Page 96 of Bitter Secrets

As she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, she glanced at her reflection in the gilded mirror. Her brow was furrowed and for good reason. Clearly, Roth could have challenged her father for territory, so why hadn’t he? She turned away as she came to the inevitable conclusion. It wasn’t money or power that kept Roth at bay, but that dark secret that he would do anything to keep buried. It always came back to that.

She strode out of the bathroom and found two new pieces of luggage that held everything she bought in London. She hastily tugged on layers of winter clothes while she tried to keep her mind from tumbling down that rabbit hole again. There was no use trying to put the pieces together. Her only hope of figuring it out was her father’s letter, and that had been incinerated. There was no sense in dwelling on him or his secrets. Her time would be put to better use ignoring his existence and making the most of the opportunities that came with his hectic work schedule.

She pinned her phone between her shoulder and ear as she sat on the edge of the bed to pull on socks.

“Mrs. Roth,” Johan said.

“Jasmine,” she corrected automatically. “Where are we?”

“Copenhagen.”

“Is this where you’re from?”

“Yes.”

“Can you give me a tour of the city?”

“I’m ready when you are.”

She ran to the bathroom to dry her hair. “I’ll be ready in ten.”

“I’ll be at your door.”

Johan was a man of his word. When she opened the door, she found him standing with his back to her, watching the empty hallway, as if he was expecting an attack at any moment. As she stepped up beside him, he spoke in a foreign language that she belatedly identified as Danish.

“Say that again,” she said.

She listened carefully as he repeated himself. When she copied him, he smiled.

“Not bad.”

“What did I say?”

“Welcome to Copenhagen,” he said as he led her down the hallway.

“Will you teach me Danish?”

“If you like.”

She nodded. “Where’s Mo?”

“Waiting in the lobby.”

“Is there anything you need to do?”

He gave her a sidelong glance as they walked down the grand staircase. “What do you mean?”

“This is where you’re from. Is there anyone you want to see? Something you need to do today?”

“No.”

She frowned and opened her mouth to ask another question, but was distracted by the massive Christmas tree filling the grand lobby.

“Am I missing something? Do they celebrate Christmas a month early?” she asked.

“We have Christmas markets that open in November and bring in people from all over the world.”

“Is that what’s going on in the square?”

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