"Good afternoon, ladies." the waiter greeted with a warm smile. "May I start you off with something to drink?"
He stood poised beside their table, dressed in a crisp black vest and white shirt. He held a small leather-bound pad, ready to take their orders.
Brooke glanced up from her menu, with a thoughtful expression. "I think I'll have the hibiscus iced tea, lightly sweetened."
Sofia, who had already looked through the menu and made her choice, smiled politely. "Just sparkling water for me, please."
"Excellent." the waiter replied, jotting down their selections. "And for your entrees?"
Brooke ordered the grilled salmon with citrus glaze, while Sofia opted for the wild mushroom risotto. The waiter nodded, collected their menus, and disappeared.
The restaurant, La Maison du Lys, was one of the finest in downtown Manhattan. Elegant without being ostentatious, its windows offering a view of the city's scape. The table they sat at was tucked into a quiet corner, surrounded by soft lighting.
Brooke leaned forward slightly, her eyes warm and maternal. "I've been thinking about you a lot lately, Sofia. About your future. What you want. What you need."
Sofia blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sincerity in Brooke's voice. "That's kind of sweet…" she said, her tone light but genuine. "I've been thinking about it too."
"Have you considered going back to school?" Brooke asked gently. "Zach's scholarship program is still open. You'd be given priority, of course."
Sofia hesitated. She had already earned a Ph.D. in her real world. The thought of starting over again felt exhausting. But she couldn't say that. Not here. Not to Brooke.
"Honestly, I'm not sure." she replied, sipping her water. "I know everyone expects me to go back to school, but… I'm not decided yet. But I'll think about it."
Brooke frowned slightly, concern softening her expression. "You're too intelligent not to continue your education. You have a brilliant mind, Sofia. It would be a shame to let that go to waste. You deserve every opportunity."
Sofia nodded, grateful for the support. Yes, she didn't want to experience the four walls of a classroom, but she was already calculating how best to use the scholarship as a tether to the Bubleys. Staying close to Brooke and Zach was strategic. They were powerful, well-connected, and most importantly, kind.
"And what about work?" Brooke asked. "Do you have a plan?"
Sofia sipped her water again, choosing her words carefully. "I do. I've been exploring a few options. Nothing concrete yet, but I'm optimistic."
"Oh really?" Brooke tilted her head. "Anything I can help with?"
She couldn't tell Brooke that her financial strategy involved offshore gambling and cryptocurrency investments that was going to make her a billionaire soon. That she had already flipped thousands into tens of thousands. That she was playing a game most people didn't even know existed.
No. Brooke saw her as pure, innocent, a young woman trying to rebuild. Sofia intended to keep it that way.
Sofia smiled sweetly. "Not at the moment. But I'll let you know. My main concern now is the inheritance…"
Their food arrived, cutting her speech short. The risotto was creamy and rich, the salmon perfectly seared.
Brooke's hand paused midair, holding her fork. "Your inheritance?"
Sofia nodded. "Yes. But I think I might need to give you a brief about my life first."
Brooke reached across the table, her voice softer now. "Of course, sweetie. But… are you ready to talk about it?"
Sofia paused, fork halfway to her mouth. She set it down gently and nodded. "Yeah. I'm good now."
"Take your time."
Sofia took a breath, recalling everything she had read about Elise's past. The story had become hers now.
"My mum and sister…younger sis, Jennifer, died when I was six." she began. "I was woken up one morning and told by my father that they were gone. No explanation. No details. Just… gone."
Brooke's face fell, her hand instinctively reaching for Sofia's.
"I was too young to question it." Sofia continued. "And before I could even process it, my father remarried. He brought Judith into our home. I recognized her. She was the woman he used to bring around when mum traveled."
Brooke's eyes widened. "His mistress? She was his mistress?"
Sofia nodded. "Yep. And she had already given birth to his child. A four-year-old girl."
"Ashley?" Brooke asked quietly.
Sofia nodded again. "He took control of her estate. The inheritance she left for me and Jennifer… he claimed it. Said it was for safekeeping. But I never saw or enjoyed a cent."
Brooke's eyes glistened with tears. She reached for her napkin, dabbing at her face. "That's… unforgivable."
Sofia felt her own throat tighten. She laughed softly, wiping Brooke's cheek with her thumb. "Hope those aren't tears, Mrs Bubley? I've cried enough for both of us."
Brooke put down her fork, visibly upset. "How could a father do that to his own child?"
Sofia forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I guess greed doesn't care about blood."
With a hardened expression, Brooke asked. "What do you plan to do about it, darling? You can't let him keep what's rightfully yours. You're legally an adult."
Sofia looked down, feigning uncertainty. "I…I really don't know. He's powerful, and I'm scared…"
That wasn't true. She had everything mapped out already.
In fact, her plan was so crisp and clear that she could already see where each member of the Smith family was going to end up in once she was done with them.
John and Judith would rot in prison for fraud.
Rachel would be buried thirty feet under, her grave personally decorated by Sofia, on behalf of Elise.
Matt would like be jailed for harassment… Even though he hasn't crossed a line, She didn't trust him not to try something vile with time.
Ashley… well, Ashley would follow suit if she wasn't careful.
But Brooke didn't need to know that. She had a good heart, and Sofia wasn't going to taint that.
Brooke leaned in, her voice firm. "Don't be scared. I'm here. I'll be your shield." She squeezed her hand. "I'll speak to Zach. We'll get you the best lawyers in New York. We'll fight for what's yours."
Sofia felt a wave of emotion crash over her. It was unfortunate Elise never got to meet Brooke. She probably would have stayed alive.
"Oh my God. Thank you." She whispered. "I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
Brooke smiled, and dismissed her words with a wave. "Dinner with us now and then is enough."
Sofia giggled, and stood to give Brooke a hug. Then Brooke brightened, changing the subject.
"So, Zach and I are thinking of buying a small farmhouse in London." she said. "Zendaya's going to college there soon, and we just wanna be close to her. Am I already being a clingy mother?"
Sofia laughed. "Heck, no. She's your pride and joy. It's normal to feel that way."
The waiter brought their desserts, and as Sofia was about to dig in, she immediately remembered…
The auction.
Daniel's call from the night before sparked in her memory. He had promised the invite would arrive. She hadn't expected him ti call. After the chaos at the party, she thought he'd forget her.
She pulled out her phone, casually opening her inbox.
An email notification sat in her inbox. Her pulse quickened the moment she saw the sender: New York State Department of Land and Property Affairs.
She tapped it open, her heart thudding in excitement.
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Dear Ms. Celeste,
We are pleased to confirm your attendance at the upcoming State Land Auction scheduled for August 12, 2015, at 10:00 AM GMT -4.
Attached to this email is your official digital invitation card, which includes your registration number and entry instructions.
We look forward to your participation.
Sincerely,
G. Prett
Events Coordinator
Office of State Land Management.