Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
Sophie
Three Hours Earlier
Philip leaned against the wall of Sophie’s office. “James texted the C-Suite group chat this morning.”
“About?” Sophie shoved the last bite of her pasta in her mouth.
“The leak,” Philip clarified around his sandwich. “It’s Jackie.”
A pasta noodle slithered down the wrong pipe and Sophie pounded her chest as her mind raced. “Excuse me?!”
He nodded and passed her water bottle. “Unfortunately.”
“How are you not more upset about this?” She chugged her water.
“Oh, I am,” he clarified. “You should’ve seen the self-control the C-Suite and I had to use this morning when we saw Jackie. But James wants us to pretend like nothing’s wrong for now until he figures out what to do.”
Sophie leaned back in her chair. “Well, you know I’m off your case, so I haven’t heard anything. Has he talked to Marilyn yet?”
Philip shrugged and took a bite of his sandwich. “I think so?”
Sophie steepled her fingers, her mind spinning. Why the hell did Jackie do this?
Jackie treated James like another son, and it didn’t make sense that she would do something so drastic to his company.
“Is Jackie not happy there?” Sophie asked.
Philip polished off his sandwich and shrugged. “Not that I’m aware of, and none of the others have ever noticed anything, either.”
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. No, but maybe Jackie said something to James—something he brushed over.
She had three kids. Was there a financial reason behind her betrayal?
Sophie sighed and dragged open her bottom desk drawer, snagging a box of chocolate. “God, this is a mess.”
“Tell me about it.” Philip's eyes rounded at the box. “No way, I love these. You can only get them in Barcelona, so it’s been a minute. Can I have one?”
She nudged the box toward him. “Knock yourself out.”
“They’re so much better than American chocolate.” He stuffed one in his mouth and groaned. “Did James send them?”
“Yes. Oh, right. We made up, by the way.” She popped one in her mouth.
A smile adorned Philip’s mouth. “He mentioned earlier. Luc and I have a running bet on what he does first when he lands.”
Sophie’s brows rose. “I don’t know if I should be offended.”
Philip chuckled and snagged another chocolate. “If he’s just coming to see you, or if he brings a gift with him.”
She laughed, glancing at the bouquet that arrived that morning. “I have a feeling he’s going to bring something.”
But nausea gripped her.
Of course, she wanted James to knock at her office door when he landed, but with the revelation about Jackie, would Sophie still be James’s top priority once he got back on American soil?
“That’s what I said, but someone thinks the opposite.” Philip rolled his eyes and dropped into one of her chairs. “Right. If you were a pie, what pie?”
She laughed. “What?”
He grinned. “Luc and I made a bet last night. We’re trying to see who can get fewer people to say ‘Apple.’”
“You two make a lot of bets.”
“What can I say? We get bored.”
And I’m sure James’s absence isn’t helping.
Drawing herself up, she placed her hands on her hips. “Well, lucky for you, I’d be boysenberry.”
He snorted. “That was fast. You think about what pie you are often?”
“I’m sorry, did you want typical?” She sniffed.
“Well, no, but—”
“Then you’re welcome. What’s the score now?”
“You just tied me with Luc,” Philip said. “We need James to be a tiebreaker, but cabrón won’t answer the phone. He’s probably sleeping or something.”
Sophie snorted. That was mainly her fault, but Philip didn’t need to know that.
She laced her fingers together. “So, what kind of pie would you be?”
“Pecan,” he replied without hesitation.
“Okay, you had that ready.”
He smiled. “We spent way too long talking about this.”
“How bored were you guys?”
“Bored enough that James got some interesting text messages last night.”
Present
Thunder cracked outside and rain pelted the windows, dragging icy fingers against the glass.
Sophie’s phone buzzed and she glanced down.
Oliver: If you get a cat can I have joint custody?
Sophie grinned.
Fuck no.
Whyyy
Bc then the cat is going to have to have you as a parent. And as far as I’m concerned that’s animal cruelty
Oliver sent a middle finger emoji.
That’s what Chlo said too WHY IS EVERYONE AGAINST ME
A knock bounced off Sophie’s office door and she pulled it open, blinking at the figure blocking the opening.
James. There, in the flesh.
He held an umbrella in one hand, but water still somehow managed to darken the shoulders of his shirt.
He smiled. “Hello, bǎobèi.”
“You came.” Her lip trembled as a smile cycled on her face. You didn’t run.
“I promised I would, didn’t I?” He brandished the bouquet of flowers he clutched. “Also, I got you these.”
She gasped softly and eyed the violets before a sense of dread crashed down onto her shoulders. She grabbed his bicep, dragging him into her office.
Technically, it didn’t matter anymore if anyone at Covey saw them alone together, not now that Marilyn spun the lie.
But James showing up at her door with flowers would send her colleagues’ tongues wagging again. And what if Jackie somehow had eyes inside Covey?
You’re overthinking again … but better safe than sorry, right?
Shutting the door, she plucked the bouquet from him. “More flowers, huh?”
He grinned, leaning against the wall. “You didn’t like the deliveries?”
“No, I did.” Warmth enveloped her at the memory.
“Then take one more,” he said. “And know I’m sorry.”
Her fingers wrapped around the pale stems of the flowers, and she stared at the deep purple petals. The bouquet shook in her grip, the starchy brown paper wrapping sliding against her fingers. “James, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
Why did he blame himself when it was her fault?
Her fault for not believing him, or that he would ever try pulling one over on her.
“Yes, I do.” He cupped her cheek. “I have too much to apologize for. And I know these flowers can’t even begin to cover it, but I just … God. I’m so sorry.”
Drawing away, she set the bouquet on her desk and braced clenched fists on worn wood.
Sucking in breath after breath, she cast her gaze out her window.
Fine, he wasn’t devoid of fault, but he also couldn’t take the entirety of the blame. He was neither the one who made the news leak nor the one who had willingly left her to deal with it alone.
And now, he was here, acknowledging his mistakes instead of running when it would’ve been easy to.
Brian would’ve run. Alex would’ve run. Dad would’ve run.
Her mind’s tiny reminder was enough to unfurl her fingers and turn to face James.
He hadn’t dared move from the spot he stood.
She stepped toward him, her gaze traveling to his lips. “I wanted to kill you, you know that?”
“I know.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “Tell me how to make it up to you. Please.”
Want clawed at the lining of her stomach, desperate to escape. Taking the end of his tie between her fingers, she toyed with the silky material.
“Kiss me,” she whispered, sliding her hands over his shoulders. “Touch me.”
His hands cupped her face and he leaned down so his forehead rested on hers. His eyes shuttered, transforming into hooded half-moons, as he twisted his fingers into the ends of her hair. “Sophie.”
“Please,” she whispered. Her gaze darted to his lips, then back to his eyes. “Don’t leave me again.”
“Never,” he breathed and crushed his mouth to hers.