A blush crept across Sophia’s cheeks as Tristan deliberately teased her. How not? The man, while grinning mischievously, continued to say words that made Sophia hotter and hotter.
She had never thought that Tristan, famous for being cold, could tease him like now. It also crossed Sophia’s mind, was this part of her husband’s ploy to melt her heart.
“Don’t you like sleeping with me?” Tristan spoke again, rolling his eyes playfully.
“Don’t dream,” said Sophia. The woman was still unmoved in the initial position she stood. “Since when have I liked sleeping with you? Don’t be amnesiac, Mr Quartararo. You should be aware that as long as we’re married, you don’t even want to look at me, let alone sleep in the same bed. So how can I say something like that? -yes,” said Sophia openly. She did not accept being accused in such a way.
After all, what Sophia said earlier was very clear and basic. During his marriage, he never even felt that he was being treated properly. Tristan doesn’t think he’s alive. So, how can she be happy to sleep with the man her husband?
“Oh, yes. Are you sure?” Tristan raised eleven eyebrows. At the same second, the man got up and walked closer while staring intensely. Making Sophia involuntarily retreat in an orderly fashion. Along with her husband’s steps forward. “You don’t remember something?” asked the man again. “I’ve never even forgotten when you claimed to enjoy sleeping in my arms,” Tristan joked, smiling again. For some reason, he loved to annoy and tease Sophia so much that she couldn’t move.
“You’re making it up, Tristan!”
Sophia, who had been walking backwards, stopped at that moment. She couldn’t move when behind her back was a cupboard blocking it.
Seeing Sophia, helpless to do anything instead of pity, Tristan even deliberately locked his wife’s position in the clutches of his hands.
“I’m telling the truth, Sophia,” Tristan said as he stared at his wife’s face.
“Impossible!” Sophia shook her head again. “I’m sure I’ve never said such a thing to you,” Sophia argued.
Being stared at by Tristan so closely, she had no choice but to look up. Reply locked the gaze of the blue-coloured bead with a very alert and alert attitude. Also afraid that Tristan would suddenly pounce on her.
“Okay. Since you forgot, I’ll help remind you.” Tristan tilted his face slightly. Even Sophia could smell the sticky peppermint scent on the man’s body because they were only inches apart. “I’m pretty sure you won’t forget when I was half drunk asking you to sleep together, right?”
Sophia’s face turned red with embarrassment. Why, from the many memories, Tristan even discussed the incident. Damn this man!
“The next morning…” Tristan continued. “I woke up first but chose not to move an inch. Deliberately closed my eyes again until I could finally hear how you said everything in my arms then.”
In Tristan’s confines, Sophia tried to remember. Then not long after, the memory puzzle that the man mentioned was successfully assembled in her brain.
“If only after you woke up, your attitude didn’t change, I would be very happy. Honestly, I’m really glad we could sleep together. Hugging each other, kissing. It would be best if you didn’t let go of this hug, Tristan. Hug, you hug so lovingly like now.”
Having managed to clearly remember what she had said to Tristan while the man was sleeping, Sophia was taken aback. Not long after, the woman immediately covered her mouth with both palms while cursing a little.
Good grief!
“You must have heard wrong,” said Sophia, embarrassed. She tried to continue to deny accusations that she had.
“Not.” Tristan shook his head. “I heard right, Sophia. I woke up earlier than you. I just pretended to be asleep, so I could hear what you said to me.”
Oh, Lord! Did Sophia get caught this time? Where do you want to save this beautiful face? Too bad, it turns out that her husband the other day heard everything she said. And when she woke up, Sophia remembered that Tristan was acting casually as if nothing had ever happened between them.
Seeing Sophia, who was silent again, Tristan brought his face closer. At the same time, the man immediately whispered right in his wife’s ear.
“So how about my offer? You don’t want to try it? Tonight for example?” the man teased.
“I promise, this time I’ll do it in a fully conscious state. And when it’s all over, I won’t pretend to be forgetful or indifferent like I used to be.”
Sophia glared. Taking her hands, she immediately pushed Tristan away from the man’s body. When the opportunity arose, he immediately ran to the sofa.
“Don’t mess around or I’m going back to London right now,” she threatened playfully, pointing at her husband in a warning sign. “I’m going to sleep on the couch tonight and beyond. Don’t ever bother me let alone steal a chance!”
Tristan, instead of being afraid, laughed. He raised both hands where he stood as a sign of surrender to his wife’s threat.
“Okay, no problem this time the mission failed. I can try it another time. But, you have to remember something, Sophia. We will be in the same room for a week. Anything can happen without you knowing it or not,” he said casually. While smiling meaningfully. Which, of course, made Sophia shudder in horror.
***
Sophia slowly opened her eyelids. After feeling her consciousness was completely gathered, she looked around in all directions. When she realized something, Sophia hastily wiped her face with both hands. She remembers sleeping on the sofa. Why now instead move to the bed?
Worried that something might happen, Sophia immediately checked her body wrapped in the blanket. After making sure, her clothes were still complete and the same as what she wore last night, Sophia immediately breathed a sigh of relief. That means Tristan didn’t do anything to him.
But how can she change positions like this? Was Tristan the one who moved it on purpose? If it was true that the man had carried her last night, how could she not feel anything?
Before she could answer all the questions swirling in her mind, Sophia’s ears faintly caught the sound of the door opening. From under the covers, she glanced towards the bathroom. There was Tristan there, who walked calmly, wearing only a towel covering the bottom, walking leisurely towards the walk-in closet.
