#217 “Come With Me.”
“Your grandfather made me purchase a flat here in London in my name, where he used to stay,” Audrey revealed, her tone tinged with a hint of nostalgia and apprehension.
“An apartment?” Sophia queried, her curiosity piqued.
“I didn’t want anyone to associate it with him, so, to make it difficult to trace, I bought and registered it in my name. The money he was sending me was meant for the taxes on the apartment and also for Benjamin’s care.
“What kind of apartment has a tax of twenty thousand dollars?” Sophia’s disbelief was palpable.
“Well, ten, the rest was for me,”
Audrey corrected with a gentle smile. ”
However, Christopher always had a taste for the finer things, and style comes with a price tag.”
“Could you take me there?” Sophia inquired eagerly, her mind already racing with possibilities.
“I can provide you with the address. There’s no need for me to accompany you. There’s a maid who has been looking after it all these years, and she’ll be able to assist you with anything you need.”
As Benjamin returned to the room with Becky in tow, Sophia felt a surge of apprehension.
“Let’s all go,” Benjamin suggested, his tone decisive. “It might be useful for all of us to see what’s there.”
Sophia hesitated, feeling a twinge of resistance. “I’m not sure if it’s necessary,” she began, but Benjamin cut her off gently.
“Remember the last time you were in London?” he reminded her, his voice tinged with concern. “You and I also have more to learn about the past. I think I deserve to know.”
Sophia relented, albeit reluctantly. Fine,” she acquiesced, trying to push aside her reservations.
After all, Benjamin was right. Last time, Sophia found herself in a bad situation because she had gone alone. Now it wouldn’t hurt to take reinforcements with her, and he owed it to Benjamin to know the past.
As they made their way to Benjamin’s car, Sophia couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over her. The familiar sights of London passed by outside the window, but inside the car, tension hung thick in the air. Becky’s presence only added to Sophia’s discomfort, especially when the young woman began bombarding her with probing questions during the journey.
“So, Sophia,” Becky began, her tone casual yet tinged with an underlying edge, “What brings you to London?”
Sophia noted Becky’s subtle hostility, wondering why the young woman seemed to have taken an instant dislike to her. “I’m digging into the past,” Sophia replied simply, hoping to diffuse any tension.
“And why are you bringing Benjamin into this?” Becky snapped, her tone sharper than before.
Surprised by Becky’s abruptness, Sophia paused before responding. ”
Because it affects him too. We have a long history,” she explained, trying to keep her tone diplomatic.
Becky only frowned more at Sophia’s answer, leaving the rest of the journey shrouded in tense silence. Sophia couldn’t help but feel perplexed by Becky’s hostility, unable to understand what she had done to earn the young woman’s disapproval.
When they finally reached the address given by Audrey, Sophia’s apprehension grew as she approached the imposing building. With a quick glance at Becky, who remained aloof, Sophia rang the doorbell. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing a woman who greeted Sophia with a warm smile.
“I was expecting you, Miss Johnson,” the woman told her. “My name is Diana. Please come.”
Sophia felt a surge of confusion at Diana’s statement. Why would this woman be expecting her, and how did she know her name?
The elegant click of Sophia’s heels echoed through the spacious foyer as she followed Diana, the woman who seemed to hold the key to her grandfather’s enigmatic past. Her mind buzzed with questions, each one a thread she hoped would unravel the tangled web of secrets surrounding Christopher Johnson.
“Diana, I have to ask,” she began, her voice a mix of eagerness and apprehension. “What was your relationship with my grandfather? And why were you expecting me?”
Diana turned to face Sophia, her expression serene yet tinged with a hint of sadness. “Christopher and I were close friends,” she explained gently. “He trusted me with many things, including the care of this apartment.”
Sophia nodded, absorbing Diana’s words. “But why wait until now to reach out to me?” she pressed, her tone betraying her impatience.
Diana’s smile was understanding. Your grandfather was a private man, Sophia. He didn’t want to burden you with his affairs while he was alive. But now that he’s gone, I believe it’s time for you to know the truth.”
Sophia felt a surge of emotion welling up inside her. “I appreciate your honesty, Diana,” she murmured, grateful for the woman’s openness.
Diana returned the sentiment with a warm smile. “I’m here to help you in any way I can, Sophia,” she reassured her. “If there’s anything you need, just ask.”
As Sophia followed Diana through the apartment, her eyes swept over the elegant furnishings and tasteful décor.
The apartment exuded an air of sophistication and refinement, much like her grandfather. The walls were adorned with exquisite paintings and framed photographs, each telling a story of Christopher Johnson’s refined taste and worldly travels.
Sophia couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance between the apartment’s interior design and her grandfather’s personal style. The furniture, with its ornate carvings and plush upholstery, echoed the grandeur of his estate back home. The polished wooden floors gleamed under the soft glow of the chandeliers, casting warm, inviting pools of light throughout the space.
Diana went to settle Benjamin and Becky while Sophia looked around. She soon returned to her, and Sophia began to question again.
“Does my grandfather have an office here, documents, that I can look at?”
“There is, Sophia,” Diana replied. “But the most important things are not in the documents, but in the diaries.”
Sophia’s curiosity piqued. “Diaries?” she echoed.
“Yes, his whole life is described there. Some of them sit here, and others in various places around London.”
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Benjamin and Becky sipped tea and engaged in lighthearted banter, their laughter floating faintly through the air. Sophia couldn’t help but feel a pang of curiosity mixed with resentment. How could Becky switch from cold indifference to warmth in the blink of an eye?
“Can you show me these diaries?” Sophia asked.
“Come with me.”
