Sophie swayed in Nigel’s arms in the ballroom. Try as she might, she couldn’t forget the overwhelming guilt she’d felt when he’d told her he wanted to get to know her more. She’d opened her mouth and her thoughts, her feelings had come tumbling out and she couldn’t take them back.
She’d wanted to come clean about everything. She hated lying to this amazing man, but instead of telling him the full truth about her background, she’d told him her honest feelings instead.
How could she love him, though? How could she make such a claim when he didn’t even call her by her own name?
She’d taken something so beautiful, so mind-blowing, and turned it into something ugly and fake. What would he say when he found out why she’d infiltrated his company to spy on a woman he likely considered a friend?
Sophie gripped his shoulders and closed her eyes as the soft music enveloped them on the dance floor. He would no doubt hate her once he discovered who she truly was and she deserved nothing less.
But she would relish this fantasy moment for as long as she could. She didn’t want to ruin his sister’s wedding. But once it was over, she was going to have to tell him. If he wanted to get to know her more, if there was even an inkling of a chance for them, he’d need to know the truth before things went any further.
First, she’d have to talk to her brothers because all of this started when she’d vowed to find dirt on Miranda. There was overwhelming evidence that nothing sinister existed on the woman. Maybe she wasn’t a monster like they thought. It was a possibility they had to consider, but then what would they do? Sophie still wanted the childhood home and estate to go back to her brothers. The home had to stay in their family...it just had to. But if they couldn’t challenge Miranda in court, what other option did they have?
She would have to figure out what the next move should be once she spoke with Vaughn and Kellan.
Miranda aside, Sophie couldn’t lie to Nigel anymore. Her feelings far surpassed anything she’d expected and now that she was in so far, she couldn’t keep deceiving him. Once he discovered who she was, Sophie would just have to accept any backlash she received.
The song came to an end and Sophie pulled back. “I’m going to grab a glass of champagne.”
Nigel drew his brows together. “Everything okay? You seem like you’re not all here.”
She hadn’t been all here since she’d started this whole charade, but she nodded.
“Why don’t you dance with your grandmother while I take a breather?”
He stared another moment before nodding and releasing her. Sophie gathered the skirt of her dress in one hand and maneuvered her way off the dance floor. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d logged the beauty of the reception with all the lighting and crystal beading draped from the elegant table arrangements and the chandeliers suspended from the high ceilings, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the marble floor.
There were gorgeous people everywhere dressed in stunning gowns and sharp suits. And Sophie felt like such an imposter...likely because she was an imposter.
She’d barely stepped away from the dancers when a member of the wait staff came by with a tray of champagne glasses. Sophie smiled and grabbed one, needing something to hold to occupy her shaky hands.
“Thank you for coming.”
Sophie spun around to see Ellen smiling and holding her own glass.
“Of course,” Sophie replied. “You had the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen.”
Her satin gown was positively radiant, showcasing a vintage vibe with a lace overlay. It was strapless with a flare from the waist and a delicate train. Her headpiece was a simple diamond headband with a sheer veil that trailed the length of her train. Three strands of crisp white pearls adorned her neck.
“I mean, thank you for coming home with my brother,” Ellen clarified. “I’ve never seen him this happy and I’m pretty sure I have you to thank.”
“Oh, well, he makes me pretty happy, too.”
“You’re good for him,” Ellen said, then took a sip of her champagne. “I hope he’ll come home more often—and bring you with him. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a sister.”
“I have two brothers, so I know how that feels,” Sophie replied with a laugh.
But the guilt continued to mount. Her lies had trickled so far off course from the simple plan she’d initially concocted. Now she was lying to sweet, innocent people, intruding in this family event where she didn’t belong. She’d likely be in photographs of this day and when Nigel or Ellen saw them, they’d have to relive this all over again. The betrayal and the deceit.
Ellen reached for her hand. “Then I do hope we can get to know each other more. I swear I feel like I know you from somewhere, but it must just be how quickly we connected. You know how with some people, you just have that instant click.”
Yeah, that must be it.
“Anyway, I’m just really glad my brother found someone he actually wanted to bring home,” Ellen went on. “He’s always so busy working, maybe you can convince him to take more time off and visit his family.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Sophie promised with a smile.
Ellen leaned in and gave a one-armed hug before turning back to the reception and her guests...leaving Sophie alone with her drink and thoughts bouncing around. Even though this was all based on lies, Sophie had very good intentions, but she didn’t know if anyone other than her brothers would see that.
Even a glass of champagne wasn’t making Sophie feel better or helping her forget her problems. Once this magical day was over and she and Nigel were on their way back to New York, she would have to talk to him. She might have started this whole vendetta against Miranda, but the entire plan had snowballed and what could have potentially been the greatest thing in Sophie’s life was now likely ruined to the point of no return.
Nigel swirled his grandmother around on the dance floor and caught Sophie’s eye. When he sent her a wink, her entire body jolted from love.
