Page 29 of Mr. and Mrs. Novak

Forcing myself to step back, I run a hand through my hair, regaining my composure. Sophia rubs her arm nervously, avoiding my gaze.

Nicolas and Daisy arrive first, followed closely by Akim and Caroline, their laughter already echoing through the grand living room.

I know little about my friends’ new companions, and to be honest, I’ve never bothered to learn more. They’re attractive women with easy smiles, but without real depth. And I’ll be the first to admit my hypocrisy—there was a time when superficial relationships suited me just fine. Until Sophia.

And yet, she had always been part of my life. It wasn’t until I was eighteen that I realized the true nature of my feelings for her. But she was too young then, and our age difference made any relationship impossible. So, I ran—never looking back. Years passed in a blur of meaningless affairs until this arranged marriage scheme, devised for Natasha’s husband, brought her back to the forefront of my mind. Now, I can’t imagine a future without her by my side.

I invite our guests to settle into the plush sofas in the living room. The aperitif quickly livens up, with everyone trying to outdo each other with amusing anecdotes. The champagne helps ease the atmosphere, though I can still sense a certain reserve in Sophia. Her presence beside me is a constant temptation, and I can’t resist the urge to brush against her discreetly, to rest a possessive hand on her knee. Every subtle touch makes her shiver, and I revel in these reactions—proof that, despite everything, she is just as affected by me as I am by her.

For dinner, I deliberately asked Asli not to add an extension to the table, preferring the intimacy of a smaller setting. More than anything, it allows me to keep Sophia close. Wine flows generously into the crystal glasses as dish after dish is served, each more refined than the last. Laurent has outdone himself.

The conversation shifts from one topic to another, the atmosphere relaxed. Sophia, seated to my right, seems to have loosened up and is actively participating.

"Tell us about the early days of Gloventis," she says. "I'm sure Daisy and Caroline, like me, would love to hear the whole story. After all, you built an empire in just ten years!"

Nicolas sets down his glass and leans back in his chair, a smirk on his lips.

"In one word? Chaotic."

Akim bursts out laughing.

"That's an understatement."

I let them talk, observing the faces around the table. Sophia listens with focused attention, while Daisy and Caroline exchange amused glances.

"In Brest, we worked in import-export companies to pay for our studies. Watching how they operated, an idea started to take shape," Nicolas continues, swirling his wine in his glass. "We wanted a company that didn’t rely on traditional networks, a structure flexible enough to handle import-export in ways big corporations couldn’t."

"The hardest part was knowing where to start," Akim admits with a shrug. "After some searching, we found a struggling company, a logistics firm that had all the equipment but not enough clients. We bought it and turned it around."

Caroline frowns.

"That must have cost a fortune. How did you come up with the money?"

"We got a loan," Nicolas replies. "Stanislas Stanford fronted us a significant sum."

"Is he a shareholder? Does he own a stake in the company?" Daisy asks.

"No, he never wanted shares," Akim says, his wry smile barely hiding a lingering bitterness. "But his interest rates were through the roof, and the contract he had us sign had us completely tied up. If we defaulted on payments, we lost everything—the company, the equipment, even our personal assets."

Caroline and Daisy gasp in horror. Akim stares into his glass, his fingers tightening slightly around the stem.

Sophia pauses, her glass halfway to her lips, frowning.

"But I thought he opened his network to you and introduced you to some of his clients," she says.

"That wasn’t out of generosity," Nicolas corrects. "He had his own agenda and needed us to succeed. If we had known better, we would have done things differently."

"Still, your rise was meteoric. You landed major contracts fast and are now one of the top companies in your sector."

"That’s true. But at what cost? It only deepened our dependence on him. We should have seen the danger, but we were young, ambitious, too confident for our own good."

A silence settles in. Akim and Nicolas exchange a glance, as if suddenly realizing—just a little too late—that they’ve said too much.

A heavy silence lingers, thick with unspoken words. I glance at Sophia. She keeps a neutral expression, but her sharp gaze is anything but casual.

Finally, Akim attempts a clumsy change of subject.

"Enough about us. What about you ladies? When’s your next shoot?"