Page 96 of The Truth of Us

Julian looked up. “I thought he kept her out of public life.”

“He did,” Caleb said. “Almost entirely.”

Theo sat forward. “Wait. He has a daughter?”

Rowan gave him a look. “You didn’t know?”

“I knew in the abstract,” Theo said. “Like, I know Europe has monarchs. I don’t keep tabs on mysterious heiresses locked in towers.”

“She’s not in a tower,” Caleb said with a scowl.

“How do you know?” Theo asked, because he is Theo.

Caleb ignored him. “Apparently, this will be her first official public appearance beside Alexander in years. Maybe ever, depending on how you define public.”

That got my attention despite myself. “Ever?”

Caleb nodded. “No interviews, public speaking engagements, society pages, red carpets, or confirmed photos since she was little, and even most of those have been scrubbed.”

Theo’s brows rose. “That’s actually impressive.”

“She has limited social media, with a very large following,” Caleb added. “Nothing identifiable. Landscapes, books, wine, architecture, charities she supports, hands, sometimes reflections. Never her face.”

The words pulled at something. A faint, irritating tug at the back of my mind. I frowned. Harper had hated being photographed unless she controlled the angle. She hated candid shots. Hated being caught off guard. She used to turn her face when cameras came too close at events, not dramatically, just enough to disappear from the frame without making it obvious.

I had thought it was a professional habit. PR people managing their own optics. Now, for some reason, Caleb’s description of the mysterious Montgomery daughter had made something in my chest tighten. Which was ridiculous.

Harper was Harper Lane. PR consultant, or I guess, former PR consultant. The woman who hated me, who had blocked my number and vanished from Chicago.

Not an heiress. Not Alexander Montgomery’s daughter. Not…

“Elliot,” Julian said carefully.

Caleb watched me for a second too long, then continued. “The event is in two weeks. A very private guest list. They have invited top international media outside, but no press inside. Alexander wants controlled visibility.”

“Smart,” Rowan said.

“Very,” Caleb agreed. “And if we want Montgomery International to take our calls in the future, we need to be there.”

Julian nodded. “Northwell has a table?”

“Yes,” Caleb replied.

Theo grinned. “Excellent. I love mysterious billionaire daughters.”

I leaned back, staring at the folder in front of me. Montgomery International Foundation Announces Leadership Transition. The words sat bold at the top of the page.

Two weeks.

For reasons I couldn’t explain, my pulse had started to pound.

“Do we know her name?” I asked.

Caleb shook his head. “The formal announcement is being held until the event. The brief only refers to her as Alexander Montgomery’s daughter.”

“That’s dramatic,” Theo said.

Julian’s mouth twitched. “Rich, coming from you.”