Unbroken Love

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“You look ravishing, darling. The moon itself cannot compete with you,” Ethan said huskily as they walked through the ballroom. How could I ever think anyone else could? My goddess, my everything.

Ethan, stop. “Thanks. Vic did the dress; she is quite daring.”

“It’s a gorgeous dress.” It makes my imagination run wild.

“I don’t know if Scott has told you, but I’ve decided to split the receiving line in four to spare the guests from a long and tiring wait,” Sophia changed topics smoothly. “Your CEO and Edward on one, and you on another with your PR; Alistair and I on another, and Zahira and Ashley on the last one. After, we can go to each table and greet the ones we have not spoken to.”

“An excellent idea, darling, as always. But as you’re not standing by my side, I prefer to stand alone,” he answered.

“Really?” she asked shocked. Oh, Ethan, you have to stop this idolatry. It’s not healthy.

What did you think? “Really,” he confirmed as they entered the Gold Room, part of the Ballroom Suite.

Ethan was about to close the double doors when her fingers curled around his hand.

Are you crazy? “We don’t need to shut them.”

Jesus, Sophia. Not even for a few minutes? He discretely breathed in her perfume, taking advantage of her closeness. Sweet, as you are.

He closed one and left the other angled, “Is that okay?”

“Yep.” Sophia sat in an armchair, a bit uncomfortable with the position he had put her in. She crossed her legs and nervously bounced her foot.

Immediately Ethan felt his lust awakened by his high-heels fetish. Sophia was wearing silver snake high-heeled sandals that he wanted to feel pressed to his buttocks as he thrust into her.

“So,” she charged on, “what is the problem?”

This is not the time, Ashford. Focus on the matter at hand. Sitting on the sofa, so close to her that their knees were almost touching, Ethan clasped his hands together. His desire was so out of place with what he had to say that it left him as quickly as it had appeared. He looked down and simply said, “You’ll have to do the speech.”

Sophia’s mouth dropped open. “Why? I didn’t prepare for that. I can’t—”

“Sophia, Calista and George made my life miserable.” He looked up and there was so much pain in his azure eyes that she pitied him. “And my grandfather—” He was a bastard too. “Well, the thing is, I’m not ready to talk about abuse.”

Calista, George, and Niarchos were given a loving, handsome, and intelligent boy to raise, but they hadn’t been able to understand or appreciate the shy boy who did everything to get their attention.

Oh, Ethan. You should consider therapy. “Did you prepare the speech?”

He laughed derisively, taking three pages from his inner pocket and gave them to her. “As if I could. Scott did.”

She scanned the pages quickly, expelling a long audible breath, handing them back to him. You’re wasting Scott’s abilities. “It’s very good. Exceptionally good, in fact, but not my style. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this.”

He leaned forward and put his hand over her left one, which was on her thigh. “Thanks.”

A sharp knock on the door frame startled them and both pulled back their hands. Tavish was filling the doorway with his tall, broad frame. His opinion of what he had seen was written on his raised eyebrow.

Good God. Sophia almost jumped up, but making an effort, she stayed were she was. “Yes?”

“Alistair Connor asked me tae tell ye that Edward Davidoff and Ashley Something are here.”

Ethan stood and stretched out his hand to help her up. “Are we set?”

“As agreed,” was her answer, lightly squeezing his hand and letting it go.

As they moved to exit the room, Tavish came in and held Sophia’s forearm. “A word, Sister-in-law.”

Ethan halted. He squinted his eyes at Tavish and then turned to look at Sophia, who just smiled and walked back to the armchair.

Brooding, Ethan left the room.

God. Spare me these problematic men. After what seemed like a long awkward silence, Sophia probed, “Well?”

Tavish sighed and sat in the place Ethan had vacated. “I doona know what to think of what…of what I’ve just seen. Would you like to explain yourself?”

“No.”

The word dropped heavily in the room and Tavish’s sea-green eyes widened. “Nae?”

Oh, Sophia. Just a sentence will suffice. He gave you the benefit of the doubt. On purpose, she put her hand over his, which was lying on his thigh. “Each and every one of us carries our share of secrets. It’s not my story to tell and it weighed on the speech of this event.” She squeezed his hand and finished, “That’s the only explanation I’ll give you. Or anyone else.”

