Chapter 216

Chapter 216
Sophia

Sitting on the park bench, I watched as Juliana helped Lily climb the colorful jungle gym. My daughter's laughter floated across the playground, bright and carefree.

She'd been begging to come to this park for weeks, the one with the "rainbow castle" as she called it. I'd finally relented, not expecting Juliana to invite herself along like some kind of vulture circling for scraps of family time.

Juliana's perfectly manicured hands steadied Lily as she reached for the next bar. "Good job! You're so brave, Lily," she encouraged, her voice warm and grandmotherly—a tone I'd never heard directed at me.

My stomach twisted with an emotion I didn't want to name. Fucking hell, this is torture. Watching my future mother-in-law bond with my daughter should have been heartwarming. Instead, it felt like watching a snake charm its prey before striking. The woman who'd tried to destroy me was now playing doting grandmother, and my own daughter was eating it up.

"Look at me, Mommy!" Lily called, waving from the top of the structure.

"I see you, baby! You're doing amazing!" I forced enthusiasm into my voice while my mind screamed, Stay the hell away from my child, you manipulative bitch.

Juliana whispered something to Lily that made her giggle, then pointed toward the big slide. "Why don't you show your mommy how brave you are on the slide? I bet she'll be so impressed!"

Lily's face lit up. "I can do it myself!" she declared, scrambling toward the slide with determined independence.

Juliana approached my bench, her cashmere sweater and designer jeans somehow remaining pristine despite the playground dust. Of course they do.

"She's a remarkable child," Juliana said, watching Lily climb the slide ladder.

"She gets that from her father," I replied automatically, then felt a flush creep up my neck. Shit. Did I really just say that out loud? My heart hammered against my ribs as I waited for her reaction.

Juliana's smile tightened slightly. "How are the wedding preparations coming along? Blake tells me you've postponed twice now."

I turned to face her directly, something inside me snapping. Fuck this pretense. "I don't want to do this, Juliana."

"Do what, dear?" Her innocent tone couldn't mask the calculating look in her eyes.

"This." I gestured between us. "Pretend we're having a friendly chat about wedding plans when we both know you've never approved of me. You think I'm not good enough for your precious son. Let's not bullshit each other."

Juliana's perfect eyebrows rose slightly. "My, aren't we direct today."

"Life's too short for games." And I'm too tired to play yours anymore.

She studied me for a moment, then glanced toward Lily. "Has Blake told you about his father's company yet?"

"I think it's between Blake and his father," I said carefully, while my mind raced. What the hell is she getting at? Why bring this up now?

Juliana laughed, a cold sound that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, Sophia. Power like that changes people. It will change Blake too."

"Blake isn't his father." He's nothing like James. Nothing like you. Please God, don't let him become like you.

"No, he's not." Juliana's voice hardened. "James built something revolutionary. That company makes Sterling Financial look like a corner bank." She shook her head. "Blake has no idea what he's walking into."

My stomach clenched, acid burning up my throat. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you should know what you're up against." Juliana turned to face me fully. "Love is such a fragile thing when faced with that kind of power and responsibility. Men like James, like Blake—they're drawn to power like moths to flame."

"Blake isn't—" Goddammit, let me finish a sentence.

"Isn't what? Ambitious? Power-hungry?" She smirked. "You don't know him as well as you think, dear. He's a Sterling. It's in his blood."

"Mommy! Watch me!" Lily called, preparing for another slide.

I waved and smiled at her, grateful for the interruption. When I turned back, Juliana's expression had hardened.

"When the choice comes—and it will come—between you and the empire his father built, don't be surprised when he chooses the legacy." She stood, brushing imaginary dirt from her pants. "Love is sweet, Sophia, but it always takes a backseat to ambition in families like ours."

---

"Sophia? Did you hear what I said?"

I blinked, pulling myself back to the present. Alex was staring at me from across the conference table, concern etched on his handsome face. The spreadsheets and financial reports between us swam back into focus. Jesus Christ, get it together. Stop thinking about that witch.

"Sorry," I said, straightening in my chair. "What were you saying?"

Alex studied me for a moment. "I asked if you wanted to take point on the quarterly report. The clients are asking for you specifically."

"Of course." I nodded, trying to regain my professional composure. "Send me the files and I'll have it ready by Friday." Stop looking at me like that. Like you know exactly what's going through my mind.

The air between us felt charged, thick with unspoken words. I couldn't quite meet his eyes. We'd been dancing around each other once that night.

"Sterling Group's investment yields are up five percent this quarter," I said, deliberately changing the subject, desperate to focus on anything but the memory of his hands on my waist. "We should adjust our projections accordingly."

Alex nodded, making a note. "That's impressive. Blake must be pleased."

"I haven't told him yet. He's been busy with meetings all week." I shuffled the papers in front of me, my fingers trembling slightly. He's been busy with his father's company. Just like Juliana predicted. "I have another meeting with Juliana later today to discuss their family trust investments."

"You're meeting with Juliana again?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "That's the third time this month."

"She's a client, Alex. An important one." A client who'd happily see me buried six feet under if it meant getting her son back.

Alex leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. When we'd started Green Morgan Investment Consultants together, our partnership had been easy, comfortable. Now, every interaction felt like navigating a minefield blindfolded and drunk.

"Sophia." His voice was soft but firm. "We need to talk about what happened."

My hands stilled on the papers. My heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it. "No, we don't."

"This isn't working." He gestured between us. "The awkwardness, the tension. Our clients can feel it."

I closed my eyes briefly, then met his gaze. "Fine. What do you want me to say, Alex? That I made a mistake? I did. It shouldn't have happened." One stupid, reckless night and everything went to shit.

"A mistake." His voice was flat. "Is that what you call it?"

"What would you call it?" I challenged, frustration building like a pressure cooker about to explode. "We're business partners. That's all we should be."

Pain flashed across his face before he masked it. "That's not what you said that night at the club."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. "I was drunk and emotional and—" I stopped, taking a deep breath. "Look, I'm engaged to Blake. We're getting married. What happened between us was a momentary lapse in judgment."

"A momentary lapse." Alex repeated my words slowly.

"Alex, please." I felt suddenly exhausted, like all the energy had been sucked from my body. "Can we just agree to move forward as colleagues? Just business partners?"

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded once. "If that's what you want."

"It is." I tried to ignore the hollow feeling in my chest. "It's for the best." Then why does it feel so goddamn awful?

"For who, Sophia?" He gathered his papers, movements controlled and precise. "You're the one making everything awkward. Not me."

"That's not fair." My voice cracked slightly.

"Isn't it?" He stood, his tall frame casting a shadow across the table.

Each word hit like a physical blow. Shut up, shut up, shut up. "I was drunk and emotional," I repeated weakly, the excuse sounding pathetic even to my own ears.

"Keep telling yourself that." He moved toward the door, then paused. "For what it's worth, I don't regret it. Not for a second."