章節 385: Chapter 385
"I am terribly sorry to interrupt, your majesty. You have a visitor in the lobby. A Miss Sophie Lemaire." The butler said, interrupting a teleconference Christian was having. Sophie from lunch last week? He thought. He told the butler to show her into his private study and that he would be in shortly.
"Miss Lemaire. Hello. I apologize for the wait. Did we have a meeting today?" Christian asked as he walked in to the study.
"Your majesty." She said with a curtesy.
"Please. Call me Christian." He said.
"And please, call me Sophie." She said, looking into his eyes. There was an awkward moment that passed between them.
"Please. Sit down. Would you like something to drink?" He asked.
"No. Thank you. I apologize for just showing up. I wanted to thank you again for lunch and ask if you'd like to have dinner with me, tomorrow night." She said. Christian paused in thought.
"Or whenever your schedule allows. If you'd like to, that is." She said.
"Yes. Of course. That would be lovely. I'm spending time with family in town this week but I'm free right now, and I can have the kitchen make us lunch here, in the garden dining room, if you'd like?" He asked. She smiled and lit up.
"Yes. That would be wonderful." She said.
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During lunch, Christian found that Sophie was surprisingly easy to talk to. She was from an incredibly affluent family in France, her father, a multi-millionaire banker. She had studied law at Harvard, in the states, and that was why her French accent wasn't as strong. She was loving London so far and had gotten in with Erik's firm. She was smart and educated, incredibly gorgeous and ballsy as hell to just show up at the palace to ask the king out on a date. But he couldn't help but find some of her interests a bit vapid, a bit… typical. She liked to shop and travel to tropical locations on holiday. She enjoyed pop music and said she was really proud of Kim Kardashian for attempting to get her law degree and be more than just looks. Proud of someone she didn't even know, someone like that? She was a bit shallow in a way, but extremely kind and perfectly put together. By all normal standards, she was perfect. But what were his standards? He thought.
"Christian?" She said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"I'm sorry. What was the question again?" He asked.
"Do you feel the Ralph Lauren line has lost its flair over the last few years?" She asked.
"That's a good question to ask my sister. She is studying to be a designer and knows a lot more about fashion than I ever will. I like Amani suits and Testoni shoes. That's about as far as I go with that." He said with a smile. She nodded.
"Well of course. You're too busy doing important things to worry about that. I'm sure your stylist handles it all for you." She said.
"Actually, I have a man that comes here, from Armani, and fits me once a month or every other. The shoes, I order direct from Italy and the rest of my clothes I just buy online. I don't have a stylist at all." Christian said.
"You don't?" She asked.
He shook his head. "Afraid not."
She looked surprised and a bit weirded out. He wasn't sure why.
"Well, lunch was wonderful. Thank you." Sophie said as Christian walked her out.
"You're quite welcome." He said.
"So, would you like to do it again sometime?" She asked.
"I am not one to date. I don't even know how we would find places to go without scrutiny or drama. Perhaps tea sometime?" He asked. That was British code for "friend zone."
"Yeah, sure. That would be nice." She said, a little disappointed, slightly bothered but attempting to remain polite.
He smiled and kissed her hand and watched her walk out. She was beautiful and he was a complete shit for not wanting her like he should and he knew it.
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Christian spent the rest of the week working during the day and then spending off time with Pearl and Dylan and the rest of his family. Isla was going back to school in a week and Alexander was moving to Italy to begin school there. He was going to live at their family estate in Cuneo that his father had bought for his mother years ago.
After they all left to go about their own lives, Christian sat at his desk, looking at the top drawer. He opened it and took out the napkin, smiling as he read it again. He picked up his cell and texted the number written.
"Heard Jingle Bells and thought of you. Hope you are well." And hit send. He was terrified, and could feel his heart pounding in his chest. It had been over a month, maybe Nora didn't remember him?
A few minutes later, his phone beeped. He picked it up and saw her response. "The shittiest Christmas song, just my luck. Sorry it took so long to respond, was busy trying to get a bartender's attention for a jar of olives with a splash of gin. Could have used you." He laughed heartily.
"Sorry I couldn't be of assistance this time." He typed.
"All good. I am glad to hear from you. Still looking forward to the London tour next week. Unless you forgot, and in that case, this is your reminder." She sent.
He smiled but then felt badly. There was no way he could give her a tour without having press all around. Then he got an idea.
"London is sooo last year. How about Scotland?" He asked.
"You're right, it was last year. Last December, to be exact. Can't be dwelling on the past. Scotland sounds absolutely fantastic. I'm staying at the Baglioni the week of the 5th. Come see me." She said. He smiled.
"I'll bring the olives." He sent.
He sat back in his chair and smiled, feeling warmth move through him. What was it about this woman that drew him in like she did?
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