“Brava!” Alistair entered the room, clapping his hands, sardonically. Anyone else? Me too? “What explanation?”

Oh, damn! Screw you all! She raised her chin and squared back her shoulders, ready for battle. “About—”

Tavish’s hand dropped heavily on her bare shoulder. “About her speech.”

You two share many secrets. Alistair’s gaze delved in her soul but found nothing suspicious. “I didn’t know you were doing a speech.”

“Neither did I,” she volleyed back. “That was what I was talking about with Ethan. Period.”

For now. He offered her his arm, walking her out of the room with his back ramrod straight and in dead silence.

Tavish followed the couple, not knowing if he should feel guilty.

Sophia greeted the first couple in her line: Mark Lodes and his wife, Hannah, who was pregnant. Hannah was Alice’s best friend and Mark was Alistair’s. The couple had met during a weekend at Craigdale Castle, falling in love at first sight when she was eighteen. Now she was expecting their first baby.

Alistair saw Sophia’s eyes being drawn to the very round belly and her lips tremble for a brief moment before opening in a wide smile. He saw the glowing happiness of the pregnant woman and his friend’s hand smooth her belly in a loving caress.

And he hated himself.

He regretted his actions so much in that moment, not just for himself and the fact that he was no longer able to father a child, but also for Sophia.

He imagined a pregnant Sophia, happy like Hannah was, and himself placing his hand on her stomach to feel their child move.

He thought about her nursing their son. Or their daughter.

His throat closed and he decided that he was going to give her a baby, and soon. Not an adopted one, but she would have a real pregnancy and birth their child as she did with Gabriela. It didn’t matter anymore to him that the semen would not come from his body. Her happiness was the most important thing in his life.

It was an impressive shift in his priorities. He was married to a woman who had given him everything he wanted in life and now he would give it back to her. Her love for him had changed him in so many ways, he hadn’t been aware of how drastic the changes had been until he saw Sophia looking at his friends with a hint of envy. He had only seen it in her eyes before when Carolina ran to Drake’s arms.

She had entered his veins bit by bit, an antidote made of patience and lots of love. She had refilled him and he asked himself again, what had he done for her. He wanted to create a family for Gabriela, and he wanted to participate in the life of a child of their own from the very beginning.

He stepped closer to her and his arm snaked around her waist, his hand spanning her flat stomach.

She looked up at him, startled. She was not expecting such a demonstration of love. Her hand covered his.

I love you. With a kiss on her forehead, he bent his head and whispered in her ear, “We’ll have ours.”

The smile she gave him was so brilliant that it chased away the hate that had tainted him a few moments ago.

Sophia couldn’t believe her eyes as the line of guests moved on and she caught a glimpse of Calista and George. They were purposely in the line Ethan was greeting. And what made the situation worse was that she couldn’t warn him without making a scene. How could I have missed their names on the guest list?

Think, Sophia. Think. She looked around for a second, but another of the sponsors stepped in front of her. She thanked him for his support and indicated his table.

“Everything okay?” Alistair asked as he felt her fidget, which was not common for Sophia.

She shook her head slightly and looked up. “I need to step beside Ethan for a second.”

Ashford again.

She saw his lips thinning and for a split second considered not helping Ethan. But that was not a possibility for her.

This must be serious, Alistair Connor, don’t chain her with your unreasonable jealousy. “Go,” he whispered, smiling at another couple that approached. “I can handle this alone for a few minutes.”

She didn’t lose time. Four more couples. As soon as she was next to Ethan, she said in a rush, “Scott needs to talk with you. Now.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Is there a problem?”

Three more couples. She gazed discretely down his line. And whispered, “It seems so.”

“I can’t possibly leave here now. Here comes one of Ashford Steel’s best buyers,” he answered in the same way.

Two more couples. She didn’t know how, but in the middle of a smile she managed to hiss, “Go!” Just one couple.

But Ethan was much taller than her. His hands fisted by his sides. “I’ve seen the problem.”

“Difficult man!” She expelled a long, audible breath. What are you going to do now, Sophia?

