Page 48 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“It’s the accurate one,” Vivian tells him.

The doors open before Preston can respond.

Sophie steps into the room beside the hostess, and every conversation within my immediate reach recedes. Her black dress follows the clean line of her body before falling just above her knees. It is elegant without being elaborate, though there is nothing simple about the effect. Her dark hair is full and loose around her shoulders, catching the light when she turns to thank the hostess. The red lipstick from this morning is gone, replaced by a softer shade that draws my attention to her mouth with no less force.

I should remain where I am and allow the hostess to bring her into the room. Instead, I cross the floor before I have consciously decided to move. Sophie sees me approaching, and her smile changes slightly. It remains professional, but there is a warmth beneath it that was not there when she first entered the lab.

“Good evening,” she says.

“Good evening,” I reply. “You found us.”

“The driver did most of the work.”

“That was the intention.”

She laughs quietly, and when I lean closer to greet her, her fragrance reaches me. It is warm and faintly floral, with something richer beneath it that lands low in my body before I can stop the reaction.

The sudden heat surprises me.

I straighten and keep my expression neutral.

“You look beautiful,” I say.

The words leave me before I consider whether they belong in the conversation.

Sophie’s gaze holds mine. “Thank you.”

The pause that follows is brief, but not brief enough.

I gesture toward the room. “Let me introduce you.”

Preston watches us approach with open interest, while Vivian’s attention is quieter and more exact.

“Sophie Callahan, this is Preston Hale, one of our senior board members,” I say.

“Preston has been with Blackwell longer than most people are willing to admit.”

Preston extends his hand.

“Julian enjoys exaggerating my age when he wants to avoid acknowledging my experience.”

“I don’t need to exaggerate either,” I tell him.

Sophie accepts Preston’s handshake.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hale.”

“Preston, please,” he says. “I understand you spent the day dismantling Julian’s defenses.”

“I interviewed him,” Sophie replies.

“Whatever happened to his defenses was incidental.”

Preston laughs, clearly pleased by the answer.

I turn toward Vivian. “This is Vivian Cross, our general counsel.”

Vivian offers her hand. “I’ve read your work.”