Chapter 48


    He stared out the window of his office, watching the snow swirl around, remembering how the kes


    would stick to Sophie’sshes.


    Sophie. The name seemed to fit her, yet it was so strange to think of her that way. Like a bloody fool,


    he’d watched too many of her videos. Maybe he was just a masochist, but he’d wanted to see the real


    Sophie ckwood in her element.


    She’d positively shined and was so personable, so fun.


    He hated to admit that he recognized in her the woman he’d started falling for. He’d thought Roslyn had


    been just a facade, but Sophie was the same, just like she’d said. And yet there was such a difference


    that he couldn’t put his finger on. He tried yet again to push the thought away and refocus on work.


    The gray skies didn’t help his mood right now, neither did the fact that he couldn’t pinpoint a location to


    have the farewell party for Seraphina. He wanted to make things as easy as possible for her and Clint.


    His cell vibrated on his desk with an iing text and Nigel nced over his shoulder. Ellen’s name


    popped up.


    On a sigh, he grabbed his cell and opened the message.


    I haven’t heard much from you. I’m worried. Nana doesn’t know anything because she just messaged


    me about “that nice American girl”ing back next month and doing a girls’ luncheon.


    Bloody hell. His grandmother would be heartbroken over all of this. Perhaps he should stick to the


    original n of just telling her they broke up. He didn’t want to tell her that Roslyn was really Sophie


    and that she’d lied to them all.


    Granted, he’d taken Sophie home under the pretense of her being his girlfriend so he’d lied, too.


    This entire situation was a mess. So much deceit, so much pain.


    Nigel typed back a quick text, telling his sister he was fine and just busy at work and that he’d take care


    of Nana.


    He hadn’t even put his phone down when it rang and Miranda’s name appeared.


    Nigel swiped the screen to answer.


    “Miranda. What can I do for you?”


    “I hope this isn’t a bad time,” she replied.


    Considering he was wallowing in his own self-pity party, this was the perfect time for a


    distraction...unless there was more bad news.


    “You’re not leaving the show,” hemanded.


    Miranda’s softughter came through the phone. “No, I’m not. I’m not calling about work. I’m calling


    about your personal life.”


    “Is that right?”


    “Listen, I’ve never stepped foot into your private affairs, but I need to now,” she went on. “I know Sophie


    was in New York trying to find something damning on me. I also know she was working for you.”


    Nigel crossed his office and sank down onto the leather sofa. “Did you know the entire time?”


    “I found out before I left the office,” she stated. “I pondered what to do with the information.”


    Nigel dropped his head back on the cushion and pulled in a breath. “So that’s why you are calling me?


    She didn’t find out anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. There’s nothing negative about you to


    be found here, no matter how hard she looked.”


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    “Well, I appreciate that, but that’s not the reason for my call.”


    Nigel really didn’t want to talk about Sophie to anyone. He’d even dodged talking to his own sister


    during these past several days.


    There was no question he’d been falling in love with Roslyn, even though he’d tried to deny his feelings


    because he’d wanted to wait. The fact was, he’d been falling from day one. The pain wouldn’t be so


    crippling and crushing if he’d just wanted her for sex. He missed her. He missed her smile, the way


    she’d hold his hand, her quick wit and sharp mind... He missed everything.


    “I’m thest person who shoulde to her defense, but I am,” Miranda went on. “Sophie and her


    brothers feel like they were wronged in the will after their father’s death. I can’t me them for that.


    They’ve always thought I was after the ckwood fortune. I wasn’t, but given the way things happened


    with the will, their suspicious do make sense.”


    “Not to anyone who knows you,” he informed her. “You don’t have a callous bone in your body.”


    “Well, Buck left me strict orders before his death and I’m just trying to respect those wishes,” she said.


    “Sophie is loyal to her family, Nigel. I truly believe she never meant to hurt you in any way.”