Chapter 3 As Senseless As Your Sister

Convinced that Gavin had married her as a facade to appease others, perhaps his own grandfather, and to also hide his own preference, Sophie felt a rush of relief-and even a secret hint of excitement.

With a keen interest in romance, she couldn't resist speculating that maybe Gavin did it for his true love?

Meanwhile, Gavin had exited the building. Across the street, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up.

The driver stepped out and respectfully opened the door for him.

Settling into the car with an air of ease, Gavin spoke in a detached tone. "Run a thorough background check on her."

Upstairs, oblivious to the unfolding events below, Sophie busied herself in the kitchen.

After finishing her meal, Sophie picked up her phone and dialed Jason.

"Jason, guess what? I'm married now, and he's actually a good person."

Jason's response came with a mix of surprise and concern. "Married? Sophie, slow down-what's going on? Who's the lucky guy?"

"His name's Gavin Hewitt," she replied.

Jason paused, but then asked incredulously, "How on earth did you end up married to someone you barely know?"

Sophie chuckled, lying to reassure her brother. "Oh, I might have stretched the truth a bit to Leyla. Gavin and I go way back, actually. He's quite the catch-stable job, pulls in a neat two hundred thousand a year. Really, there's no need to worry."

Hearing the confidence in her voice, Jason let out a relieved sigh and apologized. "I'm sorry about everything, Sophie. It's all my fault..."

Before Jason could finish, Leyla's voice cut through, sharp and frazzled. "The baby's crying again! Jason, get over here now! Why don't you seem to care at all when we're barely scraping by? You're as senseless as your sister, who can't even get to the right place for an appointment..."

"I've got to go, Sophie," Jason said quickly, urgency lacing his voice.

As the call ended, Sophie was left feeling a bit powerless.

Leyla's harshness was unwarranted, but Sophie knew better than to suggest Jason consider leaving her, especially since they had a child together, and Jason was deeply in love with Leyla.

She sighed, resolving to let it go. After all, if they chose this life, what more was there for her to fuss about?

The next day, after a refreshing night's sleep, Sophie was off to her client's company, determined to secure the project she'd been eyeing for a month.

After a long day of waiting, she finally got her chance to speak with Vernon.

In his office, Vernon leaned back in his chair, looking quite casual. "Miss Brooks, it's not that I don't want to meet with you. It's just that everyone wants a piece of this project. I've been bombarded all day, and I'm fried. I'm heading to the club to unwind. You can join me if you want to talk more, or we can catch up tomorrow."

Sophie paused, weighing her options, and then smiled confidently. "Sure, I'll tag along with you."

As Sophie sat waiting, her resolve deepened. She had invested too much effort into this project to walk away without a fight.

Vernon's hand landed on her thigh, his smile friendly yet perhaps a bit too friendly. "That's right. You have to balance work with some downtime to really excel," he remarked.

Internally, Sophie bristled at the touch, but she kept her expression neutral, silently cursing.

It seemed his intentions for visiting the club weren't entirely professional, and she knew she needed to tread carefully.

Soon, they arrived at the club, and Vernon ushered her into a private room.

He opened a bottle of wine with a flourish.

"Miss Brooks, we've had a good run together. Let's celebrate with a few glasses," he said, raising his glass.

Sophie managed a smile, seizing the moment to steer the conversation back to business. "A toast to future projects too, hopefully. Securing this advertising case could extend our partnership even further."

Vernon's response came as he casually wrapped an arm around her waist. "It all depends on how genuine your intentions are," he said, his tone suggesting an underlying challenge.

Sophie's discomfort escalated as Vernon's stout fingers touched her skin. Seizing an opportunity, she feigned adjusting the wine bottle to subtly distance herself.

But Vernon was persistent, closing in to grasp her wrist and leaning in close.

"Miss Brooks, I appreciate your... dedication. Play your cards right, and the contract is yours tomorrow. Otherwise, consider our doors closed to you," he whispered, his voice a blend of threat and enticement.

The facade dropped entirely as he made a lewd move towards her clothes.

Reacting instinctively, Sophie's foot shot out, connecting sharply with Vernon.

He stumbled backwards, crashing into the table, which sent glasses shattering to the floor.

"You bitch!" Vernon cursed loudly from the floor, his face contorting in anger as he scrambled up and lunged towards her.

Quick on her feet, Sophie darted for the door, flung it open, and sprinted out.

As Vernon's voice echoed down the corridor, calling out with anger, Sophie's panic surged. "Stop running! There's nowhere for you to go!" Vernon yelled. But before she could react further, she ran headlong into a solid figure, feeling arms that weren't Vernon's wrap around her before pushing her away.

The unexpected impact thrust her against the wall, and she groaned in pain.

"Sophie?"

The voice was deep, familiar, and filled with concern.

Looking up, Sophie's eyes widened in shock.

It was Gavin, her newly married husband, standing there unexpectedly.

"What are you doing here?" she gasped, her voice trembling slightly.

Gavin, equally startled to find Sophie in such a state, scowled, confusion and annoyance crossing his features.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" he retorted, taking in her disheveled appearance.

"I... I'm here to meet a client," Sophie stammered.

Her eyes darted anxiously toward the corridor, knowing well that Vernon wasn't going to let their confrontation go easily. She gripped Gavin's hand, her tone urgent yet hushed. "If you don't have anything important keeping you here, you'd better leave. This is not a good time."

Gavin's eyes narrowed, a menacing glint appearing as he sensed the gravity of the situation.

He could tell from Sophie's panicked demeanor that this was no ordinary client meeting.

Before more could be said, Vernon stormed up to the doorway, his face contorted with rage.

"You slippery little bitch! Don't pretend to be so innocent! You agreed to come to the club with me. I'm not letting you go until you apologize to me properly," he sneered, reaching out to grab Sophie.

With a swift movement, Gavin's expression turned ice cold as he pulled Sophie back, positioning himself protectively in front of her, shielding her from Vernon's vile approach.

The sudden intervention left Vernon visibly taken aback.

"And, who the fuck do you think you are?" Vernon scoffed.

Gavin responded not with words but with action, delivering a swift kick that sent Vernon crashing to the floor, his scream echoing in the hallway.

"Sam, clean this up," Gavin said coolly, barely glancing at the man writhing on the floor.

Sam Jenkins, a burly figure who had been lingering in the background, nodded and moved towards Vernon.

"Come on. Let's go," Gavin said, taking Sophie's hand firmly in his and leading her downstairs.

As they walked, Sophie's expression was clouded with worry. She glanced up at Gavin, her voice tinged with anxiety. "You shouldn't have kicked him so hard! He knows some people. What if he tries to make trouble for you?"

Gavin stopped abruptly, turning to look at her.

The genuine concern in her eyes struck a chord in him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

It was both comforting and unfamiliar.

"It's okay," he assured her softly, squeezing her hand. "Don't worry about me. I can handle it." His voice was gentle, trying to alleviate her fears.

As they reached the entrance of the club, Gavin made a move to flag down a taxi.

"I'll get you a cab. You head back first," he suggested, his voice firm yet gentle.

Sophie, however, wasn't ready to leave him behind. She grasped his arm, stopping him.

Looking up into his eyes, her expression was earnest, marked by a mix of worry and resolve. "Are you planning to go back in there? Aren't you concerned that Vernon might try something? I don't think it's safe for you to stay. Let's go home together. Can't your meeting with the client be rescheduled? Please?"

Her voice wavered slightly, and her eyes, red-rimmed and filled with concern, implored him to reconsider.

Despite her own unsettling encounter, her thoughts were on his safety- a gesture that underscored the depth of her care for him.