In the bustling heart of London, Edward Whitmore was a man who needed no introduction. A shrewd restaurateur with a string of upscale eateries under his beltincluding a couple in Manchesterhe was known for his ironclad reputation. Cross him once, and youd be blacklisted forever. Money talked, and Edward made sure it screamed on his behalf.
He lived with his family in a sprawling countryside estatethough he kept a few posh flats in the city for good measure. The fresh air, the serene lakeside views, and the nearby woods made the countryside the obvious choice.
His only daughter, Sophie, had just aced her A-levels and secured a place at university without so much as a whisper of Daddys influence.
“Dad,” she chirped over the phone, “I got in! No strings pulledjust pure brainpower. My names on the list. Official fresher now.”
“Congratulations, love. Knew you had it in you. Your rewards coming,” Edward chuckled.
“Oh, you mean that latest iPhone you promised?”
“Consider it already in your pocket,” he laughed.
Truth be told, even if Sophie had flunked, Edward wouldve greased the right palms. But he was chuffed shed done it on her own.
That evening, Elizabeth Whitmore laid out a lavish spread for a family dinner to celebrate Sophies triumph. Edward arrived homeearly for onceto find his wife and daughter already at the table.
“Hello, my lovely ladies,” he said, twirling a sleek iPhone box in his hand. “Here you go, poppet. Earned it fair and square.”
“Oh, Dad, youre absolutely the best. You always deliver!” Sophie beamed.
Edward, though perpetually swamped, had carved out time for his little girl. Normally, hed breeze in past midnightElizabeth was used to it. Between schmoozing at his restaurants, weekend golf with mates, and the occasional indiscretion with women half his age, the man had a packed schedule.
Sophie had never known want. Designer clothes, gourmet meals, a social circle dripping with privilege. To outsiders, she seemed aloof, even snobbishbut those who knew her saw a kind heart beneath the gloss.
By her third year at uni, Sophie was a regular at her fathers restaurants, laughing over cocktails with friends. For the past six months, shed been dating Oliver, a fellow student from another wealthy family. But while Sophie earned her grades, Olivers were bought and paid for. Arrogant and cruel, he took pleasure in mocking those less fortunate.
“Oliver, have some decency. Not everyones rolling in it like you,” Sophie would chide, cringing at his sneers.
But Oliver was too far up his own ego to listen. Eventually, Sophie had enough.
“Im dumping Oliver. Hes embarrassing,” she confided to her best mate, Emily.
“Good riddance! That boy thinks the sun shines out of his backside,” Emily snorted.
The breakup wasnt pretty.
“Oliver, were done. And maybe take a long look in the mirror while youre at it.”
“Please. Everyone else is just sheep,” he scoffed.
“So thats what I am too?” Sophie gaped.
“Yep. And youll regret this.”
“Doubt it. Bye.” She flipped her hair and slid into her Mini Cooper.
For months, Sophie stayed singledespite a queue of eager suitors, even Olivers mates suddenly finding their courage. Then, one afternoon, she and Emily stopped by one of her fathers cafés. A waiter approachedtall, tousled-haired, with eyes like stormy seas.
“Afternoon, ladies. What can I get you?” His voice was warm, his gaze locking onto Sophies. She felt dizzy.
“Like two deep pools,” she thought, while Emily elbowed her.
They ordered, but Sophie couldnt shake him.
“Oi, youve got it bad,” Emily teased.
“Em, his eyesI swear they saw straight through me.”
“Uh-oh. Hes not exactly your usual type, is he?”
His name was James. A final-year engineering student, he waited tables to pay his way. Raised by a single mum in a small village, hed learned early to stand on his own two feet.
That night, Sophie couldnt sleep. Jamess facehis smile, his quiet confidencehaunted her. The next day, she “accidentally” wandered back to the café.
It was quiet. James spotted her, his cheeks flushing.
“James, how long have you worked here?” she blurted.
“Few months. Just saving up. Technically, Im not supposed to chat with customers but Id like to.”
“Same. Whens your shift over?”
“Forty minutes.”
“Ill wait.”
They walked for hours that evening. James, in his scuffed trainers, felt out of place beside Sophies designer heels. But his honesty, his way of really listeningit undid her.
Against the glittering backdrop of her privileged life, James was different. Real. Their secret romance bloomed, full of stolen moments and whispered dreams.
But happiness, it seemed, was fragile. Oliver, seething, made sure Edward found out.
“Sophie, youre dating a waiter from my café? Have you lost the plot?” Edward thundered.
“Dad, hes graduating soon! Hes just working there part-timewhats the crime?”
“Dont backchat me. I wont have my daughter slumming it. What was wrong with Oliver? His familys one of us. Cut this off, or Ill make life very difficult for both of you.”
Sophie cried for days. She loved James fiercely, couldnt imagine life without him. Theyd been together six months, planning a futuremarriage, a home, forever.
James graduated and landed a job, but they met in secret. Until Edward, ever the puppet master, pulled strings.
“Youre fired. And if you know whats good for you, youll leave London. Stay away from my daughteror next time, it wont just be your job.”
James had no choice. He tried calling Sophie, but her number was dead. No way to reach Emily, either. Heartbroken, he packed his bags.
Sophie was shattered. Edward gloated”Hes gone. Smart lad.”but she refused to believe their love could die so easily.
Years passed. Sophie married a “suitable” man handpicked by her parents. It lasted eighteen miserable months.
Then, tragedy: Edward died in a car crash. Elizabeth, numb with grief, turned to Sophie.
“Love, the business is yours now. Youve got the degree. And Grahamyour fathers right-hand manwill help. Edward trusted him completely.”
Graham proved a godsend, guiding Sophie until she ran the empire with confidence.
But her personal life stayed barren. Suitors came and went, but none could fill the void.
Then, one New Years, Emily dragged her to Edinburgh.
“Come with us! My in-laws have plenty of space.”
Something drew Sophie there. The citys old-world charm, its whispered secretsshe felt it in her bones.
Walking down Princes Street, she collided with a man. Looking up, her breath caught.
Those eyes.
“Sophie” James whispered, as stunned as she was.
They clung to each other, the years melting away.
“I always knew wed meet again,” he murmured. “You cant replace someone you love. I never forgot you.”
“Me neither,” she laughed, tears in her eyes.
The days that followed were a blur of joy. They talked, walked, relearned each other.
Sophie knew this was fate. At thirty, she took controlmarried James, brought him back to London. A son came first, then a daughter.
Happiness, it turned out, had been waiting all along.
