Romans de Precious Sweet

CHAPTER EIGHT*ALEXANDER*My father was discharged from the hospital three days later with strict orders to rest. He ignored them immediately and called a board meeting."We're terminating all contracts with the Zhao Group," he announced. "Effective immediately. Legal will handle the fallout."The board erupted. David Chen, ironically no relation to Sophia's family, stood up. "That's a fifty-million-dollar deal. We can't just""We can and we will. The FBI has evidence that the Zhao Group is a criminal organization. Anyone who votes to continue this partnership will be personally liable when the indictments come down." My father's voice was steel. "All in favor of termination?"Every hand went up."Good. Meeting adjourned."I followed him back to his office. "You need to rest.""I need to fix the mess I created." He poured himself water, hand still trembling slightly. "Eleanor called. She wants to see me.""You're not going.""She's my mother, Alexander.""She's also complicit in your

CHAPTER SEVEN*SOPHIA*Wei was already at the restaurant when I arrived, looking exactly as I remembered. Expensive suit, easy smile, dead eyes."Sophia." He stood to greet me, kissing both cheeks. "You look wonderful. Success suits you.""Uncle Wei." I sat across from him, keeping my left hand visible on the table. The FBI agents were somewhere in this crowd, watching. "It's been a long time.""Too long. Your mother tells me you've been making quite a name for yourself in the art world." He poured tea. "And now you're involved with Alexander Sterling. She's very pleased.""I'm sure she is.""Though I hear there's been some tension. Problems with the hotel deal?"I sipped the tea, buying time. "Alexander's being cautious. His father's disappearance has him spooked."Wei's expression didn't change. "Disappeared? How unfortunate. I hadn't heard.""Really? It happened just hours after he was supposed to sign your contract.""My contract?" Wei laughed. "Sophia, I'm simply a consultant for

CHAPTER SIX**ALEXANDER**The FBI set up in Sterling Hotels' conference room within two hours. Agent Sarah Chen no relation to Sophia's family, she'd clarified immediately had a team tracing the car service that picked up my father."The vehicle was registered to a legitimate company," she said, pulling up traffic camera footage. "But the driver used a fake license. We tracked them to a warehouse in Newark, then lost visual.""How long ago?" I asked."Ninety minutes."Ninety minutes. Enough time to move him anywhere, do anything. My hands were shaking. I shoved them in my pockets.Sophia was on her phone across the room, speaking rapid Mandarin. She'd been making calls since we landed, reaching out to contacts I didn't know she had."My father needs medication," I told Agent Chen. "Heart condition. If he doesn't get it""We're working as fast as we can, Mr. Sterling."Victoria arrived, looking pale. "The Zhao Group's lawyer just called. They're demanding you honor the contract or they

CHAPTER FIVE*SOPHIA*The private jet was already fueling when we arrived at Teterboro. Alexander had made three more calls to his father with no answer. His jaw was tight, hands clenched."He always answers," Alexander said. "Always."I didn't tell him that in my timeline, James Sterling had been unreachable for six hours before they found his body in a hotel room. Heart attack, the coroner said. Induced by stress, Eleanor had whispered at the funeral, looking at me like I'd killed him myself."Tell me exactly what happened," Alexander demanded as we boarded."Your father signed the contract. Three months later, the Zhao Group demanded off-book payments. When he refused, they threatened to expose fabricated evidence of corruption. He paid to protect the company. It went on for two years before""Before they killed you to send a message.""Car accident. Brake failure. Very convenient, very clean." I buckled in as the plane started taxiing. "But I think they miscalculated. They thought

CHAPTER FOUR*ALEXANDER*Eleanor Sterling didn't collapse. She fainted during a charity board meeting, and by the time we arrived at the hospital, she was already awake and furious about the fuss."This is ridiculous," she snapped when I entered her private room. "I don't need to be here."Then she saw Sophia behind me, and her face went white."You," Eleanor whispered.Sophia's expression didn't change. "Mrs. Sterling.""How do you know each other?" I asked, looking between them."We don't," Sophia said smoothly. But Eleanor was staring at her like she'd seen a ghost."That's not possible," my grandmother said. "You're supposed to be" She stopped abruptly."Dead?" Sophia finished. "I was. Got better."The heart monitor started beeping faster. A nurse rushed in, giving us a sharp look."Everyone out. Mrs. Sterling needs rest."In the hallway, I grabbed Sophia's arm. "What the hell was that?""Your grandmother recognizes me from the other timeline.""That's impossible.""So is everythi

CHAPTER THREE*SOPHIA*I shouldn't have said that. The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I'd made a mistake.Alexander's face went pale. "What do you mean, 'haven't done it yet'?""Nothing. Forget it." I turned away, but his hand caught my wrist. Not hard, but firm enough to stop me."Sophia."The way he said my name made my stomach twist. Soft. Concerned. Like he actually gave a damn. In my previous life, he'd never said my name like that. It had always been perfunctory, distracted, or worse absent entirely.I yanked my hand free. "Don't touch me."Victoria stepped between us, her smile sharp. "Darling, I think we should go. Clearly, we're not welcome here.""I'm not talking to you," Alexander said without looking at her. His eyes stayed locked on mine. "Sophia, please. I don't understand what's happening, but""You're having dreams, aren't you?" The words came out before I could stop them.His whole body went rigid. "How do you know that?"Because I was having them too. Because