When Ethan saw Sophia move in front of him, as Calista and George closed in, he was so astonished that he didn’t even budge.

“I’m so happy you could come this evening.” Sophia stretched out her hands, taking Calista’s. And she looked at George. “The support for the sexually abused is of the utmost importance for us all, isn’t it?”

Calista and George just stared, open-mouthed.

Letting go of Calista’s hands, she stepped back, the hem of her dress playing around Ethan’s ankles. “Ethan and I, we trust that you’ll always support our cause and behave accordingly.”

At her comments, Ethan threw his head back and the laugh that came from within his soul was so genuine that it attracted attention. How I love you, Sophia.

Sophia’s smile relaxed and opened in a grin. That’s all he needs: support. “What is your table number? I’ll personally direct you there and see that you are seated with people with the same taste as yours.”

An exhilarating mirth took control of him, and Ethan shook the hand of the next guest with one of the biggest grins of his life.

“f**k,” Tavish whispered, “f*****g unbelievable.”

Lachlann gazed up to rebuke his son’s language, but there was such an enraged look on Tavish’s face that it surprised him. He followed the direction of his son’s stare and immediately jumped into action, pulling Tavish in tow.

“Smile,” he ordered Tavish as they made their way to Sophia. “You take Sophia away while I help Alistair Connor.”

Tavish almost harrumphed. “Why doesn’t anybody trust me to handle her?”

“Because you’d kill her,” his father answered in a low voice. “I’ve never seen you hate someone so much.”

“And you don’t?” Tavish asked surprised, as they walked as quickly as they could without calling attention.

Lachlann didn’t have to think to answer, “Is it worth it?”

Tavish’s hand clutched Sophia’s elbow firmly as soon as the couple she was greeting moved on to their assigned table. “Your PR needs to talk with you.”

Without knowing, he had used the same excuse she had to get Ethan away from Calista and George.

Sophia frowned. “Who is in my greeting line?”

Tavish gaped at her for a moment. “You’re too f*****g smart for your own good.”

Alistair’s spine went ramrod straight when he saw Devon signaling to Steven and both made their way calmly in their direction.

On the arm of the same peer of the House of Lords who had taken her to the opening of The Blue Dot Gallery, Emma batted her lashes and opened an innocent smile a few feet away from them.

Oh, no. Dizziness blanketed Sophia and she swayed on her feet.

“s**t!” Alistair said under his breath when he saw how pale she had become. With his arm wrapped around her waist, he pushed her onto Tavish’s chest. “Take her away.”

In a heartbeat, Steven was beside Tavish and Sophia.

“Don’t you pass out on me, Sophia.” Tavish was praying she wouldn’t faint in the middle of the ballroom. “Although I’d love the opportunity tae carry you in my arms, I’d prefer to do it in private.”

The joke hadn’t had the effect he expected because she leaned more heavily on his arm.

“Breathe. Just two steps now.”

He entered the Gold Room. Steven stayed outside and pulled the door closed.

Tavish sat her down on the sofa. With a hand on her nape he pushed her head down. “Push back, Sophia.”

After a long moment, she said in a wan voice, “I’m better.”

“How is she?” asked Alistair, bursting through the door.

“I am—”

“Hush,” said Tavish, helping her sit. “Lie down for a few minutes.”

Stubbornly, she remained seated with her head back. “Who’s greeting our line?”

“Ashley. Most of the guests have arrived.” He sat beside her other side and picked up her hand. “I’ve changed places and I’m sitting by you. Steven and Devon are already on stand-by.”

“As are all the generals, lieutenants-colonels, and soldiers of your army,” Tavish finished.

“You have been promoted to general, Lord Arrogance,” she whispered to him, smiling.

Tavish smiled back. He knew he deserved the nickname.

That’s enough, Sophia. Sophia sighed. Don’t be so squeamish. “All right. Let’s go, my Lords Generals.”

As she re-entered the ballroom, she wondered what Emma was planning. She knew it didn’t matter who was on stand-by, Emma was going to do something.

Dinner had been scrumptious. A band quietly played between the two Terra Cotta warriors statues. The talk and laughter was flowing smoothly as wine, and champagne filled the glasses uninterruptedly.

