Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SOPHIE
One thing I’d learned from Viktor was: if you can’t control your personal desires and feelings, how could you control your business?
While I’d initially disagreed about business self and personal self being connected, the fact was, it mattered. If someone ran from problems in their personal life, where was the guarantee they wouldn’t in business?
So through clenched teeth, I kept assuring Catherine that I would not disappear on the day of the preview.
“Maison de Lys will close their atelier in the afternoon specially for us. And it will only be seven of us, so you don’t need to worry about anything!” she assured me. It was only a week until the day.
“Isn’t it your fitting? Why are you thinking about me?”
“You’re kidding? Mrs. Rowks herself is finally gracing us with her presence,” she said proudly.
“Stop mocking me, you little brat.” I laughed through the phone.
“I’m not. It’s actually true. You know how many people asked me to be part of this party once they knew you were coming?”
By the time my sister finished assuring me of my comfort, I actually started regretting it even more. But then again, it couldn’t possibly be harder than bringing Atlas onto the map. Besides, Maison de Lys was known to keep strict protocols. There wasn’t anything to worry about.
What occupied my mind more was the gift I wanted to prepare for her and Anne. Not that it would be enough for an apology, but it was still a good gesture.
So when Viktor arrived and we had dinner in the garden in the light of the setting sun, I started. “Can I…”
And paused. Words stuck in my throat like thorns. It was the first time I’d wished to spend Rowks money. Not that I hadn’t been spending until now, but those were basic necessities. And mine, in comparison with other wives’, were nonexistent.
If I were still unmarried, I would probably go to Papa and start my speech about how much I appreciated what Cath and Anne had done for me during these years and would love to prepare something as a thank you.
Papa would probably frown, looking at me from the top of his reading glasses.
I would sweet-talk him a bit more, and eventually he would say, “Of course, my princess.” And this—only if my allowance limit didn’t let me purchase the gift myself.
But I wasn’t even sure if I had an allowance now as Viktor’s wife. I’d never checked. And he’d only said Ms. Hale would handle my every request when we first married.
“Sophie?” His voice pulled me from my thoughts, his gaze searching my face. “Something wrong?”
“Do I have an allowance?” I asked, looking directly into his eyes.
“Pardon?” His mouth stayed open as his eyes narrowed. “Allowance?”
“Yes, an allowance.”
“Why?”
Why? What did he mean by why?
I guessed my expression was telling, as he explained himself, “Ms. Hale should have handled all your expenses. Was there any issue?”
“No. So I don’t have an allowance,” I insisted.
He blinked as his head turned to the side. “You have access to the whole of Rowks finances. Why would you need an allowance?”
“Because I may want to purchase a pricey gift, and I just discovered I hate asking for permission.” The realization hit alongside the words that left my mouth.
I’d never asked for anything since the conversation about me getting my own office.
And maybe it was from leading Atlas, where I was the final decision-maker, where I was never expected to ask but always to direct or approve. I wasn’t sure.
“I do like the part about you hating to ask permission. Can we keep it that way?” Only Viktor could say such things with a scolding, angry voice. “As for the pricey gift, what’s stopping you from buying it? Is it worth several million and you need some help in choosing, or maybe moral support?”
There was something wrong with my heart. And with my face. One started beating like crazy, the sound loud in my ears, the other burning like hell. I wanted to fan my face to calm myself, but no way would I show how affected I was. Not when he was still looking at me with angry confusion.
And again, those three wrinkles between his brows that made the tips of my finger itch. Would it be too much if I reached out and finally smoothed them?
He licked his lips before his next words. “What made you even think I would dare to limit you with some stupid allowance?”
“I mean… Isn’t that… the standard? We never talked! Stop making me feel more embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed? Good. I’ll be generous and let you feel embarrassed. You’ve earned this one.”
“Viik!” I looked at him, unsure how to answer his teasing. “You can’t blame me! We literally never talked about it.”
“I literally told you to give your requests to Ms. Hale and they would be handled.”
“That still didn’t give me the understanding of what kind of requests. Papa always had limits! It’s nice to know I don’t have any with you.” I raised a finger, and when I said my next words, I tried to put all my feelings into them. “I truly appreciate that. Thank you.”
A smile touched my lips, and I expected Viktor to return it, with the usual warmth in his eyes. Instead, his face went blank, as if he were looking through me.
“Did I say something wrong?” I shifted in my chair.
“No. I just realized I’ve done a terrible job if you still don’t think of Rowks assets as yours.”
“Viik! I didn’t mean that, I—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll fix it.”
What was he talking about?
I didn’t manage to pursue it further as Viktor asked, “So tell me, who’s this person for whom you’re planning a gift that will cost us several million?”
His tone had completely shifted. Not angry, not confused, not even teasing. He seemed genuinely interested.
I laughed. “It’s not several million. But I want something valuable.”
“Is it for… Cath?”
“And Anne.”
“And maybe something for you from Maison de Lys? Besides the dress you’d ordered for Cath’s wedding?”
I chuckled. “I am not going to enough events for another dress…”
“How about we start?”
I’d wish. But how would he imagine us appearing in front of people with this distance between us? I didn’t say that aloud.
“You can’t imagine how boring all those galas are.”
“Are they? I thought you had not a second to stay bored.”
“I’d say I am the one saving everyone from boredom. But having my beautiful wife accompany me on those would save me as well.”
“You think I’m beautiful?” Heat flooded my cheeks.
Why did I even ask that question?
Viktor’s eyes lit with amusement. “Don’t we have enough mirrors? Just say the word, and I’ll add more so you can be reminded more frequently.”
“Viktor!”
Can’t this man give my cheeks a break? Or was he determined to set them on fire?