Chapter 7: Fine, Your Sister-in-Law Will Play Along

Wendy had no real intention of selling the ring. She was counting down silently in her head she'd reached six when Sophie reappeared.

Sophie "accidentally" collided with the sales associate, and the ring went flying out of her grip.

Sophie snatched it out of the air and pressed it back into Wendy's hand before turning, irritated, to the associate. "Card. Now." She shoved a card at her.

The associate froze, glancing between the two of them, realizing exactly how thoroughly she'd been played.

Red-faced, she took the card without meeting Wendy's eyes and led them to checkout in silence.

Sophie played it up the whole way, complaining loudly, "Honestly, the service here is terrible. I'm never coming back."

Wendy didn't call her out on the act. She slid the ring back on and simply said, "Sure."

Surprised at how unbothered Wendy seemed, Sophie asked, almost testing her, "If I hadn't shown up, would you have actually sold it?"

"You were always going to show up," Wendy said, certain.

Sophie pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

She was right, of course. If Julian ever found out Wendy had sold the ring on Sophie's watch, there'd be no living it down.

"Can I have my phone back now?" Wendy asked, smiling.

Sophie handed it over, sulking, and the two of them headed to lunch at an upscale restaurant.

Sophie clearly frequented the place she rattled off an order without once asking about Wendy's preferences and handed the menu back before Wendy could even glance at it.

Once the waiter left, Sophie's eyes gleamed. "Sister-in-law, how about a game?"

"Sure," Wendy said easily, not bothering to ask what kind. She already knew Sophie wouldn't take no for an answer anyway.

"Hand over your bag first," Sophie said.

Wendy complied. Sophie set the bag on the floor beside her chair and grinned. "Here's the game neither of us has any money on us. So how exactly do you plan to pay for this free meal?"

The setup was obvious. Wendy studied Sophie's not-so-hidden delight and said, mild as ever, "All right. Your sister-in-law will play along."

Sophie's mouth twisted she hated that Wendy kept using the title like it meant something. "I want to see how you're going to pull this off."

This wasn't a place that took dishwashing as payment. Sophie's smile lingered, clearly picturing Wendy's humiliation already.

Wendy sighed quietly, waited for the food, and ate with unhurried enjoyment. The moment she set down her fork, Sophie pounced. "Sister-in-law, time to pay."

She flagged down a waiter. "Take her to settle the bill."

Wendy rose. Sophie added, sharp, "And you're not using my name, and no credit."

"Understood," Wendy said.

At the front desk, Wendy asked the host, "Is your manager available?"

The host's face fell in alarm. "Miss, was something wrong with the service? Please, let me know if we fell short"

"No complaints," Wendy said, smiling. "Just a business matter."

Relieved, the host sent a colleague to fetch him.

The manager who appeared was tall, striking, clearly used to charming guests. He gave a small bow. "How can I help you, miss?"

"I noticed you have a piano here," Wendy said.

She'd spotted it the moment she walked in an instrument that beautiful, that ornate, was impossible to miss. Even from across the room, the craftsmanship alone told her it cost a fortune.

Assuming she wanted a performance, the manager apologized. "I'm terribly sorry, our pianist had an emergency and couldn't come in today. I regret we can't offer you that today."

"I just want to try playing it myself," Wendy said.

Given the instrument's value, the manager hesitated, clearly torn on how to say no politely.

"Don't worry, I'll cover any damages," Wendy said quietly. "I'm here with Sophie Vance today. Even if you don't trust me, you can trust her, can't you?"

The moment he heard Sophie Vance's name, his hesitation evaporated. Wendy pressed her advantage with a smile. "If I play well, would you consider comping our lunch?"

He'd have agreed even without the Vance connection a smile from a woman like this was payment enough in his book. She carried herself with an elegance that was rare, and exactly his type. "It would be my honor," he said, nodding.

Reading exactly what that meant, Wendy said nothing further and let him lead her to the piano.

The instrument was immaculately kept. She caught her own reflection in the glossy black lid before settling onto the bench, resting her hands on the keys, testing them one by one.

The sound was gorgeous, drawing curious glances across the room most assumed, given how young she looked, that she was just indulging a passing whim.

Sophie watched, baffled, before a sneer crept in. "Are you seriously trying to busk your way out of this? Talk about overestimating yourself."

As far as Sophie was concerned, Wendy was decorative at best there was no version of this where she could actually play.

Then the first clean notes rang out, and the whole room went still. A pause and then the melody unfurled, soft and unhurried, like moonlight through trees on a quiet walk.

When it ended, no one wanted it to be over. Wendy rose, gave a small bow, and crossed back to the manager. "Does that cover the bill?"

He snapped out of it, nodding rapidly, and personally walked her to the door. "Miss could I get your number? I'd love to take you to dinner sometime, when you're free."

Before she could answer, Sophie stormed up, shoved the bag back into Wendy's arms, and snapped, "Let's go. Why are you still flirting?"

Wendy, entirely unbothered, offered the manager a polite, "If it's meant to happen, our paths will cross again."

He wasn't ready to let it go. "Would you ever consider a position here?"

She shook her head that wasn't a path she had any interest in said her goodbyes, and followed Sophie out.

In the car, Sophie shot her a glare. "I should've just told my brother you were flirting with some stranger back there. See if he still wants you after that."

"He wouldn't care," Wendy said simply they weren't really a couple, after all, so there was nothing for Julian to be upset about.

Sophie read it as Wendy bragging about Julian's blind trust in her and went quiet, sour-faced, for the rest of the ride.

He knows a little piano, big deal, she told herself. Not like I'm jealous.

The silence didn't last. Sophie kicked the back of the driver's seat. "Why do you even feel the need to show off like that? You want me to build you a stage next?"

Wendy let it slide without a response. Anything she said now would only give Sophie more to twist.

Getting nothing back only fed Sophie's irritation further, though she couldn't do much about it while Wendy was driving.

When they got home, Diane was napping. Sophie shot Wendy one last glare and stalked off to her room.

Wendy didn't go inside. She stepped back out, pulled the door shut behind her, and called Jordan to meet up.

Half an hour later, she walked into a familiar bar. Jordan was already at the counter, drink in hand, and waved down a juice for Wendy the second she spotted her.

Wendy settled onto the stool beside her. "That kid didn't try anything with you, did she?" Jordan asked immediately.

"No," Wendy said, glancing over. "He's not like that."

Jordan shrugged, took a sip, and smirked. "You come here for emotional support, or...?"

Wendy laughed it off and changed the subject instead. "How's the thing I asked you to look into?"

Jordan reached into her bag, pulled out a folder, and slid it across the counter. "All right here.”