Chapter Ten
One week later
“Flowers?” Freya asked.
Alfie stared at his woman’s best friend, and smiled. He wanted Freya to like him as it would be easier to get Sophia to fall in love with him. “You don’t think Sophia will love flowers?”
“We both know she loves flowers.” Freya tilted her head, and frowned. “I recognize you.” She turned her head this way and that.
“Have you looked me up on the ‘net? I’m all over it.”
“Nope. That’s not it.” She tapped a finger to her lip, and frowned. “Now I know I saw you that day, but I didn’t really get a good look at you, and I needed to go to work.”
“Jared happens to be a friend.”
Her cheeks went pink, and she looked away. Maybe his friend was working her as well. He knew without a doubt that Jared found Freya to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. Alfie would debate it. Sophia was the most beautiful woman to him, and that was the point.
He didn’t care if every other man thought Sophia was ugly. To him, she was stunning, beautiful inside and out.
“I saw you around campus.” She folded her arms. “Sophia was supposed to have an appointment with Mr. Coleman, and he canceled but I didn’t get the message until Sophia told me herself.”
“It’s no mystery that I had spoken to Coleman.”
“Sophia has told me that the past week you seem to know everything. The color she likes, her dreams of becoming an author. Even down to the little details of what she had read in her books.”
Alfie stared at Freya. He hadn’t been aware that she had seen him coming out of Mr. Coleman’s office. He hadn’t given her friend much thought at all.
“Now the roses, and it was strange, but Jared actually said something strange to me the other day. He said to me that I should leave Alfie and Sophia to just enjoy what they have.”
“Why didn’t you listen?” he asked.
“I had never told him about you and about Sophia. He didn’t know.”
“You know that I know him.”
“Yeah, and I also know that I’m not a fucking asshole, Mr. Brown. Too many coincidences here as far as I’m concerned.” She folded her arms. “Do you mean my friend harm? And cut the bullshit. I don’t need you to bring her flowers. You set this up.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.”
“You know what, Alfie, I wish I was, but I bet this all started a year ago when the restaurant suddenly tripled her income. I was worried. Then this apartment, I did some digging, and this building, our apartment, which came fully-furnished was in your name. Then let’s see Mr. Coleman went above and beyond, so I’m guessing that is how you knew about Sophia. Cut the bullshit. Tell me what your game is, and then tell me what Jared’s game is. I’m not stupid. You and Jared have something going on. Your name is in his diary.”
He lowered the flowers, and glanced toward Sophia’s door. “You know it’s not very nice to snoop on someone. It’s an invasion of privacy.”
“Last time I checked so was stalking.”
“I’m not stalking.”
“Really? Mitch, the guy who is always around. You think I didn’t clock him? He goes everywhere that Sophia goes. At first I thought he was some kind of stalker. Then I happened to see him taking pictures, and I just happened to be walking past your building, and I saw him talking with you. All a bunch of coincidences. When I first saw him, I didn’t think much of it. He was just some random guy, but he was everywhere. I nearly went to the cops. He’s working for you, and again we’re back to stalker.”
“This is none of your business. You’re just an artist.”
“I care about Sophia. She’s my best friend, and I don’t want to see her hurt. I’m not as sweet and gullible as Sophia. I take care of her.”
He had underestimated Freya.
“I love her. I have loved her from the first moment I saw her, and it was during a business dinner. I do not wish her any harm. I want to give her the world, and yes, I have manipulated a few things to bring her close to me. I have done nothing illegal.”
She laughed.
“I’ve done nothing to cause her harm, and I never will.”
“You love her.”
“Yes.”
“Then you need to tell her the truth of everything, and you need to do it soon. Sophia wouldn’t like this. She thinks you’re the man of her dreams.”
“I am.”
“Because you have insider information. I believe that you love her. Then let her fall in love with the real you, not this persona. She finds out the truth any other way, and these things happen, she will be heartbroken.”
“You’re not going to tell her?” he asked.
“I don’t want to hurt her. I really don’t know how she is going to handle this, but this is all on you. Not on me.” She took the flowers from him. “They are beautiful.”
He watched as she walked toward the kitchen, and grabbed a vase.
“You already know they’re her favorite.”
“Yes, I do.”
Freya chuckled. “Even though I don’t agree with how this turned out, I think you’re good for Sophia. She’s taking more chances, and she’s the happiest I’ve seen her. My mother and her never ending line of stepfathers gave Sophia a disjointed view on love.”
