“How do you know all of this?”
“After I learned about the skimmed money, I had another talk with dear old dad. He told me.”
“And you believe him?”
“I do.”
I nod slowly, trying to process all of this. “Does he know where she is now?”
“He says no, and before you ask, I believe him about that, too. Sofia was never fond of my father. I can see her taking his money. I can’t see her staying in touch.”
“All right,” I say slowly. “I understand that you’re still worried about her, but this means that you can stop worrying that the pictures will turn up in the tabloids. Sofia won’t release them, right?”
“No,” he says with more intensity than I would expect. “I’m certain that she won’t ever let anyone get their hands on those images.”
“So this is good news,” I say. “You’ll find her eventually—doesn’t she always show up?”
“She does, and I may have a lead on her already. I tracked down David and his band. They just arrived in Chicago from Shanghai. I spoke to David on the phone. He tells me he hasn’t seen Sofia, but I don’t believe him. I think a face-to-face conference might help jog his memory.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning,” he says.
He has stopped pacing, and I go to him, then take his hands in mine. “How long will you be gone?”
“If I’m lucky? I’ll be back by dinner.”
“And if you’re not lucky?”
“Let’s hope I am.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Since Jamie wants to grab some things from our condo, she rides in with Edward and me. The plan is to drop me by my office, then swing Jamie by the condo. Then Edward will take her back to Malibu before returning to Sherman Oaks to wait for me. While he’s gone, I promise to stay inside my office, safe behind the protection of the building’s efficient receptionist.
Cumbersome, yes, but since we still don’t know who has been sending the stalker-like messages, Damien insisted I keep the security guys, and I agreed. Still, I’m so ready for this to be over that I think if Damien suggested we go live in Antarctica for a year, I would jump all over that plan.
We pop into Starbucks on the way, mostly to get coffee, but also because I want to introduce Jamie to Monica. She’s not there, however, and so we take our lattes and head to my office. I give Jamie the grand tour, which takes about twelve seconds, and then soak up her effusive hugs and cries of “I’m so proud of you!”
“If Damien’s not back from Chicago by tonight, do you want to rent a movie?” I ask as she’s about to head out.
“Sure,” she says. “And if he is back?”
I grin wickedly. “In that case, I have other plans.”
I settle behind my desk as Jamie rolls her eyes and leaves. It takes me about ten minutes to go through my emails and handle a bunch of administrative crap. I finish tweaking the code on one of my entertainment apps, then push the update through. Then I pull out the web-based app that I’ve been working on. A cross-platform, multi-user note-taking system that Damien has already told me he’ll license for Stark International once I’m out of beta testing.
First, I have to finish coding the damn thing and actually get it into beta testing.
I’m so lost in concentration that I jump when the intercom beeps. “Yes?” I snap.
“There’s a Monica Karts here to see you.”
“Oh.” I’m actually a bit irritated by the interruption. I’ve never seen Monica outside of the coffee shop, and it seems a little odd that she’s come unannounced. At the same time, I don’t know that many people here yet, and I do like her. And since Damien is out of town, I can always work late and make up for lost time. “Tell her to come on back.”
“I love it!” she says as she bursts through the door. “Your own office. That’s so cool.”