Novels by Sophia Bloom

ELAINE’S POVI decided that I was going to ask him tonight after dinner. I was going to put my phone on the table and I was going to show Richard the messages."Madam, should I put the good glasses out?" Maria appeared at my elbow, a stack of dinner plates balanced carefully in both hands."Yes, the crystal ones." I smoothed the tablecloth and stepped back to look at the full picture. The dining room looked warm with candles lit, flowers in the center, and everything arranged the way Betty liked it even though Betty would find something to critique regardless. I turned to the plump housemaid. “And Maria, make sure the serving bowls have the ladles, last time-“"Last time she took them out herself and complained, I remember." Maria finished for me. I almost smiled. "Just make sure."The doorbell went at six-thirty. Betty walked in with Lara half a step behind her carrying a bottle of wine.They were both dressed in similar sapphire gowns, excerpt Lara’s own was much more provocativ

I rushed to the receptionist’s desk, my heart pounding and drumming as I tried to push all thoughts of Oliver Steele away from my mind.My thoughts were brought to a halt at the unfamiliar face sitting behind the sleek white desk. This wasn’t Lori, who was Richard’s secretary the last time I was here.And this one had an even more striking beauty compared to Lori. She was slim with platinum blonde hair and full lips.I sucked in a breath walked toward the desk with Richard's lunch container. "Hi, I'm here to see Richard Williamson. I'm his-""Do you have an appointment?" She didn't look up from her screen."I'm his wife." I kept my voice pleasant. "I'm just dropping off his lunch, I won't be long."She looked up then. Her eyes did the same thing Betty's did, mocking and insulting. "His wife," she repeated."Yes." I held up the container. "His lunch. I'll leave it with you if you'd prefer, but I'd like to see him myself.""Mr. Williamson is in busy and isn't accepting walk-ins." She

ELAINE’S POVThe morning after, I made eggs.I don't know why I thought eggs would help.Maybe the idea that a warm plate and a set table could help the silence that had settled between Richard and me like a third person in the room. I stood at the stove and cracked four eggs and told myself that last night was just tiredness. People did things they didn't mean when they were wrung out. People were careless with the people they loved most. It didn't mean anything.I plated everything nicely then folded the napkins.Richard came downstairs in a grey shirt and dark trousers, phone already in hand, and sat at the table without looking at me. I sat across from him and watched him scroll. He still didn’t look at me. "How was the drive back?" I asked."Fine." He didn't look up.I smiled tightly. "Was the hotel good at least?""It was fine, Elaine."I cut a piece of egg and moved it around. "I collected the award," I said, and immediately felt strange for saying it, like I was a child r

ELAINE’S POV "Laney." Cassandra handed the phone back to me and sat on the edge of my desk with her arms folded. "That's blurry as shit.”I huffed, not minding her crude language in the least. "I know.""You can't even see his face properly." She added. "I know." I mumbled. "So why are you looking like someone died?" She tilted her head. "Laney. Think about who Richard is. Has that man given you a single reason to believe he's capable of this?"I opened my mouth and closed it, shaking my head. "Exactly." She stood, took the phone out of my hand, and dropped it face-down on the desk. "This is a cheap shot from someone who wants to watch you fall apart. And you are not going to fall apart."She pointed one long finger at me. "You are Elaine Williamson. You are twenty-seven years old, you own one of the fastest-growing tech firms in New York, and tonight you are picking up your third consecutive award. Do you understand me?"Cassandra has arrived at my office a few minutes after I c

ELAINE’S POV"Elaine." Betty set down her tea. "Have you gained weight again?"She didn't even say good morning. She just looked at me with that expression of disgust. I was standing in the kitchen doorway in my work clothes, a navy blazer over a pencil skirt I had ironed the night before, and I swear the woman's lips curled before she even opened her mouth.I smiled. "Good morning, Betty. Would you like more tea?""I'm serious." She turned on her stool to fully face me. "That skirt does nothing to hide your bulging stomach, you can see it from here!” She sighed and shook her head. “Richard never says anything because he's too kind, but I'm your mother. I'll tell you the truth."She wasn't my mother. But I didn't say that. Seven years of marriage to her son had thought me to think twice before saying anything to her face. "I'll look into it," I said softly. "You're right, I should be more careful with what I eat.”"She's been like this since the wedding." Lara's walked in still sc