The Call Boy I Met in Paris – Episode 49
Justin turned on Ted. “Do you find something funny?”
“Only the part where you tracked Sophie across Paris, walked into my home, and announced that you were not jealous.”
“Ted,” Sophie warned. She did not need two men turning her crisis into a contest.
Ted lifted his hands. “The permit is fixed, and clearly her husband has everything under control. I will leave you two to discuss appropriate clothing.”
He collected his jacket, then paused beside Sophie. “Call me if you need anything. Any time.”
Justin waited until the door closed. “He enjoys provoking me.”
“You make it very easy.” Sophie picked up her bag. “And for the record, he has been my friend most of my life.”
“That does not mean he thinks of you as a sister.”
“You do not get to interrogate every man who cares about me.”
“I care about you.” The confession emerged before Justin could disguise it as another possessive argument.
Sophie’s anger faltered. Beneath the jealousy was fear—the same fear she felt each time one of his secrets reminded her how easily their marriage could vanish.
“Then trust me,” she said. “Do not make decisions for me, and do not treat friendship like betrayal.”
Justin looked away. “I am still learning how to do this.”
“Be married?”
“Care what happens after someone walks away.”
That answer disarmed her. Sophie took his hand and led him toward the door. “Come home. We still have a project to finish.”
Back at the apartment, she found the Maple Plaza plans exactly where they had left them. A loose sheet had fallen from Justin’s portfolio, revealing the corner of a painted canvas beneath it.
Sophie pulled the canvas free. The image stopped her breath—not only because it was beautiful, but because she had seen almost the same composition somewhere else.