Sophie bit down on her lower lip. The propriety of speaking to Eric about his wife had bothered her at first. But within only a few days of joining the household, Sophie had come to realise that Helena was struggling with the pressures of motherhood and her high profile as Eric’s wife. She had been hesitant, at first, to jump to any conclusions, but another few days into her tenure had convinced her that something was badly wrong.
Helena was depressed. She needed to meet with a professional and get proper support.
Only Eric didn’t seem to share Sophie’s worries. Or, if he did, he was determined to ignore them.
“How was she at dinner?” Sophie blushed at the question, which could have been seen as prying. But not by Eric. He understood. Sophie was worried about Helena, and especially about the boys. He’d come to count on her counsel in the last few months.
“Quiet.” He shrugged. “But she is always quiet lately.”
“Maybe you should go away for a while, like she suggested,” Sophie pushed, lifting a hand comfortingly to his shoulder.
“You’re the one who told me how important my place in the boys’ life is. I don’t want to leave them.”
“They could go with you. I could come.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It doesn’t solve anything. That’s a temporary fix. Whatever is going on with Helena, she needs to right it.”
Sophie compressed her lips. “I don’t know if it’s that easy.”
“She has two children. Two children we spent five years trying to bring into being, and who love her and need her. I don’t give a shit if it isn’t easy. She must do it. There is an imperative on her to meet their needs.”
Across the room, Alex couldn’t hear what they were saying. Their pose was unmistakably intimate, with their faces close and her arm on his shoulder. They weren’t even trying to hide it!
Alex’s temper, under a tight reign for two days, began to fray as he realised with a grim frown, that his sister had been right. This beautiful ingénue had come into his sister’s life and was now attempting to usurp her place in it.
He was sure of it.
“Be patient. She will find her way.” A feint noise caught Sophie’s attention and she looked in its direction, straight into the hard, sardonic eyes of Alessandros Petrides. A shiver flexed down her spine. She looked away again quickly. “You have Alessandros here now. Have you spoken to him? Maybe he’d have an idea …”
“No.” Eric’s scowl formed a perfect line between
his brows. He followed her gaze and shifted into a polite smile. “Listen, Soph. Alex is a … top chap. But when it comes to Helena, he’s controlling as hell. If he thinks she’s not happy, he’s just likely to put her on a Petrides jet to Greece.”
“Surely not,” Sophie countered, her eyes drifting back to Alex’s face. He was fuming about something; that much was obvious even to Sophie, who knew very little of the Greek billionaire beyond what the press had publicised over the years. “She’s your wife …”
“But she’s also his sister, and Alex will always trump me in Helena’s mind.” He let out a peevish sigh. “He’s the quintessential control freak. It’s better not to involve him or I’ll lose my wife for good.”
She laughed despite herself. “And here I thought you were far too staid for melodrama.”
He lifted his eyes heavenward. “It might sound melodramatic, but believe me, it’s no exaggeration. Alex doesn’t believe in second chances.”
“Second chances?”
“He gave me a chance when he agreed to our marriage. He was against it at first. Though I doubt he’d have liked any man who married Helena. But he trusted me. And he made it obvious that he was willing to give me one chance to make her happy. If he knows she’s miserable, he’ll do whatever he can to end it.”
“Eric,” she shook her head, her eyes so blue there were like denim in the dusk light that filtered in through the bay windows. “You’re being ridiculous. Helena is a grown woman. Her life has nothing to do with Alex.”
“You mightn’t think so, but trust me, he’ll make this his business and he’ll take over.” He shrugged, but his expression was tired. “Listen, we’ll stick to the plan. You keep a firm eye on the children, and I’ll slowly find a way to get through to her. But please keep it between us. Alex being here is a complication I hadn’t anticipated.”
Eric’s eyes moved beyond Sophie. Alex had stopped reclining indolently on the far side of the room and was prowling towards them. A hint of determination sparked in his expression.
Though Sophie and Eric couldn’t have known it, a plan, so perfect for its precision and cruelty, had come to Alex, fully formed.
“Sophie.” His accent was thick, his voice as seductive as ever. “The children are in bed. You are free for the night, are you not?”