“Tristan quickly put me down right now! You’re really overdoing it.”
Tristan sat Sophia’s body carefully on the bed. Convinced that his wife was in a comfortable position, the man immediately ran toward the bathroom. Opened the sink drawer, looking for the first aid kit always available.
Once he found what he was looking for, Tristan walked back to where Sophia was sitting. Without being asked to kneel down immediately, he slowly opened the Ankle Boots that his wife was wearing one by one.
Silently, Tristan grabbed Sophia’s ankles to rest on her thighs. Seconds later, he started to take some cotton in the first aid kit along with the alcohol bottle. Spilt it little by little on cotton until it was wet, then applied very carefully to the blisters on the heels of his wife’s feet.
“Tristan, you don’t have to do anything like this. I can treat it myself,” Sophia said.
However, Tristan didn’t care at all. He just kept focusing on what he was doing. After cleaning the blistered area with alcohol, it was his turn to apply an anti-inflammatory ointment on the peeling and reddened skin.
“Don’t complain too much, Sophia. You can just shut up and watch what I do,” he replied curtly.
As soon as he finished and ensured the blisters had been handled properly, Tristan stood up straight away. Bringing his eyes to look at Sophia closely.
“It’s done. Now you can change and then rest. Aren’t you supposed to go accompany Mrs. Helena tomorrow?”
Sophia nodded. Slowly stand up, then walk towards the walk-in closet. Looking for sleeping pyjamas that had been prepared for her. When she finished changing, she immediately went back to get into bed.
From the bed, Sophia could see Tristan sitting on the sofa. The man seemed to be seriously working on something from behind the tablet in front of him. While continuing to focus on something that might be a report, her husband removed the clothes attached to his body until only a thin white shirt was left.
“You don’t rest yourself?”
Sophia ventured to ask. She could tell from her eyes that the stern-faced man was already tired. From her observations so far, Tristan has yawned four times.
“Soon. I still have work to do tonight.” Tristan then looked up, then looked at Sophia. “You’d better go to bed, Sophia. So you don’t wake up late tomorrow.”
Sophia nodded. Then immediately lay down, choosing to close her eyes. She was exhausted after attending the previous event.
Meanwhile, Tristan was still busy finishing his work. At exactly one o’clock at night, the man turned off the tablet he had been using. Stretch the muscles for a moment, then get up from sitting, intending to take a drink.
Seeing Sophia, who wasn’t wearing a blanket, Tristan preferred to turn his legs around. He walked slowly until he finally reached one side of the bed. Slowly and carefully, he helped pull the blanket to cover his wife’s entire body. After being perfectly wrapped, Tristan was silent for a moment, watching. Staring fixedly while muttering softly.
“I’m sorry, for being so bad in the past made you suffer, Sophia. I’m really sorry for everything I’ve done in the past.”
Tristan took a deep breath. Cursing all his stupidity. Too blinded by revenge to have the heart to do evil. The woman in front of him did not know what the problem was.
Now, it’s all over. The revenge that Tristan used to sow reaped the most hatred from Sophia. Let alone dreaming of getting back together, even getting sorry seems difficult and requires extra struggle. Even now, Sophia still refuses to look back at him.
“Sorry again. I’m really sorry for never being able to make you happy.”
After quietly saying that Tristan brought his hand to caress the top of Sophia’s head gently. Before leaving, he again whispered to the woman he might be divorcing in the next few days.
“Good night, Sophia. I hope that in this week of our time together, I can make the best impression on you.”
Tristan immediately turned around. Slowly walk to the sofa. Lay the body there and then catch up to sleep.
Towards the next day, Tristan and Sophia seemed to be eating breakfast silently and were already in a tidy state. Both chose to enjoy their respective meals without greeting or talking about anything.
Besides, Tristan was confused about what to discuss with his wife. Not long ago, from the direction of the door appeared Mario. The man seemed to be walking in a hurry. He immediately approached his two superiors, panting for breath because he had run a little.
“Mario, what’s the matter? Why are you running around like that?” said Tristan in surprise. Mario didn’t answer right away. The man in the grey suit was holding his chest, rising and falling. He grabbed a glass of water from the dining table without hesitation. Swallowed it down to the toilet, then slowly tried to speak.
“There is something Mister must see,” he said. Then the brown-haired man took out his cell phone from his trouser pocket. Opening the Instagram feature then shows one of the pages that make the latest news.
“Mr Tristan and Mrs Sophia are in the headlines. And you two are being talked about by the crowd.”
“Huh, what?” Sophia, who had been bribing the spanakopita, was immediately taken aback. She reached for Mario’s cell phone without permission to see what one of the news portals displayed.
After confirming it for herself, Sophia could see from her eyes how the contents of the video showed Tristan, who last night helped take off his shoes and then soon carried him to the elevator. What they did last night became the subject of news for local journalists who might also be present at Alabbar and Helena’s banquet.
“Tristan,” Sophia called, showing her what she saw. “Look at the commotion that’s going on. It’s all because of you! You see, everyone’s talking about us, now.”
Tristan, enjoying the egg sandwich on his plate, just glanced disinterestedly. As if he didn’t care what happened.
“Leave it alone, Sophia. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were the centre of attention?”
“You are crazy!” cried Sophia. “Aren’t you ashamed?” Tristan shook his head nonchalantly and then squinted at his wife.
“Why should I be ashamed? Besides, what I carried last night was my wife, not someone else’s.”
The man’s gaze then turned to his assistant. “Mario, try to read what the headline of the news that’s going on is?”
Politely, Mario took his cell phone back from Sophia. Then read one by one the news headlines written by the paparazzi there.