The man seemed to take out his underwear and suit that he might be wearing soon. Silently and cautiously, Sophia continued to watch from behind the white man’s back. She could see how Tristan was spraying perfume all over his plump skin, how the man started to put on his underwear, followed by the suit he had chosen. Finally, dry her slightly wet hair using a hairdryer.
This simple activity stunned Sophia. As long as she was married and living with Tristan, she had never seen him dressed like he is now. Before, when they were together, Tristan never wanted to do things like now when Sophia was in the room. The man chose to dress in the bathroom or prepare himself for his workspace.
As soon as he realized it, Tristan turned around and walked toward the bed. Immediately Sophia closed her eyes. Struggling to keep himself looking natural, still in a state of sleep. It would be a shame if Tristan caught her again peeking at the man dressed.
“Sleeping princess,” Tristan mumbled as he stood not far from the bed. Glancing briefly at the cloak wrapped around his wrist, the man soon reached for his cellphone from his jacket pocket. Then not long after, looking for someone to contact immediately contacted.
“Mario, is the car I’m going to ride in ready? What time is the meeting this morning?” Tristan asked the man on the other end.
“The car that Emaar prepared has been on standby for a while, Sir. The meeting with the contractors will take place at nine in the morning. Mr. Nicholas is already here waiting for you. He said he wanted to go together.”
“Alright. Then I’ll be down immediately. Please when I leave, do as I tell you today, Mario.”
When the call is disconnected, Tristan immediately puts his cell phone away. Before actually leaving, the man approached Sophia. Help pull the blanket so it covers the beautiful woman’s body perfectly, then murmurs a little.
“I’m off to work first. I hope you had a good night’s sleep.”
After making sure Tristan had left the room, the first thing Sophia did was rub her chest with both hands gently. She tried hard to keep her heart beating as fast as it wanted to jump from its place. What Tristan did to her before leaving the room was nothing special. But why did Sophia feel a strange swish suddenly hit her.
Trying not to keep up with what Tristan was doing to her, Sophia chose to straighten up immediately. Lift both hands while stretching the muscles that feel stiff. The next thing she did was shuffled off the bed and head straight for the bathroom. Satisfied soaking in warm water for 30 minutes, Sophia immediately put on her clothes succinctly. As soon as she applied her make-up in front of the dressing table, there was a knock on her bedroom door.
Curious, she immediately approached. When the door opened, Mario was there with one of the waiters carrying a trolley of food for him to eat.
“Good morning to noon, madam,” said Mario politely. “Sorry if I disturb your rest time. Mr Tristan assigned me to serve all your needs today,” said the man. “And this is a breakfast of choice and other foods you can taste immediately.”
Sophia gave a smile as she nodded. Invite Mario and the hotel maid who brought the food to the room.
“Thanks, Mario. But really, there’s no need to overdo it to be delivered like this.”
“It’s all right, madam. It’s my job to do all this. Now, taste the food Mr Tristan has specially ordered for you.”
Again Sophia nodded. Pulled up a dining chair to quickly sit there. As soon as the waiter served the food, he was astonished. There is sushi and other Japanese food that looks delicious and asks to be eaten immediately. Not only that, as dessert, the waiter also provided a red velvet cake along with blackcurrant fruit for him to eat. Of course, these were all foods that Sophia liked.
“This isn’t wrong?” Sophia asked with a confused expression.
“No, madam. These are all Mr Tristan’s specially ordered by the hotel chef for you to eat. That’s why, please taste it before it turns cold.”
Sophia chuckled. Before eating her food, she spoke again to her husband’s assistant. “Mario. Sit here. Accompany me to finish the food Tristan ordered,” he ordered as if he didn’t want to be denied.
“But, madam. I dare not,” replied the man earnestly. Of course, Mario was afraid that if Tristan was found out, he might get angry or his salary could be cut because it was presumptuous to sit at the same table with his boss’s wife.
“If you don’t want to sit and help eat it, I won’t touch any of the menus already served. I’m sure, too, Tristan will scold you after he comes home from the meeting.”
“No, madam. I can’t do this. Your husband must be mad —”
“Don’t worry about Tristan,” Sophia interrupted. I’ll bet he won’t be mad to see you dine with me, Mario. Or do you prefer me to report it?”
Mario swallowed his saliva. How could he refuse Sophia’s request when he was threatened like this. Then the next thing he did was sit down. Then help taste almost the entire menu of food that Tristan had ordered.
Busy eating the menus one by one, it was Sophia’s turn to ring this time. When she glanced at it, Tristan’s name appeared, making a call to her.
“What do you need to call me all of a sudden?” picked up by Sophia. “Nothing. Just wanted to make sure you’re up and eating the food specially prepared for you,” said the man on the other end.
“Don’t worry,” Sophia said in an even tone. “I’ve tasted all the food.”
“Thank goodness. Before I return to work, I want to tell you something.” There was a pause in the sentence that escaped Tristan’s lips. Sophia could also clearly hear the man sigh repeatedly. Then after a while, he resumed his words which had been delayed for a while.
“Tonight, the two of us will come to the banquet hosted by Alabbar. I hope, when I get home, you’re ready to go. Mario will take care of everything you need after you finish your meal.”
“Okay,” Sophia said curtly. “You don’t have to worry. I’ll do as you tell me.”
“Thank you for your cooperation,” Tristan said softly. “Then I’ll get on with my work first. See you later, my wife.”
As the call ended, Sophia was again stunned by what she had just heard. The word “my wife” that came from the man’s lips managed to make Sophia’s mind turn as erratic and uncertain as it is now.
This is also what makes Sophia keep asking herself. Will she be able to hold on for the next week with her stance? Or maybe she will give up and get entangled again in a trick that Tristan may have deliberately created.