Page 179 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“Take the rest of the day.”

“I already took last night.”

“Then take today too,” she says.

“We need a final answer tomorrow.”

I pause at the door. Claire’s voice follows me.

“Whatever you decide, Sophie, make sure you’re saying no to the assignment and not to something that happened seven years ago.”

I look back at her, but she has already lowered her eyes to the notes in front of her. I leave the conference room with that distinction following me all the way down the hall.

***

Maya is already at my place by the time I get home, sitting at the kitchen island with a glass of wine while Theo works at the dining table. She glances up the second I walk in and reads my face before I say anything.

“They pushed again, didn’t they?” Maya says.

I set my bag on the counter.

“Very politely.”

“That almost sounds worse.”

“It is worse.”

Maya takes a sip of wine.

“Professionally, Sophie, this is huge. Especially for it to come up not once but now twice in your career.”

“I know.”

Maya studies me for a moment.

“So is this actually about the assignment?”

I look at her.

“What else would it be about?”

“Julian.”

I fold my arms.

“That’s convenient.”

“It’s also true.”

“I’m not afraid of seeing him.”

Maya’s expression stays careful.

“Then what are you afraid of?”

My eyes move instinctively toward the dining room. Theo is bent over his homework, chewing the end of a pencil while he tries to work out a math problem.

Maya follows my gaze. Her voice softens.