Page 193 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

He glances down at the papers in front of him before asking,

“Do you like it?”

“I do.”

“The work?”

“The work too.”

Julian nods slowly. “It suits you.”

I look up from my notes.

“What does?”

“California.”

There is no warmth in the way he says it, but the question has already drifted further from Blackwell than either of us needs to acknowledge.

I keep my voice even. “It’s home.”

That answer seems to hold his attention for a second. Then I lower my eyes back to the page and continue.

“You were saying the Silicon Valley expansion started accelerating after the compliance restructuring?”

Julian looks at me for another beat before returning to the interview.

“Yes. The original investment was smaller. We increased it once advanced systems began outperforming projections.”

I start writing again, but the shift in the conversation is already there. He is supposed to be answering my questions. Somewhere along the way, he has started asking his own.

The room goes quiet while I finish a note, and I can feel him looking at me before I actually catch him doing it.

When I glance up, Julian’s eyes are on my face. He looks away first. The movement is subtle enough that I could pretend I imagined it—but I don’t.

Sitting this close to him again is already harder than I expected. The years have sharpened him. His shoulders seem broader beneath the dark jacket, and there is more silver at his temples now, enough to make the contrast with his dark hair more striking. His jaw looks harder, his features more severe, as though time has stripped away what little softness he once allowed anyone to see.

Then there is the scent; clean, warm, familiar in a way that reaches memory before reason. My body recognizes him far too easily. I hate that.

Julian looks back at me.

“Is Callahan still your last name?”

The question catches me off guard.

“Yes.”

He studies me for a second. “Still?”

“My name is Sophie Callahan.”

“That wasn’t exactly what I asked.”

“I know.”

His mouth tightens slightly. I keep my expression neutral.

Julian looks down at the table between us.