She did love him. There was no denying the truth now that it stared her in the face...literally.
Now she had to figure out if she could clean up this mess she’d created, manage to reclaim her rightful inheritance, and hold on to the man she didn’t know she’d been looking for. Oh, and wait to see if he could fall for her because he was still unsure.
Sophie didn’t see a way to get out of the impending broken heart and she had nobody to blame but herself.
Fourteen
Sophie bundled her coat closer around her neck as she made her way from the car to Nigel’s jet. They’d spent another day at Shrewsbury Hall after the wedding, but now they needed to get back to work.
And she needed to get back to reality...which meant she needed to tell Nigel the truth.
Sophie figured once they were settled in for their flight would be the perfect time. He couldn’t storm out and maybe she could get him to see how all of this had gotten out of her control.
Not that she would make excuses. There were none. She’d blatantly lied to him and each time he called her Roslyn, she felt...well, like she was her own dirty little secret.
How could she have expected to prove Miranda was evil when Sophie had been doing evil herself?
Sophie boarded the jet as nerves curled through her. She’d spoken with both of her brothers last night and they supported her decision to tell Nigel. They’d agreed that maybe there was no dirt to be found on Miranda. They would have to find another way to get their property.
Settling into one of the white leather sofas, Sophie fastened her seat belt as she waited for Nigel to finish speaking with the pilot. She wasn’t nearly as nervous about flying this time, perhaps because she had too much on her mind. No matter how many times she rehearsed her speech, she was terrified to just let those words out in the open.
Nigel stepped thro
ugh to the cabin and his eyes immediately locked with hers. Her time was up.
“Are we all set to go?” she asked.
Nigel sighed and settled back against his seat. “We’re all good.”
“You don’t sound good.”
He lifted a shoulder and glanced back at her as he laced his fingers in hers. “I hate leaving my family. It never gets easier. That’s the real reason I don’t visit more. My grandmother thinks it’s because I work so much, but that’s not it. I can carve out time, it’s just difficult to come here and then have to leave again.”
Sophie understood that need to be close to family. She loved her brothers with her entire heart and couldn’t imagine living in another country where she couldn’t see them anytime she wanted.
“Do you ever think of moving back?” she asked.
“Not really,” he admitted. “I mean, I love it here, but I’ve made a home and a life in New York. I need to visit home more often, though.”
“Your grandmother and sister would love that,” Sophie told him. “Family means everything at the end of the day.”
“I agree. Which is why I’m hoping you’ll join me when I return next month.”
“What?”
Sophie stilled. Return with him? He couldn’t mean that. He couldn’t really want her to come back. First of all, this was just pretend and second of all, in a month, they likely wouldn’t be speaking.
Her heart hurt because he stared at her with such hope in his eyes while he waited on her answer.
“My family seemed to take you in as one of their own and if we’re getting to know each other more and more, it only seems right that you come back with me.” He shrugged. “I mean, if you want to.”
Roslyn closed her eyes just as the plane took off down the runway. Her breath caught in her throat but the fear she had of flying took a backseat to the fear she had of breaking Nigel’s heart.
She simply couldn’t do it. Not now. Not when he was pouring out his raw, honest feelings. He may not have been using the L word, but he was already inviting her back and that spoke volumes.
He literally was handing her everything, and if she told him the truth now, she would be throwing it all right back in his face. He would hate her.
There had to be a better way.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, squeezing her hand when the plane tipped up. “Just breathe.”
He thought she was being silent and avoiding speaking to him because of her fear... If only he knew.
If only he knew her real name, her story...would he still want anything to do with her?
Sophie opened her eyes and shifted to face him. “I’d love to come back with you, but first I want you to meet my family. Well, my brothers. Then we’ll see if you still want me to join you.”
Nigel’s smile widened. “You think I’m going to meet your brothers and get scared off? Are they that bad?”
“They’re wonderful.” But the truth was brutal. “I just want you to know everything about me before we go any further.”
He stared at her another minute and Sophie wished she could just get up the courage to tell him the truth right now like she’d mentally prepared herself to do, but she couldn’t.
“I’d love to meet your brothers,” Nigel told her as he leaned in and slid his hand across her cheek and through her hair. “I want to know everything about you, Roslyn Andrews.”
Sophie Blackwood.
It was on the tip of her tongue, but she said nothing like the coward she was.
How could she ever accuse Miranda of anything at this point? Sophie had betrayed Nigel day after day and she’d had the nerve to call it love. But she did love him. She’d made a mistake that she couldn’t take back and there was no way she could’ve ever seen this disaster coming. Never before in her life had she purposely set out to hurt someone, to blatantly lie to someone’s face. Going into this whole charade, she knew she’d be lying, but she honestly didn’t think the end result would be so painful for so many.
