Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 56

"Mr Sanderson?" His PA entered his office and he looked up at her as he spun his wedding ring round and round his finger. His mind was still on his wife and winning her back. "I thought you'd like to know that um... that your wife declined the invitation to the Gala."

He closed his eyes and swore under his breath. "Thanks," he murmured as he got his mind working on his plan B - whatever that was. He stood up and shrugged his jacket on. "I'll be out of the office for a while," he told his PA as he picked up his phone and keys off the desk and walked out without waiting for her reply. He needed time and space to come up with another plan, because right now he had no idea what he was going to do.

Tom drove through the streets of Melbourne, glad he was here this week so he could try to see Sophie. She was still refusing all of his phone calls, and as much as he wanted to see the little girl, he didn't like to turn up unannounced at her home and risk upsetting Jasmine.

He found himself outside of the hospital Sophie worked in. He didn't really want to interrupt her at work, but she wasn't leaving him any other option.

"May I help you?" the older lady behind the reception desk asked.

"Yes, I'm looking for Sophie Sanderson, I mean Foster. She works here." Tom rubbed a hand across his chin, hoping that she'd just point him in the right direction and he could surprise Sophie by knocking on her office door.

But the lady, Doris according to her name badge, picked up a phone and dialled a number instead, murmuring quietly into the phone. "Who can I say is here?"

"Her husband," he announced clearly, hoping she'd feel sorry for him and let him in.

Doris mumbled into phone again and then hung up and smiled tightly at him. "I'm sorry, Ms Foster is busy and cannot be disturbed. Do you want to leave her a message?" she asked as if to be polite.

Damn. He'd wait outside if he thought it would do any good, but she was making it clear that she didn't want to talk to him.

"No, thanks anyway," he murmured and turned away. He had three days to figure out how to get his wife to attend the dinner, and he still had no idea how he was going to do that.

Later that afternoon Tom was sitting in his office still trying to come up with something. He'd called Kim, and she'd told him she'd done everything she could to convince her, apart from dragging Sophie to the gala herself. She was out of ideas too.

"Tom?" his brother's voice had him looking up.

"What the hell do you want?" he exploded, jumping up from his chair to stalk around to face the one person he really did not want to see. This was all his fault. "I told you to stay away from me," he growled through gritted teeth. Gabe was lucky his nose wasn't broken right now.

"How can I make it up to you?" Gabe asked gently.

"You can't. There's nothing you can do. She wants a divorce. She even signed a post nuptial agreement so she gets nothing." Not that he would signed the damn papers.

"I didn't mean for that to happen," Gabe's voice wobbled and Tom looked up to see genuine remorse on his face. "I was just so angry at you."

Tom rolled his eyes. "Why? Because I cleaned up your mess, yet again?"

Gabe shook his head. "You waltzed in, without me asking. You never even let me try to sort out my problems. I'm trying to change that, but you don't give me the chance." Gabe sighed heavily. "You treat me like an obligation, not your brother."

"Don't be ridiculous," Tom scoffed and his brother glared at him.