I shrug. “Carole isn’t too happy with the price she got for her shares, that’s all.”
Sophie gives me a curious look, “You didn’t pay her as much as she wanted?”
“I couldn’t.” I say.
A puzzled frown creases her features. “Then how did you get her to sell them to you?”
“I have my ways.”
“Wait,” Sophie’s frown deepens, “What did she want?”
“She wanted me,” I shrug. “Either me or my destruction,” I spin her around as she stares at me, open-mouthed.
“I don’t understand.” She says.
This isn’t the time to explain all that, I decide, as I hand her over to Leon Boise, who’s cutting in.
I spent the next few minutes in conversation with other business people. Finally, I end up on the balcony, eager for some fresh air.
The solitude is enjoyable. I breathe in the cool night air and enjoy the sight of the city all lit up in the night.
“I didn’t take you for someone who’s attracted to children.” Carole’s voice cuts into my thoughts.
I turn to find her standing beside me.
“Did you marry the first person who smiled at you just to teach me a lesson?” she continues.
“You think too much of yourself.” I say drily.
“It’s you who thinks too little of me.” her voice is bitter. “It meant nothing to you that I was willing to stoop as low as blackmail just to be with you again. Did I always mean so little to you?”
“Carole,” I say patiently, “Don’t act like we ever had a real commitment. I’m surprised you keep hanging on to a brief fling that happened a long time ago.”
“Well, I didn’t forget how good it was between us.” She states peevishly.
I start to shrug, but she steps towards me and pulls my face down towards her, kissing me. She’s holding on tightly to me. I don’t want to shove her, and it takes a while to extricate myself from her embrace.
I take a step back. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove Carole, but it’s not working.”
She narrows her eyes. “Whatever, go back to that mewling baby you call a wife.” She shrugs. “I don’t care.”
I leave her there, intent on finding Sophie and leaving. I don’t expect to look for her everywhere and not find her. I don’t expect to call her cell phone over and over and get no answer. I don’t expect the fear that grips at my stomach when the guy at the front desk tells me he called a cab for someone who fits her description.
I can’t get to the apartment fast enough. I don’t know why Sophie’s left but my worst fears are realized when I find her in the apartment, in our room, packing her bags, her face stained with tears.
She is really leaving me this time.
I feel like something is squeezing my chest. It’s suddenly very difficult to breathe. I have been dreading this for weeks, with a certainty that one day she would decide that she made a mistake and leave.
One day. But not today, not so soon.
I want to beg her not to leave, desperation clouds my thoughts, and I feel like a little boy again, throwing myself at my mother, begging her not to leave.
I take a deep breath. “What are you doing?” I ask Sophie, my voice calm, masking the mounting apprehension beneath.
“What does it look like?” She doesn’t even stop to look at me.
I swallow the angry words threatening to come out of my mouth. “I left you for a few moments at a party, and now you’re leaving me?”