The guilt and shame settled heavy in her heart as Nigel kissed her. The intimacy poured out of him and she just hoped he could find it in his heart to forgive her.
* * *
“Do you have a second?”
Nigel turned from his office windows and faced the doorway where Miranda stood.
“For my biggest star? Of course.”
Miranda laughed as she stepped in and closed the door at her back. “I know I can always count on you for an ego boost.”
Nigel truly did love each of the Secret Lives ladies in different ways. Miranda was genuine and loving. Always eager to help others. He couldn’t imagine anyone not feeling drawn to her, though he’d heard about her difficult relationship with her ex-stepchildren.
Nigel knew Miranda and the Blackwood siblings didn’t get along, but he really never understood why. Then again, he didn’t know the Blackwood kids, either.
He’d never had one problem with Miranda and he respected her as a businesswoman and an asset to his show.
“What are you doing in New York?” he asked. “If you’d told me you were coming, I would’ve arranged lunch.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Miranda tucked her red hair behind her ear. “I was in town for a few meetings with some potential investors for Goddess Inc.”
Goddess Inc. was Miranda’s baby, which happened to be the country’s fastest growing fitness empire. The woman was a force and she had already made a huge impact in the industry.
“I can have dinner arranged for us,” he told her. “I have a new consultant that I’d like to introduce you to. She’s got some great ideas about the show and how to boost ratings.”
“I’d love to meet her,” Miranda stated.
Nigel shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned back against the window ledge. “So, what brought you by? I know you didn’t just pop in to say hi.”
Miranda adjusted the clutch beneath her arm and shook her head. “I’m worried about Fee. With her leaving the show and all.”
Nigel pulled in a deep breath. “As much as none of us want to lose her, change can sometimes be a good thing.”
“She told me you asked her to consider a spin-off.”
“I did and she decided to just make a fresh start with her new life, without all of the cameras.” Nigel shrugged. “I can’t blame her. I don’t like it and I want her to change her mind, but I can see why she’d want to just enjoy her new marriage without any added stress.”
Miranda pursed her lips. “Are you looking to replace her on the show?”
He’d thought about that. He actually wanted to discuss that with Roslyn, but since they’d gotten home from England yesterday, he’d been so busy playing catch up. Work that he hadn’t been able to handle through emails and long-distance phone calls had become a bit of a pile, so he hadn’t had the chance.
“I haven’t decided on that just yet,” he answered honestly. “We may see how things go without. I hope I can talk Seraphina into making a guest appearance every now and then.”
At least they could work out the rest of her contract doing things that way.
“Let me set up dinner reservations and we can talk more,” he told Miranda as he reached for the phone.
“Oh, no.” Miranda waved a hand. “I actually have to get back to Texas. I have a few things still to clear up after Buck’s death.”
“Well, next time you’re coming to town, you’d better give me a heads-up,” he warned with a smile.
“Of course I will,” she promised.
Miranda crossed the room and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see if I can talk to Fee about those guest appearances. It might sound sincerer coming from a friend and not the man writing her checks and talking about contracts.”
Nigel nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”
Miranda left his office alm
ost as quickly as she’d come. He really didn’t know what to do about Fee leaving. A few weeks ago that news would’ve stressed him out and had him losing sleep. But since meeting Roslyn and having her occupy most of his thoughts, work wasn’t as stressful.
Part of him felt like a teen with a crush. Which was absurd since he was well into his thirties. He didn’t want Roslyn to be too good to be true. The fact she gave herself to him for the first time spoke volumes for her character and her feelings toward him. He knew she couldn’t have been intimate with him had she not felt so strongly about him.
He was supposed to meet her brothers soon. Roslyn promised to have them come to New York and they’d all meet at her penthouse for dinner. He was excited to get to know all facets of her life, but he didn’t know why she’d seemed so worried. Her family couldn’t be complete monsters. Besides, he wanted to try to explore the idea of more with her. He’d told her he couldn’t love her, he didn’t have it to give, but that had been fear. He wouldn’t have taken her home if he wasn’t feeling something stronger for her.
Nigel wanted to see just how far this would go and there was nothing that would change his mind.
Fifteen
Sophie stepped from her office just as a flash of red hair caught her eye.
The gasp escaped her as she turned back into her office and quickly shut the door.
Miranda was here? Why? Did she know what Sophie was doing? Had she come to rat her out?
Sophie leaned back against the door, trying to listen, but she heard nothing. With her breath caught in her throat, Sophie closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. If Miranda had revealed her secret and Nigel knew the truth, he’d be in here any second.
Craig’s muffled voice echoed down the hall followed by Miranda’s laugh. Good, she was moving away from Sophie and Nigel’s offices.
Just keep going. Get on that elevator and get the hell out of here.
Sophie had known there was a possibility Miranda might show up at the office, but considering Sophie had planned on getting in and out in a week, she hadn’t been too worried.
From Boardroom to Bedroom Page 12