Page 47 of Nobody's Girl

Ivo was quiet on the way back home later. Sofia held his hand. He had told her that his mother’s cancer was terminal and Sofia had mourned with him. He asked her what transpired between her and her step-father, but, with a haunted look in her eyes, she told him she didn’t want to talk about it. “Bad enough he came here. It’s over, it’s done. It’s time to carry on with our lives now.”

He pressed his lips to her temple. He was so conflicted, it was exhausting. He was heartbroken about his mother’s illness and yet overjoyed being with Sofia. Becoming a father was exiting too, yet he was troubled about Sofia’s father and what he might do to take her back into the Rutland fold. He didn’t want Sofia anywhere near the Rutland’s especially after what she had told him about the clearly psychotic Tamara. The thought of harm coming to Sofia…god, it haunted him.

And then there was his work – which he knew he had been neglecting. He had so many emails to reply to, and he had a commitment to Desiree and the gallery. She had approached him about expanding their partnership and that too was something he was excited about. For the first time in his thirty-seven years, he felt settled somewhere, in this beautiful city. He felt like Paris had always been waiting to welcome him home. Walter’s mother, Ivo’s grandmother, had been French, after all and now he could imagine raising his children here. Not yet, though, he thought, not for me and Sofia, not just yet. Sofia was only young and on the cusp of great things in her career. They had plenty of time.

Back at their hotel, they ordered room service and chatted idly. “We really should start the search in earnest for our new home.” He grabbed his bag. “These are a few details I picked up but I’d rather we looked together.”

Sofia took the papers and looked through them. Her eyes widened when she saw the price of them. “Ivo…there’s no way I can afford these prices. We need to look at a few that are affordable.”

Ivo blinked. It had never even occurred to him that he wouldn’t be paying for the apartment. Now, he realized, that of course Sofia would want parity in their financial dealings. Still…

“Darling, will you let me pay for the apartment? We need somewhere soon, and although I know you may feel awkward about it, I would like to. Just let me do that. Everything else, I swear I won’t argue, down the middle. Fifty-fifty. But we can’t ignore the fact I have more money than most people. It’s part of who I am.”

Sofia looked uncomfortable. “It’s just…I don’t want to feel like a kept woman.”

Ivo smiled at her. “Oh, you won’t be. Get back to work, woman. Look, we need a place that’s safe. Secure, and that has enough room that we can make a studio for you to work in. Call it a wedding gift.”

He saw the uncertainty in Sofia’s eyes. “Can I think about it?”

He sighed inwardly but then nodded, hiding his irritation. “Of course.”

They ate in silence for a bit. “Ivo?”

“Yes, cara mia?”

“Don’t be mad at me. I still have issues, mostly of insecurity. I’m trying. And I know I can trust you, it’s just…what if something went wrong? I’d be homeless again. Not that I would care, because the thought of living without you makes me want to die, but…”

“Don’t ever say that again,” Ivo said, more forcefully than he intended and Sofia rocked back a little. He tried to smile. “Sorry, darling. I just hate the thought of anything happening to you.”

“It’s okay.”

But there was a strange tension between them all evening, and for the first time in their relationship, they went to sleep without making love.

In the morning, Ivo woke alone, a note from Sofia on his nightstand, telling him she had gone into work early.

Sofia had attended to go the gallery first, but instead took a detour to Desiree’s apartment. She wanted to pick up some clothes, some of her books. The strange conversation with Ivo last night had left her feeling uneasy, and as she stuffed her clothes and items into her trusty backpack, she wondered if she had been right to be cautious. They were married, for crissakes, and they need a place. It wasn’t as if she could afford anywhere suitable for Ivo, so why not just let him pay for somewhere for the both of them? It just didn’t sit right with her – once again, a man held her security in his hands. But isn’t that what marriage is about?

God. Sofia shook her head, berating herself. Ivo loved her…and she had to learn to trust again. Screw you Fergus, for making me feel like this.

She was so deep in thought that she didn’t see Fergus Rutland himself waiting outside the apartment when she finally walked onto the street. She certainly didn’t see the hulking security guard who slipped behind her. She stopped when she saw Fergus, anger sweeping through her. “I told you to stay the hell away from me.”

Fergus smiled but there was no warmth to it. “Time to stop playing make believe, Sofia. Your place is at home in New York, with your family.”

Sofia felt someone grasp the tops of her arms and propel her towards the open door of the cab. “No! Let me go, motherfucker!”

Fergus looked around, nervous. “Get her in the car, for fuck’s sake.”

The security guard tried to manhandle Sofia into the cab and she screamed for help.

“Hey!” Suddenly Felix was there and he tore Sofia away from the guard, who came at him. Felix easily side-stepped the large man then brought his elbow down hard into the man’s temple. Fergus Rutland cursed and leapt into the cab. It screeched away from the curb, leaving the unconscious security guard on the sidewalk. Felix wrapped his arm around a trembling Sofia and guided her away from the man. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

Sofia shook her head, dumbly, too shocked to speak. Another man came over and Felix asked him to call the police. “I need to take her inside, give her some hot tea…could you stay with this asshole and make sure he doesn’t get away? We’ll be just inside, apartment number three.”

Sofia let him steer her inside. His apartment was clean but sparse, lacking in home comforts but Sofia closed her eyes, not wanting to think about anything. Felix wrapped a blanket around her. Her arms ached from the guard’s hold on her, the shock of her near-abduction still vibrating through her body. Felix was back with some hot tea. He crouched down in front of her, his blue eyes full of concern.

“Sofia, do you need me to call anyone? Your husband?”