“Thank you. For not telling her.”
She shrugged. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Does Jared … have feelings for me?”
“He helped me to organize it so that you were both here. He was also the one to give the idea of you working for him to your father. Give him the benefit of the doubt.”
She nodded, and he saw that his words had helped her.
“Thank you.”
****
“You got along with Freya,” Sophia said. “That’s good. She’s not easy to get along with.”
“I must have that special thing that makes me awesome.”
She laughed, and he squeezed her hand. Ever since they had gotten back to reality, they had been sneaking their time away. Alfie ran a billion-dollar company so she couldn’t always get him to herself, which sucked, but their precious moments meant a lot to her.
“I love the flowers. Thank you.” She leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “So, where are we going this evening?” He had told her that waiting at her apartment was a dress and shoes that he wanted her to wear tonight at dinner.
Her nerves were getting the better of her, and of course she was hungry, starving.
“A little Italian place, which I think you would like.”
“I do love pasta, and steak, and pretty much all food.”
“You don’t have to be nervous.” He helped her into his car. “We’ve got all the time in the world. I love spending time with you.” Alfie didn’t give her time to secure her own seatbelt, and instead strapped her in. She found his little acts of possession really inspiring. Throughout the week she had noticed that he did a lot of staring, especially at her. The looks he sent her way made her instantly think of his hands on her body, the way he took control. Alfie had told her that this next week, he wanted her to work on a new story. It had been strange, but he wanted to see how the publishing company handled a new author, and he wanted her to try and do it.
For her, it was a huge responsibility, but she was willing to do whatever he said.
He climbed behind the wheel, and they were off, heading toward a restaurant. He took her hand, and kissed her fingers. “I’ve been wanting to do this all week.”
“You’ve seen me every single day.”
“But I’ve not been able to touch you, and I wanted to touch you all the time.” He squeezed her hand, and she gave him one back. “Freya’s an interesting woman.”
“She is.”
“Just out of a curiosity, does she have a degree in investigative work or something?”
She burst out laughing. “No. Freya’s always been good at solving puzzles. She always needs an answer to like everything, and of course she would go out of her way to get those answers. Why?”
“I didn’t anticipate her is all.”
Sophia frowned. “I think because her dad let her down, and then she watched all the men break her mom’s heart, she has always struggled to trust anyone. I’m not part of that because I was with her every single step of the way. I know it’s hard for her, all the time. She thinks everyone has a secret agenda.”
“Most people do.”
“I know. Did she get to you?” she asked.
“Let’s just say she was interesting conversationalist.”
She nodded. “Always is.”
They arrived at the restaurant within minutes, and before she knew what was happening, she was seated, and a menu thrust into her hands. Alfie was already picking the wine, and it only served to remind her that they were worlds apart.
“This doesn’t have a price on,” she said.
“You don’t need to worry about the price. I can handle all that.”
She frowned, and glanced down at her menu. All of her life she had told men no, and always been in control. “I would like to pay my fair share.”
“Sophia, don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t treat me like a child. I know I’m nothing like you, but I am a woman. I can pay my own way.”
He paused, staring at her. “This is my treat, Sophia. I thought we were in a good place. Is that not true? Have I done something to offend you?”
Shame filled her, and she shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m so sorry. I … I get a little weird at times, and I open my mouth, only what comes out of my mouth makes no sense. I don’t want you to think I’m here because you’re rich.”
“You know, I didn’t think that, but now that you say it, is there a chance?” She saw the teasing in his gaze, which made her smile.
“I enjoy being with you, Alfie. You make me smile, and everything else.”
“There is that blush I love to see.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You always know what to say to make me flutter.”
“You can tell me anything, Sophia. Anything.”
“There’s nothing to tell. Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t hurt me,” she said. “Please. I don’t … I … I have Freya, and she’s been the one constant in my life bar my parents, but I’ve never trusted a man with any part of me. My body, my mind, my heart. Don’t hurt me.”
He stared at her, and reached across the table, taking her hand. “I’m a rich man. I can have anything I want in the world. I click my fingers, and boom, it’s there. I will never hurt you, Sophia. I would do anything to see you happy.” He kissed her fingers. “I promise you that.”
Taking a deep breath, she began to look through the menu. “You certainly know how to treat a girl.”
“I won’t be treating any other girl, Sophia. It’s just you.”