02:00. Beauty: No. I was in a meeting outside the office before.

02:00. Alistair: So?

02:00. Beauty: So, what? It was work, dammit.

He pressed his lips in a thin line as he read her petulant and impatient answer.

02:03. Alistair: With whom?

02:05. Beauty: Drink a glass of water. With lots of sugar.

He saw red and started to type when another message appeared. He rose and excused himself, walking toward the toilet as more messages came in.

02:05. Beauty: Go to a yoga session.

02:06. Beauty: See a shrink.

Fuck. Double fuck. He entered the bathroom, speed-dialing Sophia’s number as another message came in.

02:06. Beauty: I’m switching off for today. I’ve had enough.


London, on the way to Leibowitz Oil Building.

2.08 p.m.

Sophia switched off her iPhone just as it rang and looked at Edward, who chuckled. She threw her hands up in the air. “I’m done with pushy, overbearing, domineering, jealous, bullshitting CEOs. I’m going to find myself a nice docile trainee, for once. Maybe one of the Strathclyde University students. Someone I can bully and push around for a change.”

“I volunteer,” he said immediately, lifting a blond eyebrow at her.

She sighed, “As if I could ever push you around, Edward.”

“You can, Sophia, you can,” he mumbled, under his breath, “more than you know.”


Inverness. Rocpool Hotel, Chez Roux Restaurant.

10 p.m.

Tavish’s permanent, smug smile was irritating Alistair.

“What is your problem, Tavish Uilleam?” He stabbed a piece of Strathdon Blue cheese and bit into it.

“What’s your problem? You’ve been furious since the lunch ended.” His smirk broadened, “It’s her, isn’t it? A woman driving the mighty Alistair Connor insane. Come on, she is just one more woman.”

Alistair shook his head, aggravated. “Why do you think I am,” he made quotes in the air, “‘the mighty Alistair Connor’, huh?”

“Oh, Brother. You’re handsome, powerful, rich. You have everything. And besides, how many women have you had and dismissed, recently?”

“Before her, you mean?”

Tavish’s eyes widened, “Before her? No, surely not.”

Alistair nodded and Tavish’s eyes grew bigger, “Nooo. Have you been monogamous since her? How long?”

“I don’t know. I don’t really keep track of days, you know?” As if.

Tavish laughed, the sound so dear and alien to Alistair that he decided to indulge his brother, just to hear it once more.

“I don’t believe it,” Tavish said. “How long? Two weeks?”

“Since January, the twenty-second. Fuck, Tavish Uilleam, I even know the day.”

Tavish froze and then burst into a fit of laughter that brought tears to his eyes. “You’ve been going out with her all this time and you’re still obsessed with her?” He wiped his eyes dry. “I don’t believe it,” he said and chuckled. “She’s a wonder in bed, no doubt.”

“I wish I knew,” Alistair muttered under his breath.

Tavish’s smile fell, “You haven’t had sex with her? After more than a month? Are you losing your touch?”

I hope not. “No. She was… occupied elsewhere.”

Tavish gaped at him, “I beg your pardon?”

“She was seeing Ethan Ashford. And when they broke up-” Alistair rubbed a hand over his nape. “Let me tell you the whole story.”


Tavish’s brows were knitted in a line. “You are planning to start a relationship without knowing what she thinks about your preferences?” Tavish returned to his serious mood.

Alistair’s brows shot to his hairline. “My preferences?” He schooled his features to an air of nonchalance.

“Oh, please, man! I’m not an idiot. Besides,” he drew in a huge breath, “Heather made them clear to me the day she approached me.”

“Heather?” Alistair’s face darkened again in a split second. “She approached you?”

Tavish looked at his brother and sighed, putting a hand over his brother’s. “Aye, she did. Once. Just before I left for Afghanistan.”

Thunderstruck, Alistair’s anger spiked. “I wish. She wasn’t. Dead. So I could kill her with my bare hands,” Alistair growled and downed his whisky in a gulp.

“She is dead. No more chance to right things, Alistair Connor. At least not with her.”

“So,” Alistair glanced at Tavish and back at their hands, “you know about our… preferences?”

“She hinted, yes.”

“Hinted?”

“It was enough, Alistair Connor. And, once, when she was at the pool, I saw the marks.”

Alistair’s mouth dropped open. “Marks?” he whispered, “What kind of marks?”

“Do you want me to tell you? Really?” Tavish shook his head at Alistair. “I saw things in my years as a doctor that I don’t want to see again. Women hurt, scarred, broken, and bleeding. Badly. Women from the Royal Army, who should hold their own against their husbands, boyfriends, lovers, whatever - but are too mentally impaired to do it. This is one of the reasons why I’m not a doctor anymore.”

“I’m not like that, Tavish Uilleam. I don’t hurt women.”

“No?” Tavish raised an eyebrow, “What do you call it, then? Is there a limit? What do you call hurting? And what have you been doing with all the others after that bitch of a wife?”

Tavish’s words shocked Alistair. “Do you think I would scar and bleed a woman?” he breathed. “Yes, there is a limit. Women that enter this kind of relationship usually set boundaries and,” he stared at his brother’s eyes for a moment, green pairing green, “I-” he raked his hand in his long hair. My own brother. Fuck. Leave the past in the past, Alistair Connor. Worry about the future. “She-” he interrupted himself and asked in a low voice, “What do you think I should do? With Sophia, I mean.”

“I don’t know. Maybe become the young Alistair Connor again? Go slow with her.” Tavish squeezed Alistair’s hand and let it go, “You need to think about it. Does she deserve punishment? Do you?”

“Punishment?” Tavish saw marks on Heather’s body. Am I a monster?

“Does she, Alistair Connor?” Tavish repeated, studying his brother’s face.

“No,” his voice hoarse, “not at all.”

“So, you know what to do,” was Tavish’s quiet answer.


London. Leibowitz Oil Building, Sophia’s Office.

Thursday, March 11th, 2010.

09.56 a.m.

09:56. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Morning, Beauty.

09:56. Sophia: Humph!

09:57. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Are you huffing at me?

09:57. Sophia: Yeah! I am.

09:57. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Oh, Sophia! You shouldn’t!

09:57. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Why did you turn off your iPhone and not answer even one of my calls?

09:58. Sophia: I don’t like neurotic men.

09:58. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Are you calling me neurotic?

09:59. Sophia: Oh, please. Where is your sense of humor? It’s too early to start fighting.

09:59. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Humph!

10:00. Sophia: Really? Call me when you’re in a better mood.

10:00. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Sophia, DON’T turn your mobile off.

10:01. Sophia: I’ll think about it.

10:01. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: Sophia. I’m warning YOU.

10:02. Sophia: I’m not afraid of your threats.

10:02. I’m-so-handsome-and-I-know-it: You should be.

10:03. Sophia: Go see a shrink.


Scotland, Edinburgh. The City of London Bank.