The Heiress's Secret

The Calm Before the Storm

Sophia barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief as Derrick confirmed the backdoor had been successfully planted. The tension between her and James was still thick, and though they had narrowly avoided disaster with Carmichael’s men, the atmosphere of the lavish gala around them felt like the calm before the storm.

“We did it,” James whispered, his hand brushing against hers as they stood among the other guests, trying to act as if nothing had happened. “But we need to keep up appearances.”

Sophia nodded, her pulse still racing. She took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and sipped it slowly, trying to settle the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The backdoor may have been in place, but their mission was far from over. The real challenge would come when they tried to extract the information without alerting Carmichael.

She scanned the room, keeping her expression neutral as she observed the other guests. Everyone was dressed in their finest, engaged in small talk and laughter as if the man orchestrating some of the country’s darkest crimes wasn’t standing right among them. It was unnerving to think that so many people here either had no idea of Carmichael’s true nature or, worse, knew and didn’t care.

Sophia’s gaze flicked over to Carmichael himself. He was holding court with a group of politicians and businessmen, his smile charming, his demeanor relaxed. It was as if he had no concerns in the world, no inkling that his empire was about to come crashing down. Sophia’s stomach twisted at the thought of what would happen if he found out what they had done tonight. He wouldn’t just ruin their lives—he’d end them.

“How long do we need to stay here?” Sophia asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“A little longer,” James replied, his eyes still scanning the room. “We can’t just disappear right after something like that. It would look suspicious.”

Sophia sighed inwardly but nodded. She knew he was right. As much as she wanted to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the gala, they had to play their parts. The last thing they needed was for anyone to start asking questions about why they had vanished right after sneaking into the restricted area.

“I’ll grab us some food,” James said softly, trying to make their behavior seem more casual. “We’ll blend in with the crowd.”

As he moved toward the buffet, Sophia found herself momentarily alone in the sea of well-dressed guests. She leaned against one of the grand columns, taking another sip of her champagne. The cool, bubbly liquid did little to ease the knot of anxiety in her chest. The closer they got to bringing down Carmichael, the more dangerous things became.

“Sophia.”

The voice startled her. She hadn’t heard anyone approach. She turned sharply to find herself face-to-face with Carmichael himself.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she fought to keep her expression calm. “Mr. Carmichael,” she said, her voice steady despite the panic surging through her veins. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

He smiled, but there was something about it that felt cold. Calculating. “I like to keep a close eye on things at events like these. After all, it’s not every day we have so many important people under one roof.”

Sophia forced herself to smile in return. “You certainly know how to host a memorable evening.”

“I do my best,” Carmichael said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at her. It felt as though he was searching for something, some sign that she didn’t belong. “Tell me, how are you enjoying the party?”