“What are you doing here?”
She shook her head. “What a welcome! It’s eleven fifty-five. I’m waiting patiently for the clock to strike twelve.”
I pulled her inside the office and closed the door, then gently pushed her against the door and pressed my lips to hers. She sighed and her body sank against mine as our tongues met. We explored each other like it had been weeks, not hours, since we’d last seen each other.
“That’s a better welcome,” Sofia said as she slipped under my arm and headed to my desk. “I have documents you need to see.”
“Documents?”
“Yes, we need to go through some things before my mom arrives tomorrow. First, this is my resignation.” She slid a cream envelope onto my desk and sat in one of the guest chairs. “I made up my mind this morning after all our conversations. It’s just easier. I’ll stay until we find someone else. I’ve done all the rebranding and the launch, and now it’s just about growing the circulation. It’s time to move on.”
I sat across from her and took the envelope, shoving it in my top drawer. “Careful, Miss Rossi, you’re starting to sound like me.” We’d talked a lot about the advantages and disadvantages of Sofia continuing to head up Verity. I’d told her it was her decision and I would stand behind whatever she’d prefer.
“Never! But I do like the idea of working for myself. That way, I never have to worry about people thinking I only got the job because I’m married to the boss.”
“No one who met you would think that.”
“You’re biased. Anyway, my mind is made up. I’m resigning. Leave date to be decided. I’m going to talk to HR about hiring a search firm to find a replacement.”
“Okay,” I said. “Next?”
“This is the list of wedding venues you sent me. I crossed out the ones I don’t like.” She tossed a sheet of paper. “But honestly, when my mom comes over, we should have a small registry office wedding with just a few friends and family.”
I nodded, happy to go along with anything she wanted. As long as she married me, I didn’t care how we did it.
“Then after the baby’s born, let’s have a proper wedding with a big party. We can have a blessing in a church. That’s easier than a full-blown wedding too, because you’re not Catholic. It works out for everyone: you’ll stop hassling me to marry you, and my mom will be happy because we’ll be married before the baby’s born.”
Sofia seemed to have forgotten the most important person in all this. “Would that make you happy?”
She sighed. “Honestly, I want to get married in New York, but you have so many friends—”
“Then New York it is. My friends can travel.”
She smiled a half smile. “Thank you. London is fine.”
“No. New York. We can hire anywhere you like—the Plaza? The Ritz?” I could tell by her expression that she had a place in mind.
“Well, if you’re sure . . . What about the library?” she asked. “It’s really pretty there. I snuck in to a ceremony once when I should have been studying.”
“Done.”
“Really?”
I shook my head. “I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
She grinned and her shoulders lowered as if I’d just taken some of the burden from her. It was the best feeling in the world.
“That’s done,” I said. “What’s next?”
“This,” she said, holding up an envelope. “From my father. He’s set up a trust fund for me. He says each of his daughters has one.”
I’d met Sofia’s father a couple of times. Despite his wealth, he was a humble man, well aware of his failings where Sofia was concerned. As far as I could see, he did nothing but try to make up for them. Not just with money, but with the way he made time and space for her in his life.
“That’s nice,” I said, cautiously. Sofia’s emotions around her father were ever-changing. It was my job to just support her, however she felt.
“It is nice. It’s also weird. I didn’t exactly grow up as a trust fund kid.”
“I get that it’s weird. And we don’t need it. Maybe you could transfer it into our daughter’s name?”
Sofia rounded her hand over her gradually expanding stomach. “Oh she gets one too.” She shook her head like it was the most ridiculous thing. “I told my mom.” She winced. Sofia had come clean about the reason she’d come to London—and the fact she’d met her father, his wife, and their two kids—when we visited her mother to tell her about our engagement. There had been tears and fights and more tears and hugs and eventually, everything had settled down. Sofia’s mom was sorry she’d cut Des out of their lives. Sofia was sorry for lying about why she’d come to England. Now mother and daughter were as close as ever. “It was fine. I think it would be less fine if I hadn’t met you. I guess because his money will make less of a difference.”
“That makes sense. Has she agreed to move to London?”
“Not permanently. Not yet. But she knows that wherever we move, there will be a place for her. Speaking of which, that brings me to the next thing.” She pulled out her phone and brought up a picture of a house. “It’s thirty minutes to the center of town. And it’s got a garden and a pool and even an annex where my mom could stay.”
“Okay. Looks nice.”
“Great.” She jumped to her feet. “Let’s go see it. We can time the journey. It’s in Kenwood.”
“Now?” I asked.
“Yes, I’ve cleared your diary and we’re due in forty minutes.”
My soon-to-be wife was always a step ahead of me. Long may it continue.
* * *
Have you read
Mr. Mayfair Beck & Stella’s story
Mr. Knightsbridge Dexter & Hollie’s story
Mr. Smithfield Gabriel & Autumn’s story
Mr. Park Lane Joshua & Hartford’s story
Mr. Notting Hill Tristan’s story
It’s the most embarrassing night of my life. Not only did I literally run into the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on in a hotel lobby, but the ice-cold water and whipped cream I’m carrying (don't ask) end up all over me.
* * *
When I finally clean myself up, that same guy--the hottest one of all time--donates twenty-five thousand pounds during a charity auction... to win a date with me.
Things must be looking up, right? After all, a crazy-gorgeous guy just bid a ton of money on dinner with me. But when I see him sit down right next to my father, I know he's not interested in me. He just wants to do business with my dad. FML.
* * *
I’m determined to make the situation work. If he really wants to impress my father, the handsome stranger can marry me... for three months. It’s all I need to get access to the trust fund so I can fund my charity. Tristan will be able to get what he wants from my dad, and my father will stop hounding me about getting a life. Everyone wins.