Chapter 5 Cracks In The Cold

SOFIA'S POV:

"Smile like you mean it," Josh whispered through clenched teeth, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back.

I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. I hated the gala. The glitz, the eyes watching. The carefully curated version of our marriage we paraded for the world.

The ballroom shimmered with golden light. Chandeliers like constellations, violinists tucked in corners, laughter echoing like wind chimes. Everyone looked polished, perfect, except me. Beneath my crimson gown and diamond earrings, my skin itches with unease.

You look tense," Josh murmured, guiding me through the crowd. "Relax. Nobody's going to bite."

"That's not what I'm worried about," I replied, forcing my shoulders down. Since the incident at Eliza's window three nights ago, sleep had been elusive. The security team found nothing, but I couldn't shake the feeling we were being watched.

"She's fine," Josh said, reading my thoughts. "Mrs. Carter is with her. I doubled security."

"Why would anyone be watching our house?" I asked for the hundredth time.

Josh's eyes hardened. "Let's not do this here."

We moved through the crowd like royalty, his hand never leaving me, his grip a leash disguised as affection.

"That's Bennett from legal," Josh murmured. "And behind him, Charles Givens owns half the East Coast's tech market. Smile when he talks, even if he breathes too close. He has a habit."

"I'm not your doll," I said under my breath.

"You're my wife," he replied smoothly, just as someone turned to greet us. "And you look exquisite tonight."

Josh Reynolds!" Charles boomed, his breath already heavy with scotch. "And this must be the enchanting Mrs. Reynolds I've heard so much about!"

I played along. I laughed at Charles's terrible jokes. I listened to Bennett's monotone lecture about regulatory shifts. I sipped champagne and nodded like I wasn't scanning the room for threats.

Excuse me," I said finally. "Powder room."

I nearly forgot to breathe when I saw her.

A woman in black stood near the far corner, alone, her gaze locked on me. Her features were elegant, almost too symmetrical. But it wasn't her beauty that struck me. It was the familiarity in her eyes. Like she knew me, like she was waiting.

I blinked. She was gone.

"You okay?" Josh asked, his voice low.

I nodded. "Just dizzy."

"Don't pass out," he said, raising a glass to another approaching guest. "You're too expensive to replace."

We made our way toward the main stage where speeches were to begin. I barely listened. My eyes kept scanning the room. She was there, I was sure of it.

When the lights dimmed for the keynote, I slipped away.

I moved fast, ducking past servers and guests lost in their own conversations. The hall outside the ballroom was quiet. My heels echoed against the marble floor. I turned a corner and froze.

The woman in black stood near a statue, her posture relaxed, like she'd been expecting me.

"You look better in black than I thought you would," she said.

"Do I know you?" I asked.

She smiled. "Not yet. But you will. Sofia Laurent. Or do you go by Mrs. Reynolds now?"

I said nothing.

She stepped closer. "Careful. Pretty things don't last long in his world."

"What do you want?" I asked.

"To tell you the truth," she said. "Before you end up buried like the last one."

I frowned. "The last what?"

Her eyes glittered. "The last woman Josh played savior to. She thought she could fix him. She disappeared three years ago. Look it up, Cassandra Vale."

I felt the ground shift beneath me.

She leaned in. "Josh didn't just inherit Reynolds Enterprises. He inherited its sins. And Cassandra knew too much."

"That's not possible," I said. "If there were a woman-"

"There was," she cut in. "And she vanished without a trace. Her apartment emptied, her friends were silent. One sealed non-disclosure after another. Tell me, doesn't that sound like your charming husband?"

My throat tightened.

"You're lying."

"Am I?" she whispered. "Then ask him about the Blackwell account. Ask what happened in Shanghai."

I flinched.

Her lips curled into a half-smile. "That's what I thought."

Before I could speak, she slipped something into my hand. A small, black flash drive.

"Everything you need is in there," she said. "But don't plug it into anything he owns. And for God's sake, don't tell him you saw me."

"Why are you helping me?" I demanded.

She tilted her head. "Because Cassandra was my sister."

Then she turned and vanished around the corner.

I stared after her, breath caught in my throat. Cassandra Vale. A name I'd never heard and yet something about it struck a match inside me. The way Josh avoided talking about the past. The locked drawer in his home office. The secret calls he made late at night.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my clutch.

Unknown Number: Tick-tock, Sofia. He's not the only monster you have to bring down!

I frowned at the cryptic message. I shoved the phone back and turned, only to run into Josh.

He looked calm. Too calm.

"You okay?" he asked again, voice smooth as silk.

I nodded stiffly. "Just... powder room."

He glanced down the hall. "Strange route to take. I followed you earlier, you seemed in a rush."

I tightened my grip on the clutch. "You followed me?"

"Sofia, you left the ballroom like your shoes were on fire." He smiled. "Should I be worried?"

I forced a smile back. "Only if you're hiding something."

He chuckled "You always surprise me."

We returned just as the auction began. He took the stage effortlessly. Charming. Powerful. Convincing. The audience adored him. I sat at our table, still gripping the flash drive in my palm, sweat pooling at the base of my neck.

His eyes swept the crowd and landed on me.

And I swear, just for a second, his gaze darkened.

After the final bid, he returned and poured himself a drink. "You look tense."

I offered a tight smile. "You like mysteries, don't you?"

"I like control," he said softly. "Mystery gets people killed."

His words made my blood run cold.

I excused myself again. This time, I didn't stop walking. I took the east wing, found a door, locked. Tried the next, unlocked.

Inside is a small server room. I hesitated, then slid the flash drive into a company laptop. A folder popped up: BLACKWELL FILES.

Password protected, I closed it immediately.

Someone had already been in here. Then the door clicked behind me, I turned and there was Josh in the doorway. His eyes dropped to the laptop.

And then he locked the door behind him.