38:The Woman with No Past
Chapter 38: The Woman with No Past
Morning sunlight spilled across the wooden floor of Ophelia's apartment.
She had barely finished her coffee when her laptop chimed.
A new email.
Subject: Invitation Accepted
It was from the charity committee.
"Miss Ophelia, we are delighted to inform you that Mr. Ethan Ashford has accepted our invitation to become the keynote speaker at next month's Children's Art Foundation Gala. We hope to see you in attendance."
Ophelia read the email twice before closing it.
Another event.
Another opportunity to observe the Ashford family.
She reached for her notebook and added another entry.
Children's Art Foundation Gala.
Then she underlined it.
Something told her the evening would be important.
Hundreds of miles away, Nathan Ashford closed another business meeting.
His assistant, Daniel, stepped into the conference room.
"The report is ready, sir."
Nathan accepted the slim black folder.
He opened it without saying a word.
The first page contained everything his team had managed to uncover about Ophelia.
Education.
Business registration.
Employment history.
References.
Every page looked... perfect.
Too perfect.
Nathan flipped to the last page.
No significant records before two years ago.
He frowned.
"That's impossible."
Daniel nodded.
"We thought the same."
Nathan closed the file.
"No one simply appears out of nowhere."
He stood and walked toward the window.
"Unless..."
"They want the world to believe they did."
Later that afternoon...
Ophelia visited the art gallery where she occasionally consulted.
Mrs. Davenport greeted her with a warm smile.
"Good news."
"What is it?"
"The Ashford Foundation has purchased three pieces from our upcoming exhibition."
"That's wonderful."
"It is."
Mrs. Davenport handed her a folder.
"They've asked if you'd be willing to oversee the installation."
Ophelia hesitated.
Working closely with the Ashford Foundation would give her access to people and places she couldn't otherwise reach.
But it also meant stepping further into their world.
"I'd be happy to."
As she left the gallery, a familiar black sedan slowed beside the curb.
The rear window rolled down.
"Ethan?"
He smiled.
"I was hoping I'd find you."
"You make it sound like a coincidence."
"It wasn't."
She laughed.
"I should have guessed."
He stepped out of the car.
"I have a question."
She folded her arms playfully.
"That sounds serious."
"It is."
He looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"Would you have dinner with me?"
She blinked.
"Haven't we already done that?"
"I mean..."
He smiled sheepishly.
"Just the two of us."
"No family."
"No charity event."
"No gallery."
"Just dinner."
For a second, Ophelia forgot why she had entered Ethan's life.
She saw only the sincerity in his eyes.
Then the investigator inside her reminded her to stay focused.
She smiled gently.
"I'd like that."
Ethan's face lit up.
"Friday?"
"Friday."
As he drove away, Ophelia watched the car disappear into traffic.
Without realizing it...
She was beginning to look forward to seeing him.
And that frightened her more than any mystery ever had.
Across the street, hidden behind the tinted windows of another vehicle, someone lowered a pair of binoculars.
A quiet voice spoke into a phone.
"She's getting closer to Ethan."
The response came immediately.
"Don't interfere."
"Not yet."
The call ended.
The watcher kept his eyes fixed on Ophelia.
The game had only just begun.