Chapter 29: Chapter 29

She had to tell them what she’d be doing, but she’d been stalling, struggling with her guilt. In all of this snowballed mess, she had to be honest with someone. She couldn’t exactly leave the country without letting her brothers know. She respected and loved them too much to lie... She’d done enough lying as it was.

Sophie dialed and wrapped her arm around her midsection to hold in the warmth of her coat. Kellan answered on the first ring.

“There’s my favorite spy.”

Sophie inwardly groaned, hating the nickname, even though this had all been her idea. “Good to hear your voice, too.”

“Found out anything yet?”

“I’m getting closer,” she stated, which was partially true. She was actually going to a meeting later with two members from the camera crew. If anyone knew about behind the scenes shenanigans, it would be them.

“I hope to have some information within the next few days,” she added. “But I called to tell you that I have to do a bit of traveling. I’ll still check in and keep my eyes and ears open, but... I’m going out of the country.”

“Out of the country?” he repeated. “How does that fit into the plan when Miranda is going to be in New York for filming?”

Yeah, she was still trying to figure that out herself. In her original plan, she would have already left New York by now with the sought-after evidence in hand. As it was, she would have to dodge Miranda if she popped into the office, but Sophie had seen the upcoming shooting schedule and there was no reason for Miranda to be at Green Room Media for the next few weeks.

“I can’t do anything to raise suspicions,” she defended. “I was asked to travel, so that’s what I’m doing.”

Swirls of snow fluttered around and mesmerized Sophie as she clutched the cell. For someone so accustomed to heat, she really was enjoying her time in NYC during the winter. Maybe she should visit more often. Perhaps she should even incorporate some of her videos here for inspiration... Well, once she could go back to being Sophie Blackwood, posh interior designer and not Roslyn Andrews, temporary consultant and wannabe mistress to Nigel Townshend.

“And going out of town is a direct order from the boss?” Kellan joked.

“Pretty much,” she muttered, as die-hard runners braved the cold and jogged by. “Listen, it’s only for five days and I promise I haven’t lost sight of the prize.”

“I’m sure you haven’t. But, Darius said that Miranda invited him to Blackwood Hollow. I don’t know what she has up her sleeve.”

Sophie gripped her coat and the cell as dread settled into her belly. “He’s coming there?” she exclaimed.

Darius Taylor-Pratt was their half sibling...a secret revealed after their father had passed. Even in death, her father continued to work his controlling hands in their lives.

“Apparently,” Kellan replied. “She may be trying to pit him against us, but I’ll keep my eye on things here. Don’t worry.”

“What the hell is she plotting?” Sophie muttered.

Frustration and confusion settled in alongside her guilt and she wondered if any of them would come out of this entire situation unscathed. And all because her father had been selfish or blinded by his young ex-wife and decided none of his children deserved their legacy.

Miranda sure as hell didn’t deserve it, either. Buckley had been twenty-six years older than his bride.

Why else would a beautiful young socialite marry a wealthy older man if not for the money she could get out of him? Miranda made no apologies for liking the finer things and Sophie knew the woman was just gathering a nest egg for the rest of her lavish life. And now she was pulling in Darius.

Sophie hated sounding spoiled and the issue truly didn’t come down to money, but the fact Miranda just didn’t deserve a dime of what should have been theirs. She didn’t deserve the family home that held so many memories of Sophie’s childhood. Sophie’s brothers deserved to keep the estate, to pass down to their children one day.

“Does Vaughn know Darius is coming?”

“Yeah. We talked this morning. You know he doesn’t like all this family drama, but he does want to know what’s going on.”

Sophie still didn’t know why her father had never confessed there was another heir. Maybe he’d wanted them to find out after his death so he wouldn’t have to deal with the questions, the repercussions. Or maybe he had wanted them to all be in an upheaval, perhaps pitting against each other. She truly had no idea what his ultimate plan had been for his children.

Sophie came to her feet and sighed. “Don’t keep me out of the loop just because you’re worried. I’m doing this grunt work and I deserve to be included as soon as you know anything.”

“I promise to call you when I learn more,” he vowed. “So, where are you going that’s taking you away on business?”

Sophie didn’t want to lie anymore. She was tired of it. Even though she knew she’d take backlash from Kellan and Vaughn, she had to be up front, because that’s what she expected from them.

“Cumbria.”

“What the hell for?”

Sophie cleared her throat and made her way back down the path. “Nigel is taking me for his sister’s wedding.”