Chapter 6
Waking up, Sophie was immediately confused. She was warm, and pressed up against something hard yet soft. Prying one eye open, she realized Bryce was wrapped around her. His chest rose and fell with each breath.
“Morning,” he whispered in her ear.
“Hey,” she tilted her head to look up at him. Getting up, she tried to keep the blanket wrapped around her, and though after last night, she knew there was no need to feel so self conscious. But she did anyways. “We shouldn’t have done that,” she told him quietly, looking anywhere but at him.
Sounding hurt he asked, “Why not?” as he sat up.
“Because, this isn’t real, it’s going to end. We shouldn’t mix feelings.” He sat next to her quietly, then suddenly jumping from the bed, and stalked to the bathroom, slamming the door. Sophie felt like a jerk, but she couldn’t allow herself to feel for him, since she would be leaving in a few months. This was not real and it was something she needed to keep reminding herself of. She stood, dropping the blanket and scooped up her clothing. Making her way across the hall, she took one last look at his closed bathroom door and went into her room.
She wondered what had upset him. He knew it would end. He was the one who said it was phony. His idea. Was he rethinking it now? Guilt chewed at her stomach, confusion muddling her head. Could she go through with this? Yes! She needed to. It was her only escape, to get out of the country and stay in hiding. It was her chance, to not only stay alive, but safe. Glancing around the room, she realized how much she had missed her old life, with nice clothes and beautiful furnishings. Though she had succumbed to the realization that cheap, roach infested motels and scraping by was her future, it didn’t change where she had come from. The life she had led, felt like a dream now. Her reality was so much different.
Quickly showering and changing, she went downstairs to make coffee. Bryce was already at the counter.
“So,” he slid papers across the counter to her. “This is the contract, along with your new ID.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes. She looked it over quickly and signed.
“I have to meet your mom and sister today, for dress shopping. Thank you for keeping it small, you know, since, I have no one I can invite.”
“Would you like to tell me why? I am spending a lot of money and breaking some laws, to get you somewhere safe. I sort of deserve to know.” She sighed, closing her eyes. Her shoulders fell, and she felt defeated. He was right. He did have a right to know, since she had possibly seen her step father yesterday. Signing the papers, she slid them back to him and walked around the island. Taking the stool next to him, she took a deep breath and began.
“You were right. I grew up like this. We lived in Atlanta. Ours was one of the founding families of the south. My mother remarried three years ago. Dad had died when I was younger. Jason Barton. He fooled her, into thinking he was a good man. But in reality, he was a gold digger. He treated me like crap, when she wasn’t around. We found out he had been stealing money from her, and when my mother confronted him, he blew up. I had gone out to lunch with friends, and came home to a house full of cops and EMT’s. He claimed she got drunk and fell down the stairs. I knew he killed her. I was grieving my mother’s death, but after the will reading, he came to me with threats. Jason felt he should have inherited the money as her husband, not me. He wasn’t happy with the million she did leave him. He wanted it all. A few days later, I had made coffee, but it tasted funny, and I felt weird after. So I didn’t drink a more than a sip or two. Sort of like, I had been drugged. I went upstairs to lay down. I remember waking up, to him on top of me, trying to smother me with the pillow. He tried to drug me, so he could kill me. Since I didn’t drink much, I was able to get away from him. I called the cops, and they arrested him, but it’s all Good Ole Boys in the South. He grew up with most of the police dept. So he was out quickly and they said I must have been grieving my mother by getting drunk. He claimed I was drinking heavily and he tried to help me and I went crazy on him. He played victim.”
She shuddered, remembering the feel of his hands on her neck.
“When he came back to the house, he told me point blank, he would kill me like he did my mother, and no one would know the difference. Sad little orphan kills herself? Who wouldn’t believe him? And, he’d inherit it all. We had no other family. So I ran. The first place I went, he tracked me down. The next place, same thing happened. I always got away before he could corner me, but it’s scary. Always having to look over your shoulder, and worried that someone is out to kill you. I wouldn’t put it past him to hire someone, but I think he gets some sick satisfaction out of doing it himself. I’ve kept running ever since.”
“Wow. I’m sorry,” Bryce wrapped his arms around her. She relished his warmth and felt safer. “Is that what spooked you yesterday?”
“I thought I saw him. I’ve been using different names. There’s no way he should have been able to find me, but I swear, it was him.”
“You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
“I couldn’t access any of my money. I think that’s how he found me the first time. This is why I took crappy jobs here and there, to keep living. I just can’t stay in one place for too long.”
“Staying here with me, no one will get near you. Unfortunately, you may end up in the social pages of the newspaper, but I promise, he won’t touch you.”
