CHAPTER THREE

SOPHIA’S POV

  Whatever is going on is nothing close to a casual dinner. We are sitting around a table so large that I wonder how any sane human would want to eat off it. 

 Don’t get me wrong. It’s beauty radiates from the dark glossy wood it is made from. But the distance between us is crazy. 

 I’m two seats away from Rhett because Aubrey decided to sit beside him which I am so glad for. I have had enough of him for a day. Mr Whitmore sit at the head of the table, his wife three seats away from him to the right. 

 And the table…holds roasted duck, crystal bowls filled with side dishes, slices of oranges and springs of rosemary. There is beef and wild rice mixed with nuts and dried cranberries. 

“You are home.” I hear Rhett’s mom say, and I lift my head to see a dark haired, six feet tall man stroll in. 

 He is slim, and dressed in a striped shirt with Brown pant. She gets up to give him a hug then leads him to sit beside her. This is the first time she is smiling since I got here. Smiling at anyone for a matter of fact. I don’t remember her welcoming Rhett this same way.

“Hi, Father.” This man says and Mr Whitmore’s face lit up.

“Oh! How proud I am of you. Come sit close to me, we have businesses to discuss.” He accompanies it with a rumble of laughter, patting this man’s shoulder.

He does so, barely sending a glance our way.

“Hi, Greyson. I didn’t know you were back.” Aubrey says in a tiny voice that I find a bit annoying. Her fingers find Rhett’s arm and wrap themselves around it. 

Greyson’s brow tilt upward a little as he looks from her to his brother’s. Then his jaw becomes rigid. The way his eyes squirts. Rhett doesn’t say a word and moves his arm away. Aubrey sighs then runs her palms over her lap. She is wearing a short gown that clings to her skin like it is her flesh.

Nobody says a word yet the air is suddenly thinner than it was seconds ago. 

“Let’s eat.” Their father chirps in and starts to cut into his meal.

In a second, everyone is doing the same, but it feels unnatural. Looks robotic. The sound of slicing cut through the air and my breath hitches because I feel so out of place. 

There are fork, knife and spoon lying beside my plate, that I sure don’t know how to use. Spoon has always been my forte. My eyes bounce as I try to notice how it is been used and finally rest on the brother. 

His eyes rises and meets mine. My breath pauses. He lowers his gaze and picks them up. Knife in right hand, fork in left. The meal goes well, stiff, yes but at least I didn’t throw up from how rigid the room is. 

“She….” The brother begins and turns to look at his Mom.

She shrugs her shoulder, still focused on her plate. “I don’t know. Rhett brought her.”

His gaze sharpens on me and a sweat breaks across my face.

“Seems self love isn’t in the room with us, Sophia.” He lets out. 

He knows my name? How?

“Excuse me.” I mutter in disbelief, my hand hang midair.

“No excuses for being around a man who made your school days hell.” He pauses, his eyes squirting then stretches his hand for a handshake. “I’m Greyson. I saved you from drowning, remember?” 

The room becomes tiny the second the memory settles in alongside a hot shade of embarrassment. The senior that had jumped into the water to save me after Rhett threw me into it. 

“What drowning? You didn’t tell me anything…”

“It’s in the past now, Mother. I’m fine, I promise.” 

The way he looks at her is so tender. She sighs before throwing me an angry look.

Damnit! What the hell was wrong with me and getting in people’s black book every time?

“Besides I am sure Brother never meant to kill her.” He was staring in Rhett’s direction now. “Right, brother?” 

He tenses up. I watch him drop his cutlery to meet him at the same eye level. Rhett’s jaw clenches so hard and his veins are popping again. The manner in which their eyes exchange murderous gazes makes me wonder if the others are blind to how bad these two want each other’s head.

Rhett’s lips form a smile.

“Sophia is my assistant now. I’m sure you know what that means.” 

My gaze travels between them both. I’m curious. What does it mean? 

Greyson’s body tenses at first before it relaxes and he smiles too, returning to munch on his food.

I am still mind-blown from the soap opera I just watched. But the rest of the meal goes well. For them but not for me who has to gulp it down my fluttering stomach because I have starved it enough. 

The maids step forward to clear the table while they all still sit there. In that moment I miss my small room and the peace that comes with being able to eat anywhere while watching a TV series.

“Father…” Rhett starts when the old man pushes his seat backward and gets up.

“Let’s talk in my room.” He orders and starts to walk away.

Rhett nods a little and gets up to follow.

“The two of you.” Mr Whitmore’s injercts.

Anger fills Rhet as his palms forms into fist beside him. Seeing him in this situation sends a bit of pity running through my spine. They soon walk out of my sight and I am left with these two women who seem not to like me. Their eyes keep darting my way as though telling me to leave.

And I do.

I stand on the balcony overlooking the big mansion, and I drag in some air, wishing to know what it feels like to be this rich and not have to make a list of grocery shopping three times just because you want to cut down on price.  

I retrieve my cigarette from my bag and blow on it. I was never a smoker until my world shattered. This is one of the things keeping me sane. It hits my lungs hard and soon Rhett is a thing of the past. The world stops tilting and finally I have a bit of stability. 

My eyes are closed. I’m back in our dream home with Dave. He is baking and teasing me with the mixed flour. I’m smiling and letting him have his way.

I am truly happy.

“You might want to smoke that in a more secluded spot like my hideout.” Greyson’s voice cut through my daydream. 

Pulling out, I quickly turn it off and hold it between my fingers.  

“I’m sorry I...”

He raises his hand to stop me.

“You should stop saying sorry when you have done nothing wrong.” He starts, now standing in my vision.  

I take in his facial features well. His nose, his pretty green eyes that welcomed one with calmness. His smooth face. His smiling little lips. His full black eyebrows. His dark hair. The calm aura that surrounds him.

He was nothing like that monster.

Swallowing, I nod and look away after his eyes land on my lips and linger for a while. He pulls the rest of the cigratee from my palm and I look at him in shock.

“Lighter?” 

I swallow, pulling it out to hand to him but instead he shoves where my mouth had just been between his and urges me to lit it up. I do with trembling hands, and watch him drag on it.

“Not my regular brand.” He pauses, now looking at the layer of the house. “But I owe you when we meet again.”

Meet again?

My eyes blink. 

Words fail me. Because why does he see me? A man of his status shouldn't.

“Tell me one thing.” He tilts his head to look at me.

My nails scratch against the railings.

“Why Rhett?”