.”

The thought that Lucien f***s ruthlessly to unwind made my mouth go dry, but I could see that his decision to invite Miss Vaughn isn't one that George liked.

“So what do you want to do now?” I asked, gently and peered at him.

I don't know how to comfort people but I'm willing to try, for George. I would also do the same for my dad and Mistress Wood

George sighed deeply, straightened his shoulder and put back his glasses on his face.

It gave me a weird impression that he was putting on an invisible armour.

“There's nothing that can be done, especially on my part or your part for that matter. Mr Thorne has to make the final decision.”

He stands up and straightens his suit jacket.

“The only thing I can do is to make sure Miss Vaughn, doesn't cause more trouble than she is worth and ensure that she doesn't hurt you especially.”

George smiles, awkwardly, and walks out of the sitting room.

I felt suddenly drained after he left, then I remembered suddenly that I wanted to see him earlier.

I jumped out of sofa and ran after him.

“George!” I shouted so he could stop walking.

He turned and saw me running after him, he raised a brow in surprise and in a silent question.

“I forgot to thank you for getting me the party invitation cards, they are so beautiful and exactly just how I want them,” I said rapidly a little bit out of breath from my short run.

I am thoroughly out of shape.

George smiles tenderly this time and inclined his head towards me, a sign of respect I guess.

“You are welcome, Miss Sophia.”

“You should work out more, Miss, you are thoroughly out of shape,” he adds while barely managing to hide his smile.

I laughed out and felt lighter within myself.

I just may come to like this place, maybe.