The Cousin’s Mockery 2
Derek Laurent stood near the restaurant entrance, his expensive suit tailored perfectly but somehow still managing to look cheap on him…perhaps because of the way he carried himself, with that particular arrogance that came from never having earned anything in his life.
His eyes swept over Adrian with naked contempt, taking in the simple black shirt, the unremarkable slacks, the complete absence of designer labels or flashy accessories.
“My God, Sophia,” Derek said, his voice dripping with mock concern. “This is who you’re with now?” He circled them slowly, like a predator who’d already decided his prey wasn’t worth the effort. “I mean, I knew you’d fallen on hard times after Stellar Dynamics collapsed, but I didn’t think you’d fallen this far.”
Adrian’s expression remained perfectly calm, but Sophia felt her face flush with humiliation and rage.
Derek was her father’s brother’s son…a man who’d spent his entire thirty–five years perfecting the art of doing absolutely nothing productive. He didn’t work. Didn’t even try to invest or create anything. He simply existed, floating from one family member to another like a parasite always with his hand out, always with some scheme that required “just a small loan” that was never repaid.
And he’d made Sophia his primary target years ago, after her first startup showed promise.
“Look at him,” Derek continued, gesturing at Adrian dismissively. “With his shabby clothes, no watch, probably can’t even afford the appetizers here.” He shook his head with theatrical pity. “He’s so much worse than that guy we introduced you to. What was his name again? Oh right…Alexander. Now there’s a man with prospects.”
Sophia’s hands clenched into fists. She remembered Alexander all too well. One of a long parade of men her family …led by Derek…had pushed at her over the years. Men who were either physically unappealing or morally bankrupt, but always had one thing: money. And they knew it.
Derek had planned every single introduction, always with the same motivation…if Sophia married rich, he could leech off her husband instead of her.
And Sophia had endured it. For years, she’d endured it, because they were family. Not anymore.
“Derek,” she said coldly, “we’re here for dinner. Alone. Whatever you want, the answer is no.”
Derek’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. “My, my. Someone’s gotten bold.” He leaned against the restaurant’s entrance pillar, his smile turning nasty. “Tell me, cousin, do you actually think this new attitude of yours changes anything? That your little company going under taught you some valuable lesson about independence?”
He didn’t know. The realization hit Sophia with surprise. Derek had no idea that Stellar Dynamics had been reinstated, that she’d just rung the Nasdaq bell, that her company was back from the dead.
“You need to understand something about your place in this world, Sophia,” Derek continued, his voice taking on that patronizing tone she’d heard a thousand times before. Some people are born to lead. Born to succeed. And others…” He shrugged. “Others are born to follow. To serve. To know their limits.”
Each word was designed to put her back in the box he’d always kept her in…to be dumb and grateful.
“You’re not destined for greatness,” Derek said, almost gently now, like he was explaining basic facts to a child. ” No matter how hard you struggle, no matter how many little companies you try to build, it’s all useless. You don’t have what it takes.” He stepped closer, his breath reeking of expensive whiskey, “You’re getting older, Sophia. Your looks won’t last forever. Right now, while you’re still young enough to ‘sell for a good price‘…” he made air quotes with his fingers, his smile widening, “…you should rab whatever honest man you can find and settle down. Stop fighting reality.”
Sophia’s vision went red. Years of suppressed rage bubbled up from somewhere deep in her chest. “How dare you…
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“Show some respect,” Adrian said quietly.
Both Sophia and Derek turned to look at him. Adrian hadn’t moved, hadn’t raised his voice, but something in his tone made the temperature drop.
Derek recovered quickly, his shock giving way to amusement. “Oh, the pretty boy speaks!” He laughed, looking Adrian up and down again. “Let me guess, you are just a professional gigolo? Living off whatever scraps desperate women throw your way?”
His voice rose, attracting attention from other people entering the restaurant. “Seriously, friend, you need to up your game. The whole ‘mysterious quiet type‘ act? That stopped working in college. No one here is going to fall for your cheap tricks.”
“I’m not interested in your opinions,” Adrian said calmly.
“Opinions?” Derek snorted. “Please. I can spot your type from across the city.
“Sophia!” A booming voice cut through Derek’s tirade.
Everyone turned.
A man was approaching from the restaurant’s valet area… in his early forties, an expensive suit that actually fit properly unlike Derek’s, slicked–back hair, and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He had a voluptuous woman in a tight red dress clinging to his arm, looking bored.
Sophia’s stomach turned to lead. No. Not him.
Alexander Chen. The man her family had tried to set her up with eight months ago. He touched her with no consent during dinner and told her, with absolute confidence, that she should be “grateful” for his interest.
Alexander’s face lit up when he confirmed it was her. He immediately released the woman on his arm…who stumbled slightly in her heels, looking offended…and hurried forward.
“Sophia! My god, I haven’t seen you in months!” He opened his arms as if expecting a hug.
Derek’s expression transformed instantly from mocking to obsequious. “Mr. Chen! What perfect timing!” He practically bounced with excitement. “I was just talking to sophia about you!”
Alexander barely acknowledged Derek, his attention fixed on Sophia. His eyes roamed over her in a way that made her skin crawl.
“I heard about Stellar Dynamics,” Alexander said, his tone dripping with false sympathy. “Such a shame. But you know what they say…every setback is an opportunity.” He ached out to touch her shoulder.
Sophia stepped back quickly, putting Adrian slightly between them. “Mr. Chen. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Alexander, please.” His smile widened, undeterred by her gold reception. “And what a coincidence! I was just bringing my… associate for dinner.” He waved vaguely at the abandoned woman in red, who now stood several feet away with her arms crossed, glaring daggers at all of them.
“But now that I’ve run into you,” Alexander continued smoothly, “we should catch up properly. Let me treat you to dinner. We have so much to discuss.”
“That’s very kind, but I already have plans.” Sophia’s voice was ice. She tried to move past him toward the
restaurant entrance.
“Plans?” Alexander’s gaze finally shifted to Adrian, and his expression soured like he’d bitten into something rotten. “With… him?”
Derek jumped in eagerly, desperate to stay relevant. “That what I was trying to tell her, Mr. Chen! She’s been
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making some very questionable choices lately…”
“I said no, thank you,” Sophia repeated firmly, gripping Adrian’s arm and trying to move forward.
Alexander moved to block her path, his hand reaching out to press against her lower back in a gesture that was far too familiar. His fingers spread wide, trying to guide her back toward him.
“Come on, Sophia,” he said, his voice dropping to something he probably thought was charming. “Don’t be stubborn. It’s just one meal. You should give me some face here. After all…”
Before he could finish, before Sophia could shove him away Adrian’s hand shot out and grabbed Alexander’s wrist.
“Didn’t you hear what she said?” Adrian’s voice was cold, dangerous, each word clipped and precise. “She already has an appointment.”
Alexander froze, staring down at Adrian’s grip on his wrist. Then his face flushed red with anger and humiliation.
Derek hovered uncertainly, looking between them. The woman in the red dress had pulled out her phone, clearly recording.
Other diners had stopped to watch the confrontation unfold.
And Adrian’s eyes never wavered from Alexander’s face, his grip steady and absolutely unyielding.
“Let. Go,” Alexander ground out through clenched teeth.
Adrian’s expression didn’t change. “Step away from her. Now.”
The tension stretched like a wire about to snap, everyone watching to see who would break first.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
