Chapter 2


    But desperate times and all that.


    As the elevator continued to climb toward the floors that housed Green Room Media, Inc. building, she


    wondered exactly what she’d be doing. She knew she’dnded the job as a temporary consultant, so


    she hoped this was a position that would get her close to some cutting room floor footage. Maybe she’d


    evene in close contact with some of the camera crew from Secret Lives.


    She needed to find some juicy tidbit on Miranda. Something to hold over her or, better yet, to expose


    her for the gold-digging, conniving attention seeker Sophie believed she was. Something that would let


    Sophie challenge the will and put ckwood property back in ckwood hands, where it belonged. A


    woman who always unted her life and her material possessions all over television didn’t need


    anything more.


    Sophie and her brothers deserved their due inheritance. She didn’t want to be a whiny child about it,


    but she’d grown up in ckwood Hollow and the home held so many memories...memories that


    shouldn’t have been just handed over to Miranda Dupree. Memories she and her brothers made with


    their wonderfulte mother that Sophie wanted to carry over into her own family or her brothers’


    families one day. That legacy belonged to the ckwood children, not a second wife. Sophie wanted to


    do this for her brothers; she wanted them to have what they deserved. They all had plenty of money...


    This wasn’t about that. This was about family, which they’d never considered Miranda part of.


    Sophie didn’t believe Miranda’s sweet and innocent public persona...not one bit. The woman wouldn’t


    be on one of the most scandalous reality shows on television if she were that perfect. There had to be


    something. Unfortunately, Sophie had made a point of avoiding Miranda as much as possible during


    her father’s short-lived second marriage. She just in didn’t know the woman well enough to know


    which closets to search for Miranda’s carefully hidden skeletons. But surely they were around here


    somewhere, in the offices of the show that had been the centerpiece of Miranda’s life for the past few


    years.


    Secret Lives was a popr reality show based on divorced women living in Manhattan. Of course,


    ratings hinged on how many scandals thedies could cause while disying theirvish lifestyles. It


    was tacky and tasteless—but it was popr, and it came with a big staff of people behind it, all working


    to keep it going. That was where Sophie had found her “in.”


    Sophie had applied for a personal consultant position within thepany that produced Secret Lives.


    The security in the ce was top-notch, so she’d had to get creative on getting in. No way would a


    ckwood be allowed in this office. Not with the death of Miranda’s husband so recent. Just the word


    ckwood would raise too many red gs and Sophie would be shut out before she could even get


    started.


    A temporary job was the perfect opportunity to get inside.


    The only glitch? Sophie’s poprity from her interior design YouTube channel, Dream It, Live It, forced


    her to alter her look. Usually, poprity was a great problem to have—but for the time being, it was


    getting in her way. If she didn’t have so many loyal followers, she wouldn’t have had to go to such great


    lengths to disguise herself.


    Nothing a little hair color, some carefully applied makeup, a sexy pair of cat-eye sses, a polished


    jacket and skinny jeans couldn’t fix. She typically wore fun dresses because she always found a dress


    to be much morefortable than pants. So this outfit was definitely outside of her norm. So was the


    makeup. She much preferred a natural look, so the red lips werepletely out of herfort zone.


    And the hair? She was kind of digging this style. A little fringe around her face and the bold shade of


    ashy blond made her feel a little sassy. The self-esteem boost was much needed because her nerves


    were all over the ce.


    She was hopeful and quite certain nobody would recognize her now.


    So here she was, day one of her new job and fully embracing her new identity. Maybe blondes would


    have more fun.


    Oh, and of course her name was the biggest adjustment. That was something she had to fully embrace


    and always be aware of because if someone tried to get her attention and she wasn’t focused enough


    to recognize her faked name, her cover would be blown.


    The elevator stopped and Sophie pulled in a deep breath.


    No. She had to stop thinking of herself as Sophie. In this building, and for the next week, she would


    have to think of herself as Roslyn Andrews. She could remember that, right? A nicebo of Sophie’s


    middle name and her grandmother’s maiden name. No problem. At least she’d chosen something


    somewhat familiar. And she wouldn’t have to get used to it for long.


    She’d given herself a week timeline to get in, find the scoop and get out. She didn’t like being sneaky—


    that was quite the opposite of her personality—but she also felt that she and her siblings had been


    wronged. So, one week. Surely she could do some quick snooping?


    The elevator doors slid open and the posh offices of Green Room Media greeted her. The elegant


    white decor and semicircr desk in the middle of the spacious floor n were simple, yet ssy. The


    receptionist nced up from hisputer and smiled. She’d talked with him before when she’de


    for her interview just days ago. They clearly needed someone fast because they’d hired Sophie on the


    spot.


    “Ah, Miss Andrews. Wee back. Are you ready for your first day?”


    More than he knew. Would it be too obvious if she asked to view cut footage right off the bat?


    “Let’s do it,” Sophie said with a smile. “Just tell me where I’ll be.”


    Craig, she believed his name was, came to his feet and gestured toward the long hallway. “You will


    actually be working right alongside Mr. Townshend, you lucky girl. He’s amazing, but he demands


    loyalty and precision. His personal assistant is out on maternity leave, but that’s no problem. If you


    need anything, you can alwayse find me.”


    Working with Mr. Townshend? As in Nigel Townshend? She would be his temporary personal


    consultant? Sophie didn’t know if she was thrilled or terrified to be put in the most inner circle of the


    entirepany...and with the sexiest mogul to ever grace the covers of magazi


    nes. He was known as the British Billionaire Bad Boy. Any woman with breath in her lungs knew who


    Nigel was.


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Sophie’s heart fluttered and her stomach got a little schoolgirl giddy. Nigel was one very dominating,


    very powerful man. When Sophie had interviewed, she’d thought for sure she was just going to be a


    gopher or someone to answer phones. She’d hoped for more, but she also had to be realistic. She’d


    only been trying to get her foot in the door.


    Well, she was in all right. Now she only had moments to mentally prepare to not only meet the sexy Brit


    but also topose herself so she didn’te across as some nitwit who didn’t deserve this position.


    She couldn’t afford to be let go before she got what she came for.


    Sophie hurried to catch up with Craig as he made his way down the wide corridor.


    “Are you sure this is the position I’m here for?” she questioned.


    Craig came to a halt so fast Sophie jerked to a stop to prevent running into him. He nced around


    before leaning in and whispering.


    “You didn’t hear this from me,” he started. “But Secret Lives has dipped a little in the ratings and Nigel


    is taking it upon himself to find out exactly why. He needs fresh eyes to help him fix the situation. That’s


    where youe in.”