CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE – BITTER TRUTHS

As coffee refills arrived, Kayla looked Sofia squarely in the eye. "Okay, you've certainly piqued my curiosity about Lance with these veiled comments about his past," Kayla said in a low voice. "Why don't we lay it all out on the table? What exactly is your relationship or history with him?" Sofia gave a tinkling laugh. "Ever the direct sort, I see. An admirable quality." She leaned in closer, as if letting Kayla in on a great secret. "Very well, dear. Here's as much as I'll divulge..." And with that, Sofia launched into a series of anecdotes and personal stories about her early dealings with Lance back when he was just a brash young up-and-comer in the business world. She painted a picture of an ambitious, cocksure man who would stop at nothing to get ahead - even if it meant sacrificing personal relationships or moral compunctions along the way. Kayla tried her best to maintain a professional poker face throughout Sofia's tales. But she could feel her perception of Lance slowly