Chapter 1 - The Glass of Water
The water hit Sophia Reed before she understood Monica had actually decided to do it.
One second, Sophia was standing beneath the crystal chandeliers of Atelier Cole, touching the sleeve of an eighty-thousand-dollar wedding gown. The next, cold water ran from her hair, down the front of her white T-shirt, and into the waistband of her jeans.
A few clients gasped.
Nobody moved.
Monica Hale lowered the empty glass with the bored expression of someone setting down a receipt.
“Maybe now you’ll understand,” she said.
Sophia looked at the dark stain spreading across her cardigan. “Understand what?”
“That this is not a museum. That dress costs eighty thousand dollars.” Monica’s eyes traveled over Sophia’s sneakers. “People come in here to buy. Not to pretend.”
Sophia had planned to keep her temper for the entire afternoon. She had promised herself that no matter what happened, she would observe, take notes, and leave quietly.
That promise lasted another three seconds.
“I asked to try on a dress.”
“And I told you to leave.”
A younger associate near the fitting rooms stared at the floor. Another employee looked as if she wanted to say something, then stopped when Monica glanced at her.
Sophia reached for the leather bag at her feet.
“Security,” Monica called.
The gold curtains at the far end of the salon opened before anyone answered.
Edward Cole stepped through them.
Gray hair. Dark suit. No wasted motion.
His eyes found Sophia first.
“Sophia?”
He crossed the marble floor so fast Monica barely had time to turn.
Edward pulled Sophia into a tight hug, water and all.
Monica blinked. “Mr. Cole, this woman was causing a scene.”
Edward still did not look at her.
Sophia stepped back from his embrace. “You should probably hear her out.”
Monica exhaled in relief.
Then Edward said, “Sophia owns fifty-one percent of this company.”
The entire salon went silent.
Sophia wiped water from her chin and looked directly at Monica.
“Pull the security footage,” she said. “All of it.”
Monica’s face changed.
Not embarrassment.
May you like
Fear.
And Sophia knew immediately that the water was the smallest problem in the room.
