Cristiane Serruya - Trust: Betrayed

“Je-sus,” Alistair murmured, slowly. “Jesus. Mary. And Joseph. A slap was... too little.” He was astonished. Like my other women? What did Tavish Uilleam tell Sophia, for Christ’s sake?

“She rebuked me. Elegantly violent. She reminded me... of Mother.”

“She reminds you of our mother?” Alistair’s eyes were glued on Sophia and Ethan’s table.

“Not her looks, Alistair Connor. She has principles, morals. I observed her the whole weekend. First, I was too wary. But Alice and Leo convinced me to try with kinder eyes. She is an exceptional woman: gentle, extremely polite, intelligent, she defends her positions fiercely and she seems innocent. Not like a stupid virgin girl, if they still exist, but as a young woman should be.”

Alistair helped himself to some more whisky, thinking about what his brother had said. There could be no greater praise than comparing Sophia to their mother.

But what is she doing here with Ashford? He drank his whisky and crossed his silverware on his barely touched lobster. He wasn’t hungry anymore. He drank the rest of the whisky in his glass, filling it again. “Why did she lie to me?”

“You’re going to get drunk,” Tavish reprimanded. “What did she tell you?”

“Here. See for yourself,” Alistair fished his iPhone from his inner suit pocket and showed the messages to his brother.

Tavish’s sea green eyes scanned the messages as he ate his artichokes, and he shrugged, “There’s nothing here that leads to the conclusion she lied to you. Just wait and see.”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” said Alistair, green with jealousy and distrust. “They’ve just toasted with Cristal.”

Tavish chuckled, “For Lord’s sake, Alistair Connor, they are clearly celebrating something. A business transaction, for sure.”

“They were lovers.” Alistair wanted to shout. He wanted to punch Ethan on the nose. He wanted to drag Sophia by her long hair to the nearest hotel and have furious sex with her. Alistair leveled Tavish with a dark look. “And you are enjoying this.”

“You don’t know how much. In fact, let me tell you, I’m very intrigued by her. And by this new behavior of yours. Just because she is beautiful and hot-”

Christ! That’s it. Sophia is mine. Mine. “Enough.” He wanted to bang his fist on the table, instead he thumped the glass, avoiding a scene. “You’re messing with fire, Tavish Uilleam. It’s dangerous.”

Tavish chuckled darkly and tilted his head to the side, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “You’re jealous. You’re jealous of Sophia.”

“Aye, I am. Is this what you want to hear? I’ve never been this jealous in my whole life.” He took a long drink of his whisky. The bottle was rapidly getting empty. Alistair didn’t like the darkness rolling through him. Not at all.

“The mighty Alistair Connor is jealous. Of course I am enjoying it. This is good.” Tavish chuckled. He leaned over, and in a murmur, he flung his blade deep in Alistair’s soul, “Thing is, Alistair Connor, you’ve never cared enough to be jealous, have you? Even with Heather. Admit it. You were too self-centered, a cold bastard.”

“Why are you doing this, Tavish Uilleam?” A haunted look simmered in Alistair’s eyes for a split second, the pupils vivid black against emerald green irises, before he schooled his features back into his usual blank mask. “It won’t do you any good to strip me bare.” Tavish’s words hit the part of him that for a long time he pretended didn’t exist, but he didn’t back off from his brother’s challenge. “Let me tell you one thing. I might have been a cold bastard, and in some cases, I still am. But I love Sophia. I love her. As I’ve never loved any other woman before.”

3.18 p.m.

“I think it’s a beautiful idea, Ethan. Really.” Sophia frowned, her mind trying to work out the difficulties of what Ethan proposed. “But I’m sure you know the challenges of setting something like this up in China-”

“Sophia,” Ethan put his hand over hers, interrupting her, “off the record, one of my directors told me, last month, that babies, especially rejected baby girls, are being killed to make thousands of pills of what they call a medicinal ‘cure-all’ pill. The pills are filled with powdered human flesh and are being smuggled to nearby countries.”

Sophia gasped, her big eyes darkening at the horrid image, “My God. How is this possible?”

“Chinese medicine has its merits, but there are still some deep-rooted superstitions. You know that there is a huge demand for alternative Chinese remedies, which include ground up rhinoceros horns and dried shark fins. The Chinese have been known to consume human placentas to improve blood supply and circulation.”

Sophia put a hand over her mouth in disgust, grimacing, “Oh, please. We are in the twenty-first century.”

