Chapter 28

London, England

“Yes, Sophia, your brother asked how you’d paid for my service and made it clear Porenza would not be footing the bill.”

Sophia’s grip tightened around the cell phone in her hand as the slick streets of London whipped past her sedan in a blur of gray. She’d known her brother had said something, but Edward had simply reassured her everything would be fine before kissing her cheeks and settling her into Forde’s plane the day before.

Her bank had called a few moments ago to notify her that someone had attempted to sign in to her secret personal account. She’d expected her brother to dig and try to find some other way to punish or torment her for the show at the palace. It was all over the news today. Edward hadn’t taken any chances. He’d called in the media, and they’d been waiting at the gates of the palace when she’d exited.

“I told him I was not at liberty to discuss a client yet assured him he would not receive a bill. They can look into your personal finances if they choose, but they can’t touch any of it. Your grandmother was a very shrewd and cautious woman, and she wanted you to have your own money. She made sure the money she gave you was yours personally. There was no title associated with it. She even made sure it came from money on her side of the family.” She heard the affection and pride in his tone when he spoke of her mother’s mother.

She felt a pang in her chest. Her grandmother had been elegant and regal, with a spine of pure steel. On Sophia’s eighteenth birthday, the woman had secretly taken her to Edward after a shopping trip in the city. “No woman should be without her own money,” she’d intoned, a dig at the way Sophia’s father and brother were running the monarchy. Sophia had signed papers that placed a million dollars in an account that was all hers.

If her grandmother wouldn’t have admonished her for the show of emotion, she would have cried in Edward’s office that day. Little did the old woman know that Sophia had spent her teenage years secreting away any dollars she could. She’d sold old dresses, jewelry—anything her mother considered trash—online anonymously so she would have money of her own.

That million had given Sophia hope. She’d spent every minute since receiving that windfall studying investments. As soon as she felt confident, she’d taken over management of her own portfolio, and it had grown exponentially in the last few years.

“Is there any way they can come after me?”

“They can do anything they wish. Whether they will win the fight is another matter.”

“Can they bill me for things like college and expenses?”

“You didn’t specifically ‘borrow’ any of that money?”

No, she hadn’t, but that wouldn’t matter. Her family wanted her stripped of everything, and if that didn’t work, they would attempt to bleed her dry with attorney fees. They would gladly see her living on the streets before they let go of their fury.

“I am hopeful he won’t do anything drastic. I’d hate for you to have to file criminal charges for having been held against your will, especially considering your dual citizenship with Britain.”

Sophia smiled. “Thank you, Edward.”

“Of course, my dear. You know you only need to call, and I will be there.” The gruff approval she heard made emotion clog her throat.

When the phone disconnected, she closed her eyes for a moment, suddenly exhausted. Her official statement had gone out to the media.

After a plane ride and night of talking to Irina, Forde, and Riot after her escape from Porenza, she’d been too exhausted to do anything but sleep. A part of her had wanted to sleep curled next to Viktor; another part felt too vulnerable. But tonight was their night. Today, she had things to take care of. She needed to buy clothing because she was wearing one of the only two outfits she owned at the moment. She’d taken nothing from Porenza, and now she just hoped they’d leave her alone.

“Everything okay with the lawyer?” Jen asked from the driver’s seat. They followed the lead car with the rest of Sophia’s guards. That other car was the only thing saving Sophia from playing the part of human ping-pong ball from Jen’s driving, and she was grateful.

“Yeah. He’s still not worried. It seems having my brother lock me away was an advantage.”

“Are you doing okay?”

“I still want to know who planted the bug in the London house.” The audio her brother had played had been from that room. It had to have been one of her guards, but she didn’t know which one.

“So do I.”

They hadn’t found the bug. Whoever planted it had removed it. James was looking into the guards’ financial records, assuming Jean Luc had paid someone off. They’d easily ruled out a reporter, as Jean Luc told her brother, just as she’d already known. Jean Luc had set quite the stage in an attempt to force her hand.

They sat in silence. Even the barely perceptible hum of the motor and the rain splashing under the tires seemed loud.

After several moments, Jen drawled, “We’re a couple of minutes away. The paparazzi should already be there.”

Sophia took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Game face?”

Sophia eased her features into the soft mask she excelled at. Several paparazzi waited in rain gear, their cameras lifting from their sides as their astute eyes zeroed in on the sedan. They stood right in front of the chic designer boutique in which she planned to do some shopping.

Maybe she would find something sexy to wear to see her Russian today. The important part was to smile prettily for the cameras. When they were given the information easily, the media didn’t cause nearly as much trouble.

For the near future, she would be front-page news.