CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX – VISUAL EVIDENCE

Hours later, Kayla found herself back in her hotel room, the plush surroundings doing little to ease her addled state of mind. Without even thinking, she reached for her phone and pulled up Lance's contact info. His greeting was warm as ever when he answered. "Hi babe! Just checking in to see how my star closer is feeling after today's big presentation?" Kayla opened her mouth, every instinct screaming to simply gush about her meeting triumph. To soak up Lance's praise and sincere elation at her hard-won success, as he always did after big wins. But Sofia's haunting words stopped the words in her throat. She took a deep, steadying breath. "Lance...I need to ask you something," Kayla said, her voice catching slightly in her throat. She steeled herself for his response. "About...about your past. Before Storm Enterprises, before everything." There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line. When Lance spoke again, his tone was laced with bewilderment. "My past? Kayla, what's