“There’s one thing. I was hanging out with a few other girls from the agency, so we’re all used to being at a guy’s beck and call, but at some point during the evening, Brad became extremely needy. He insisted on forcing Samantha to look at pictures of his kids. First off, I didn’t know he was a father, but when I asked Samantha if they were as blond as he was, she responded, ‘Nah, these kids have dark hair and they’re dark-skinned. There’s nothing remotely blonde about them!’ She told me his wife, girlfriend, baby mama must have been an East Indian or an Asian woman, unless he had adopted those kids. I guess I was thrown for a loop because Brad Keller didn’t look to me like a guy who deviates from a steady diet of leggy blondes.”
I’m stunned by Cassandra’s story. This means Brad has a whole life he’s never revealed at work.
“He has an Asian or East Indian family? Interesting. Chances are Brad Keller is hiding a lot more than a couple of kids,” Bryce declares before turning his attention to me. “Brace yourself, because there’s likely going to be a lot of unpleasant stuff we’ll uncover over the next few weeks.”
“I’m ready,” I say bravely.
“I have to go now. I have five hundred things to do, but I hope I was able to help Sofia’s case,” Cassandra says as she grabs her iPad and designer handbag.
I walk her to the door and thank her for remembering those details. Who knows, they could have a huge impact on my case.
I lean against the closed door with my eyes closed. I truly hope Cassandra’s photos will help me get my old life back.
“What are you thinking about?” Bryce asks, as he walks towards me.
“I hope Cassie’s photos along with all the information I’ve shared will be sufficient to track down that asshole,” I spit.
“Baby, I promise you, I’ll use all the man and woman power I can to find the guy. You have my word,” Bryce says, as he leans in to kiss me.
“Oh my God,” I say, totally panicked, as I extract myself from his loving arms.
“What? Why are you panicking?”
“If you find Brad and this story explodes wide open, I have to tell Ciara the truth about how I met you. I don’t want her to find out through anyone else. If I don’t tell her myself she’ll kill me or worse, stop talking to me.”
This is not going to be a pleasant conversation.
Chapter 5
I decide to bite the bullet and invite Ciara for breakfast. Since her calendar is so jam-packed, I have to wait three agonizing days until her assistant is able to find a spot for me. I don’t want to alarm her by letting her know that what I have to say is urgent, but since Bryce’s team has already started their investigation, I need to come clean with Ciara.
I think of meeting in neutral space, but I change my mind when I realize I’ll be airing my dirty laundry in front of Manhattan’s prying ears. Ciara suggests I come over her place so she can work from home after I leave.
“Good morning, Sof,” she cheers as she hugs me.
“Good morning, sis. How are you?”
“I’m doing great. A few members of my team are busy working with Bryce’s team to get the lighting sorted out in his new office. I think we’ve aced it”
Everything she touches turn to gold. She’s so successful and I don’t even think she knows how gifted and lucky she is. I had the illusion for a while I would become New York’s real estate queen, but that dream died quickly thanks to that fucking idiot. Now I find myself having to explain to my own sister why I became a high-class call girl.
“I had so much on the go, I decided to order our breakfast,” she says, as she guides me to her state-of-the-art kitchen.
“I love this kitchen. You did such a great job with the recent renovations,” I say.
“Yeah, I did okay,” she mocks.
Okay in Ciara’s world, means supremely well done for the rest of us. She seems to never falter… other than when it comes to matters of the