the contract she had signed earlier that day. It was of

tion. She had been preparing for this moment for years, and now tha

l on a photo of her father, taken on the day he opened his gallery.

at she was doin

She would uncover the tru

rch. She had spent years gathering information on the Blackwo

an to wander back to the interview. Damian Blac

ad held h

the contract. It was generous, almost too

ecrets was

o catch up with her. She closed her notebook and

w was a

ring her one step

e silence. She opened her eyes to

Enterprises, Sophia.

he stared at the screen. Who was t

feeling of unease, telling

she was being watched. She tried to tell herself it was ju

od family and their secrets. She had always known that getting clos

drifted off to sleep. But her rest was fitfu

showered and dressed, Sophia's mind turned back to the text me

d on the day ahead. She had a lot to do

ophia's phone buzzed again. This time,

a moment before

nd of the line. "Sophia, it's El

ped a beat. "Oh, hi

re you start on Monday. Do you have any

yes. I received a strange text message l

text messages. But I can look into it for you. In the meantime, plea

t was going on? And why w

ena. I appr

ake the feeling that something was off. She

tared out at the city. The sun was setting, cas

embered the way he used to smile when he talked about art

. If only she had been able to protec

used on the present. She had a job to do,

the Blackwood family. She knew that she had to be prepared, that she had

zzed several times. She ignored

cked up her phone and saw that she had several m

ipped a beat. Wha

alling Elena back. The phone rang s

lena said smoothly. "I just wanted to chec

of unease. What di

"I'm just going over some notes and

line. "Be careful, Sophia," Elena said. "T

crawled. What

ons, Elena continued. "I'll see you

was left staring at her phone,

clear her thoughts. She had

eview her notes again. She was determine

ian Blackwood. She couldn't help but wonder what he was

yone said? Or was there mo

ed on her work. She didn't have time to sp

and she was determi