The Call Boy I Met in Paris – Episode 64
Morning arrived after too little sleep. Sophie stood in the bedroom reviewing Kendall’s files while the shower ran, trying to separate rumor from evidence before the board meeting. Cooper’s voting bloc was real, but so were irregular promotion records and a pattern of resignations that Kendall had quietly flagged months earlier.
Justin entered carrying coffee. “Two creams, one sugar, exactly the way you like it.”
Sophie accepted the cup and took a grateful sip. “I love it.” The words escaped with more warmth than she intended.
Justin waited, clearly expecting something else. “That is it?”
“Thank you?”
“You looked at me last night as if you had reached a life-changing conclusion.” He leaned against the dresser. “Now you are hiding behind financial reports.”
Sophie set down the coffee. The truth pressed against her chest: their marriage no longer felt like a bargain, and the thought of losing him frightened her more than she was ready to admit.
“Justin, I am…” She stopped before the final word could give him power she had spent years refusing to hand anyone.
He waited without rescuing her. “Whatever it is, just say it. I will deal with it.”
“I know.” Sophie glanced toward the clock. “But I have to change. We will talk later, okay?”
Disappointment flickered across his face, then disappeared beneath an encouraging smile. “Go save your company.”
While Sophie dressed, Justin stepped into the hall and called Patrick. He kept his voice low enough that she could not hear the authority behind it.
“Keep an eye on Swift Enterprise,” he said. “Cooper and the board are moving against Sophie. Tell me immediately if anything changes.”
Patrick asked whether Lake Enterprises should intervene as the company’s new partner. Justin looked toward the closed bedroom door. An obvious show of power would protect Sophie, but it would also take the victory away from her and expose his identity before he chose to explain it himself.
“Not yet,” Justin said. “She has a plan. We are the backup.”
Sophie emerged in a dark suit, carrying the documents and the confidence she wore when fear could not be allowed into the room. Justin handed her the coffee again.
“You never finished what you wanted to tell me,” he reminded her.
She kissed his cheek instead. “Later.” Then she left for Swift Enterprise, unaware that Stella and Karen were already waiting inside.