Calista and George were having great fun. They were listed as the companions of a sponsor and a notorious English painter that had bought a table only for him, which hid their names from the main list. They hadn’t approached Ethan, who eventually relaxed.

As for Emma, she never turned in Alistair’s direction. Or Sophia’s.

Just before dessert was served, the band stopped for a few minutes and Scott appeared at the microphone, asking for everyone’s attention, and introduced Ethan, Sophia, and Alistair, who stood up and walked to the stage.

All right, Sophia MacCraig. Improvisation time. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As we all know, we’re gathered here to support abused children, women, and if possible, their families, in India and China through a joint venture of Ashford Steel and Sophia Leibowitz Foundation. At both the Foundation and Ashford Steel online sites, under the name Charity for India and China there’s extensive information. I’ll keep this short so we can all start on our desserts, my favorite part of any meal. First I’d like to ask our sponsors to stand up.”

Chairs moved back as artists and wealthy persons, CEOs and representatives from different companies stood up as Sophia named them.

“Thank you so much for your help,” Sophia’s smile lingered over each one of them; Ethan and Alistair started to applaud and the whole room followed.

“I’d also like to thank the employees and volunteers of Sophia Leibowitz Foundation, Leibowitz Oil, and Ashford Steel who worked on this project. And, especially, all the waiters in this room, who declined to receive payment, a most special thank you. You’ve helped our cause and made it possible for us to have such a wonderful evening tonight. Please, ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for them.” There was a surprised collective gasp and all the guests rose to applaud.

Sophia made sure the waiters would receive more than their normal wage by putting an envelope for tips on the tables. She knew now the tips would be more than generous. She smiled and waited for the applause to die down to continue, “I know that you are here because you support our cause. However, I’d like to say that it’s not only children and women who are abused. Many times I’ve considered broadening our assistance to protect abused men too.” For example, the two here flanking me. Sophia knew she had to finish up because the cause had turned personal. “But there is so much we can do. Children are individuals, yes; but yet, a child is the best of two persons united in one. They are not only our future; they represent our lost innocence and our hope for a better society. This magical and unrelenting faith in our capacity to breathe life into the world cannot be lost. So we, as adults, have an obligation to protect the little ones from harm, and to help them find their own path in a better world we should strive to leave for them. I’m happy to see so many conscious of these matters. I’d like to end by quoting a poem, by pastor Martin Niemöller.”

As if planned, Alistair put his hand around Sophia’s waist and Ethan put his on her right shoulder.

“‘First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, but there was no one left to speak for me.’” She made a slight pause to gather her wits and ended huskily, “Let’s always have the courage to speak out for those who are treated unfairly. Thank you.”

Sophia entered the restroom and smiled at her own image. The party had turned out to be a bigger success than she had imagined. Adele’s show had been impressive and most of the guests had been compelled to dance when David Guetta started to play and she could still hear his irresistible music calling her.

She patted some water on her face and reapplied her make-up.

She exited the room and halted. Her passage was blocked by Steven’s and Devon’s backs.

“Is everything okay?” she whispered almost afraid.

When they moved to let her pass, she sighed. Thank God. Then she rebuked herself for her unnecessary paranoid behavior. Stop, Sophia.

Discretely, her bodyguards disappeared before she entered the ballroom. Knowing they would be watching, she relaxed and stopped at some tables to make small talk with the few guests that were seated, refreshing themselves or taking a break from dancing. Alistair and Ethan were also wandering and her table was almost empty but for a young couple. She smiled at them when she sat down and picked up her glass of wine, noticing a folded piece of paper that had been under the glass.

When she opened it, her smile vanished.

Isn’t she insistent? Her hand shook as she read the message. She didn’t know if she was enraged or unnerved.

Check your email. Nice photos, aren’t they?

You don’t want them leaked to the press.

Come alone. You know where.

A friend

She fingered her glass of wine and drank a huge gulp. No. I don’t want them leaked to the press.

She put the note in her bag and stood up. Immediately, she saw from the corner of her eye that Devon and Steven had moved. She smiled at them and shook her head. Walking calmly and very slowly, she exited the room with her cell phone in her hand.