“When this is over, and I can go somewhere with my new name, out of the country, I’ll finally feel safe. Until then, I just can’t shake the feeling, that, something bad will happen.”
Bryce stood, still holding her. She looked up, his eyes held anger and something else, she couldn’t quite place.
“I’ll protect you with my life.”
“You don’t even know me,” she told him, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I want to though, every moment I spend with you, I want to know more.” He leaned in, kissing her forehead. As he inched closer to her mouth, she felt her heart race inside of her chest. And then the door from the garage opened.
“Aw, look at them,” his mother cooed.
“Grace,” Sophie said, humor in her voice. She tried to back away from Bryce, but he held her tight.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” his mother said, but stood watching. Sophie felt his body shake as he chuckled next to her. He kissed her forehead again, and let go.
“You ladies have fun today.” He moved to quickly hug his mother, and then left here there, watching him as he walked away.
“So, are you excited?” Grace asked. Sophie pulled her gaze from the doorway and grinned.
“Yes,” she exclaimed. And she truly was. Except that it would end. Would she be able to walk away?
Hours later, exhausted from shopping, she came home to an empty house. Though it was Sunday, there was a note from Bryce that an emergency with work had come up and he had to fly out to New York City. She looked around, feeling uneasy without him there. Remembering his large library, she had admired while cleaning, she sought solace in a good book. Losing herself, she was startled when the door to the library opened. Maria came in, shock written on her face when at seeing Sophie there.
“What are you doing?” the woman screeched. Her tan skin turned red with anger. Sophie leapt up from the couch she had curled up on, terror flooding her.
“I, um, I live here now.”
“No, you criminal. Get out before I call the police,” Maria waved at the door. And Sophie found her backbone. Standing straight, calming her nerves, she smoothed her face, and glared at the woman.
“I live here now. You will not speak to me that way.”
“You lied about who you are and now you’re trying to scam your way into my client’s life? You are a gold digger. I will call the police.” She pulled her phone out of a pocket, and as she dialed, the door opened further behind her, and Marissa came in. The smile fell from her face as she looked between the two women.
“Soph, you ok?” She moved past Maria, to Sophie.
“Yes, the maid and I were just having a misunderstanding. Bryce hadn’t made her aware yet, that I was living here.” She cocked her head, glaring at the woman.
“I fired her, two days ago, in this very house. She lied about who she was. She is a scam artist. You should warn Mr. Edwards.” Marissa stiffened next to Sophie for a moment, only a moment, and then returned to the graceful young lady she was.
“We can settle this right now.” She pulled out her phone and dialed.
“Maris, what’s up? How was shopping?” his voice came over the speaker for all to hear, and it sent the butterflies in Sophie’s stomach to a frenzy. He had an effect on her, even over the phone.
“Great Bry, hey, did you forget to let your maid know Sophie’s living here?”
“Oh no, I did. Damn.”
“Well, can you now, I have her here.”
“Maria, Sophie is my fiancé, I apologize for not letting you know.”
“Sir, you can’t mean-“
“Maria, you will treat her with the respect you would any other client of yours. Unless you prefer we find another service.” His stern voice did the trick. The woman shut her mouth, and huffed out of the room. “Sophie, I’m so sorry. Are you alright?”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered quietly.
Marissa and Bryce said goodbye and hung up.
“Thank you,” Sophie told Marissa. She collapsed onto the couch, feeling defeated.
“So, how about explaining to me?” Marissa settled next to her, smiling. She couldn’t believe after hearing that, this girl didn’t tell her brother what Maria said, or go crazy on her after hanging up. So Sophie did what she told Bryce she wouldn’t, spilling the story to Marissa, all of it, even about Jason, about being on the run. She left out the part of the will, and the company. When this was over, they would think he was the daring hero, saving the life of a damsel, instead of him sacrificing to keep them in their lifestyle. The blame would be on Sophie.
“Oh my god,” Marissa exclaimed, grasping Sophie’s hand. “You poor thing, I won’t tell mother, she need not know.” Sophie just nodded, until the girl wrapped her arms around her in a hug. The tears she felt threatening, spilled over, and she half laughed, half cried.
“You’re too good, I don’t deserve any of you.”
“That’s not true. We’re about to be sisters. Maybe, even best friends. I’m here for you. And I know my brother won’t allow anything to happen to you.”
After the girl left, Sophie went up to bed, feeling lonelier than she had before. She crawled into bed and finally allowed herself to cry until she had no tears left. About her mother, her old life, all of it, until she finally fell asleep, sobbing.