“No, we wouldn’t want a woman to do that now, would we? Might mess with the neat little boxes you keep trying to cram yourself into.” Her tone carried a hint of mocking, but she’d come here to push buttons and get answers. She had no intention of letting up on either front. “Tell me Your Ladyship, when was the last time anyone dared speak to you with something other than deference?”

Vic scoffed. “About two weeks ago.”

“Pray tell me who?”

Vic pressed her lips together and glanced away.

“Come on,” Sophia needled. “Don’t lose your momentum now. Who had the gall to chastise you?”

Vic sighed. “My mother.”

Sophia actually did laugh for real this time. “I suppose you managed to find the one woman around here who outranks you. Must be a short list. I’ll wager she didn’t get the axe for her transgression.”

Vic shook her head.

“You just took it, didn’t you?”

“No, I left Scotland.”

Sophia sneered. “Must be nice to have a second castle to run to when your mommy’s mean to you. But please, tell me more about how none of your decisions have been based on cowardice.”

“Okay.” Vic stood. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

“What if I don’t?” She kicked one leg out along the length of the couch, crossed the other over the top of it and settled in. “Will you call security? Or will you run away again?”

“Don’t be childish. It’s beneath you.”

“You have no idea what’s beneath me . . . honestly, the list is about as short as the one of people above you.”

“Am I supposed to respect that? Does it make you a better person? Cooler? Sexier? I married my best friend for honour and that makes me a coward? You’ve done . . . what?”

“You can’t even begin to imagine the things I’ve done.”

“To what end?” Vic asked.

She shrugged. “To get ahead.”

Vic wheeled on her, eyes blazing now. “To build a life of wealth and power? To bank some social or professional cachet? For the ability to call your own shots? Oh wait, you don’t get to do that either. You’re still taking cues from idiot directors and studio executives you disdain. You’re still jumping through hoops to please a fickle public. Wow, why does that sound familiar?”

Sophia seethed as her vision tinged red at that horrible little summary of her current reality delivered by someone who’d never understand what it took to claw her way up to it. “We are not the same.”

“Why not?” Vic pushed a step closer until she towered over Sophia’s still seated form.

She clenched her jaw. “I earned what’s mine.”