Page 185 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“Your Vanguard writer is here.”

I scan the email in front of me.

“Send them in.”

“I’ll bring them through.”

“Fine.”

I disconnect without looking away from the screen.

Another interview.

Another set of questions.

Another hour I will answer carefully enough that Legal stays calm and Elena gets whatever institutional narrative she believes Blackwell needs.

As I finish reading the paragraph in front of me, the office door opens and I look up expecting a stranger.

For several seconds, I don't understand what I'm seeing. Tamara steps into the office first, one hand still on the door.

“Mr. Blackwell, Ms. Callahan from Vanguard Business Journal.”

Sophie walks in behind her. Every thought in my head stops.

She is older, obviously, but that is not the first thing I register. What hits me first is recognition so immediate and physical that it feels almost violent. The shape of her face. The blue of her eyes. The dark hair falling in polished waves past her shoulders. The way she holds herself now, straighter and calmer than I remember, with none of the nervous energy she used to carry beneath all that stubborn confidence.

Seven years disappear before I can stop them. Everything I spent years putting somewhere I could function around it comes back before I have time to decide whether I want it.

Tamara glances between us, unaware of what she has just walked into.

“Would you like anything brought in before I leave?”

I force my attention toward her.

“No. Thank you.”

“All right.” Tamara looks at Sophie.

“If you need anything during the meeting, let me know.”

“Thank you,” Sophie replies.

Tamara leaves and closes the door behind her.

Sophie and I are alone.

She stops several feet from my desk, and for the first time since she walked in, I see something slip through her composure.

Her fingers tighten slightly around the leather portfolio she is carrying, but she doesn’t look surprised. She knew exactly who she was coming to see. Whatever nerves she brought into this office, she had time to prepare for them.

I didn’t.

I stand because remaining seated suddenly feels impossible.

“Sophie.”

Her name leaves my mouth lower than I intend.