“Have you ever been to China or the Koreas?” Sophia shook her head and Ethan drank his champagne, before continuing, “There are still some provinces that are very poor. And they are very corrupt.”

“But surely... not children. Little baby girls... This is absurd.” Sophia were nauseated by the mere thought of horns and fins as a supposed vitamin, she beyond abhorred the idea of powered baby flesh.

“It’s illegal to kill newborn babies in the country, nonetheless female infanticide and the failure to report female births is widely suspected, especially in rural areas. They are being used, Sophia. There is a huge demand for these wretched pills which are thought to enhance stamina. Microwave-dried placenta is also sought after for its, quote unquote, medicinal benefits.”

“But Ethan, human flesh contains bacteria and other harmful components that can spread terrible diseases. Surely the people making these pills know the harm they can cause.”

“Indeed. However, that nasty trade makes a lot of money, Sophia. It’s being run from China where corrupt medical staff are working with medical companies to give them aborted fetuses and stillborn babies. And there are gangs that are specialized in collecting and killing abandoned baby girls and selling them to make these drugs.” A grim and pained look came over Ethan’s face. “In order to keep its population down, more than thirteen million abortions are performed in China each year.”

“More than thirteen million? Are you sure?” Sophia raked her hand in her hair, more and more repulsed by what Ethan told her.

“Yeah, I’ve asked for thorough research to be done. The abortions happen mostly because mothers sacrifice their newborns to avoid punishment such as severe fines or even beatings by the authorities.”

“Beatings?” Sophia whispered. “I knew about the fines, but beatings?”

“Yes, beatings and worse. Have you heard about the Chinese,” he made quotes in the air, “dying rooms?”

“No,” Sophia shook her head and her hair bounced around her, spilling over her shoulder.

Ethan pushed a lock behind her ear. “The reports I’ve seen are disturbing. Many babies are left to perish in these notorious rooms. Deliberately left to die because they were born into families that already had the limit of one child in country areas.” His beautiful, but troubled eyes bore down on hers and his hand again covered hers, “Sophia, a child doesn’t ask to be made or born and should be protected from every harm. Any harm.”

“Oh, Ethan.” As Sophia looked into his azure eyes, she could see how deeply he had been affected by the damage his dysfunctional parents had done to him. She put her hand over his and squeezed. “You can count on me. But I think we should expand the project to include the mothers. And, eventually, the families. One way or another. Without creating difficulties for Ashford Steel with the Chinese Government, of course.”

“Do as you wish. Present a new and broader project, if you think it will better suit my ideas. I want this project to flourish, Sophia. And I know I’m putting my trust in good hands.”

She breathed deep and squeezed his hand once again, promising, “I won’t disappoint you, Ethan. Mrs. Chanda is extremely competent and I’ll ask her to conduct extensive research and planning to include the mothers.”

Alistair choked on his whisky when he saw Sophia put her hand over Ethan’s, jealousy corroding his insides. He furrowed his brow in concentration as he tried to hear their conversation now that the restaurant was almost empty, but they were too far apart.

“Alistair Connor, stop. Just stop,” Tavish admonished. “Can I give you some advice?”

“Aye,” Alistair shrugged, his eyes glued to Sophia’s table.

“If Heather hadn’t-” He stopped himself before he confessed he knew about the betrayal. “Fuck, Alistair Connor! Look at me.”

Alistair moved his head slowly and stared at his brother’s eyes. “I’m looking. Say your piece.”

“Sift your memory and tell me about your feelings on the good and bad moments you’ve had with Sophia.”

Alistair’s frown deepened. “The bad?” Fuck. I can’t tell you, Tavish Uilleam. I can’t tell you that she is wearing scarfs and chokers around her neck because I hurt her.

“Nothing bad?” he snorted. “Aye, I forgot. You’re the mighty Alistair Connor. Always perfect. Then, tell me the good ones.”

Perfect? Far from it. “Why do you want to know?”

Tavish leaned over the table and fixed Alistair with his turbulent gaze. “Because I want you to keep in mind that a single impulsive and ill-advised act from you can destroy everything you’ve done until now.”

Alistair nonchalantly leaned on his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Is that so?”

“Aye. It seems to me, a very different type of woman has gotten under your skin.” Tavish turned his head to study Sophia and Ethan. “Look at her. She’s naturally elegant and innocently sensuous. She doesn’t flash sexy smiles or smoldering stares. She is... fresh.”