“Looking intimate, the UK CEO of FOXTAIL seems to be holding his wife after attending a party from one of the Dubai tycoons.”
“Go on, Mario. Read everything that’s written there,” Tristan said to Mario.
“One high-ranking British construction company was caught on camera holding his wife who had difficulty walking.”
“Reaping netters’ praise, this is a portrait of a British CEO holding his wife affectionately after attending a party.”
“That’s enough, Mario,” Tristan ordered after hearing some of the headlines his assistant had read him earlier. Turning towards Sophia, the athletic man spoke again.
“How? You saw it for yourself, right? All the news is positive. You should be happy. Isn’t this getting better for our image in public? So, let this news develop. After all, it can add value to us in front of Alabbar and Helena, right?”
Sophia chuckled. Did not completely agree with what her husband said.
“You crazy confessional. You seem good at camouflage, Tristan. No wonder I was fooled and stupidly fell in love with you quickly.”
Standing between his two superiors, Mario couldn’t help but laugh at Sophia’s piercing words. It couldn’t be helped that Madame one did say the right thing.
Meanwhile, Tristan wasn’t the least bit offended. The man smiled instead, then looked back at his wife’s face fixedly.
“But take it easy, Sophia. What I’m doing to you right now isn’t camouflage. If you ever fall in love with me again, go ahead. There’s no need to hold back.”
The man then rose from his seat. Before actually leaving, he even took the time to bend down a little and then kissed the top of Sophia’s head, which was still dumbfounded.
“I’m going with Mario first. Have a nice day with Helena.”
After the shadow of her husband disappeared, it was Sophia’s turn to be seen gulping down the water in her glass. Continuing to catch his breath, he tried his best to neutralize his chaotic feelings due to all of Tristan’s actions which he had never expected for the past few days.
At this rate, I’m going to be crazy after a while, Tristan!
Wrestling with her feelings, Sophia was suddenly startled by a knock on the door. Wiping her lips that were wet with water first, the woman immediately got up. Taking big steps to open the bedroom door immediately.
“Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. Are you Mrs Sophia Quartararo?” asked the figure of the woman in the maroon uniform standing at the door. Sophia nodded awkwardly, then soon answered the woman’s question in front of her.
“Yes, myself. Can I help you?”
“I’m Hagea, the person Mrs. Helena sent to pick you up at the boutique,” said the woman. “Ah.” Sophia immediately nodded in understanding. “Fine, then wait a moment. Let me get my bag and cellphone first.”
Taking no more than a minute to get ready, Sophia immediately followed Hagea to the car. With the driver escorted the two of them finally walked to a boutique located in one of Dubai Mall. Once they arrived at the location, Sophia was immediately invited to approach Helena who was already waiting for her arrival.
“Mrs Quartararo,” Helana greeted as soon as she saw her guest had entered the boutique VVIP room.
“Mrs Helena. Thank you for the invite. Sorry to keep you waiting.” Helena gave her a friendly smile as always. The woman then asked Sophia to sit down on the sofa for a while.
“No problem. No need to hesitate either. Especially for you, I am willing to wait a long time.”
Sophia was again flattered. She felt that Helena was so good at pleasing other people she liked.
“Thank you again, Mrs Helena. But let’s get acquainted. You can call me Sophia.”
Helena nodded in agreement. “Okay. You are the same. Just call me Helena without madam and other frills.”
The middle-aged woman then stood up. Then waved at the boutique waitress who was already waiting for orders. “Show me which dresses you designed for me.”
The boutique waiter swiftly carried out commanded. Quickly brought out all the designs they specially designed to celebrate Helena and Alabbar’s wedding anniversary. As soon as everything was out, Helena’s gaze immediately turned to Sophia.
“Sophia, now it’s your turn to choose the most suitable dress for me to wear.”
Sophia nodded. The woman immediately approached and then saw one by one the dresses that had been arranged in such a way. Checked it carefully and then dropped on a gold maxi dress whose design looks glamorous when worn.
“I chose this. For some reason, I’m sure it will suit you very well tomorrow night.”
Helena without hesitation grabbed the dress Sophia was pointing at. The next second the woman took her to the dressing room to try on. After a few minutes had passed, she came out to show off what she was wearing. to Sophia and her assistants who were also there.
“How is it?” Helena asked. “You look spectacular, madam,” said Hagea. Nor did Sophia blink at how beautiful Helena was in the dress of her choice.
“Perfect, Helana,” Sophia said. “You are absolutely perfect.”
Helena then smiled with satisfaction. After changing into her original clothes, she brought Sophia back to sit on the sofa to chat. ”
Sophia smiled shyly. This was all Tristan’s doing, who never thought about anything he did. “I’m sorry, Helena. I don’t even know that last night’s incident caused a public stir.”
“No,” Helena argued. “I’m jealous of the intimacy you two are. How lucky you are to have a husband as romantic as Mr Tristan.”
Sophia nodded in agreement. Inwardly, she cursed romantically. It was all just Tristan’s trick. “Ah, yes,” Helena continued. “Tomorrow night, I plan to have a masquerade party before the main party begins.”
“Masquerade party?” Sophia repeated. There was a look of preparedness on her face when she heard Helena say that.
“So you mean all the guests will wear masks?” Helena nodded.
“Yeah, after seeing the video of you and your husband, I’m thinking of making a game tomorrow night. Which, every guest who brings a partner, I will give a female partner in the form of a dress and mask of the same shape. The man’s job is to guess or find exactly where his partner is. Yeah, it’s a soulmate game.”
Sophia nodded in understanding. It seemed interesting to follow Helena’s game tomorrow night. She also wanted to prove if Tristan could recognize her among the other female guests.