The Call Boy I Met in Paris – Episode 38
Sophie’s excitement cooled the instant Derek spoke. She had come to secure her company’s future, not continue the argument her father had staged around him.
“That’s none of your concern,” she replied. Justin stayed close enough to intervene, though Derek’s attention kept returning to him with open hostility.
The receptionist turned toward Derek. “Mr. Lake is not available at the moment, but you can have a seat and wait for him, sir.” Her phrasing was technically accurate; Justin could hardly meet Derek as himself while standing beside Sophie.
Derek mistook the delay for an opportunity to display confidence. “I know what you’re up to,” he told Sophie. “You think one meeting will replace everything our families planned.”
“Forget it,” he added. “Mr. Lake and I already struck a deal.” The claim was bold enough that Justin almost admired it. He had never negotiated anything with Derek.
Sophie’s gaze sharpened. If Derek had obtained a private agreement with Lake Enterprises, the long-term contract offered to Swift Architecture might carry conditions she had not been told about.
“You know Mr. Lake?” she asked. Justin watched Derek closely, curious how far the lie would go.
“Of course.” Derek straightened his jacket. “We’re…” The sentence collapsed when he realized he could not name a single personal detail about the CEO he claimed to know.
“Well?” Sophie prompted. “Business partners? Friends? Secret golfing companions?” Her sarcasm made Justin hide a smile.
“Why should I tell you?” Derek countered. He believed mystery would sound more impressive than ignorance.
“Come on,” Sophie said. “You can say it.” She wanted him to commit to the lie where Lake employees could hear it.
Derek’s expression hardened. “I don’t want to.” He sat again, pretending the conversation had ended on his terms.
Justin leaned toward Sophie. “That sounded convincing.” His quiet comment drew the beginning of a laugh from her.
Patrick crossed the lobby with the senior executive chosen to handle Sophie’s contract. Neither looked directly at Justin, a feat of discipline he would reward later.
“Mr. Brown, this way, please,” a staff member called to another waiting client. The movement around the reception area briefly separated Derek from Sophie and Justin.
Patrick used the distraction to direct Sophie toward a conference room. “Lake Enterprises is ready for you now, Ms. Swift.”
Derek stood again. “What about my meeting?” His irritation broke through the polished image he had tried to maintain.
“Mr. Lake remains unavailable,” the receptionist repeated. She did not add that the unavailable CEO was holding the conference-room door open for Sophie.
Sophie stepped past Derek with her head high. After days of being told that only he could save her company, entering the meeting without him felt like its own victory.
As Justin followed her inside, Derek caught his sleeve and whispered, “Whatever game you’re playing, I’ll find out.” Justin removed the hand calmly and answered, “You’re much closer to the truth than you realize.”