Page 7 of Checkmate
“I thought these sold,” she said, pulling the earrings Marcus had gifted her out of her ears and discarding them.
“They did,” Erica replied, frowning. “These are slightly different. Sophie, you don’t have to wear them now—”
“Oh, no. You don’t keep earrings like these in a box. They’re made to be shown off.”
“But…” Erica chewed her lip. “It’s just the earrings you were wearing look quite expensive.”
“These things? No. My husband got them repaired for my birthday. They’re my grandmothers.”
“Sentimental value then,” she smiled. “I’m glad you like our gift, but don’t feel you have to change them.”
“I don’t!” Genuine surprise played across Sophie’s face. She rarely did things to please other people. “Diamonds and opals don’t really compare, do they? I want to wear the diamonds.”
Erica frowned again, tilting her head. Sophie could sense her disapproval, but she didn’t care. She’d only worn Marcus’ gift to get a reaction from Alex. Beyond that, she didn’t care to wear something so ugly.
“Erica?” Both women looked up as Alex approached the desk, his eyes warm as he smiled at his wife. “What are you doing here?”
“Just giving Sophie a birthday gift,” Erica said, leaning to kiss Alex’s cheek. Sophie glanced away, ignoring the pang of jealousy.
She didn’t want to see this, but she couldn’t move without showing her distaste. Whenever Erica was around, Alex forgot Sophie existed.
He never looked at her like he looked at Erica. Hell, Marcus never looked at her the way Alex looked at Erica.
It was hard to watch the man she wanted so desperately lavish attention on his wife and shower her with love. Sophie glanced out at the room and sure enough, people had turned in their direction.
Erica was enough to make them look up from their computer screens, and that drove her fucking crazy.
“Why don’t you come and hang for a bit, and I’ll take you to lunch?”
Sophie’s head snapped up as she heard Alex’s offer. No, that’s not how things were supposed to go! He had already invited Sophie to spend lunch with him.
No way he had forgotten. It was her fucking birthday, after all!
“A very tempting offer,” Erica said. “But I promised Josh I’d run an errand for him, and I’m running late.”
“Shame,” Alex said. “I definitely would have loved to eat you.” He gave her a devilish smile and covered his mouth. “Forgive me, I meant eat with you.”
Erica tapped his chest playfully and rolled her eyes. “Sophie, I’m so sorry you had to hear that. Though I’m sure your husband is just the same.”
Sophie forced a chuckle and nodded, before looking pointedly back at her computer.
Fucking bitch.
And Alex, too. First, he forgot their lunch plans, and then he flaunted his relationship in front of her. What an asshole.
“Hey, why don’t you have lunch with Sophie?” Erica said with a smile. “Celebrate her birthday.”
Sophie glanced at Alex and saw the exact moment the penny dropped. He shot a glance in Sophie’s direction. “That’s a wonderful idea, darling. Perhaps I will.”
“That’s sorted then,” Erica said, kissing Alex’s cheek again. “Must dash, love.”
Rushing past Alex, Erica looked over her shoulder at Sophie and waved. “Happy birthday, Sophie, and make sure my husband sticks to his word and buys you lunch!”
Sophie’s face remained frozen with a fake smile until Erica disappeared. Even after she left, her cheeks ached with the effort of not showing her true feelings.
“Don’t pout, Sophie,” Alex muttered. “You know the deal here.”
Erica must never find out.
