Sophia pulled out five hundred dollars and laid it on the table.
"Today’s coffee is on ," she said with a calm smile. "Let’s call it my treat—just two won being civil. But, Miss Nelson, if you ever spread another lie like that..." She leaned in slightly, her voice turning sharp. "You’ll be forcing to dig up proof myself."
She flashed one last poised smile and turned to leave. As she walked out, Riley’s eyes widened—the woman who’d just begged for her autograph was now walking side by side with Sophia.
"She played ?" Riley hissed. Her manicured fingers curled into fists, knuckles whitening. "Sophia... you’ll regret this."
Outside the café, Harper bead. "So? How’d I do? Pretty convincing, right?"
Sophia gave her a look. "Drop the act. Riley’s not the type to back off easily. I’ll need soone to keep an eye on her."
"You still don’t trust Lucas?" Harper teased.
Sophia’s lips curved faintly. "It’s not about trust. I’m clearing the path for him. Riley’s a Nelson—her family’s influence runs deep. It’s not their company that worries ; it’s her social pull. If she decides to make a scene, Lucas could end up being publicly condemned before he even realizes what hit him."
Harper frowned. "So this is about protecting him."
Sophia nodded. "The Morgan and Wright families have been quiet lately—finally so breathing room. You stay on Olivia. Keep updated if she makes a move."
"Got it. I should head ho anyway," Harper sighed. "My parents are furious with my brother again. I’ll go play the dutiful daughter-slash-decoy."
"William?"
"Who else? My precious big brother." She winked. "Text you later!"
Sophia smiled as Harper left.
Inside the car, six pairs of bright little eyes stared at her.
"Mommy, are you helping Daddy again?" one of them asked.
"You little spies—how do you even know that?"
"Mommy, here." Billy handed her a neatly stacked folder.
"What’s this?"
Sophia flipped through a few pages, her brows arching. "Where did you get this?"
"Just trust us, Mommy," Billy said confidently. "It’ll help."
Sophia tucked the docunts under her arm and imdiately called, "Emma? I need you to handle sothing in Country D. I will send you all the information."
She then drove straight to YL Group’s City A branch—her first ti personally checking on the company since the rger.
"Wait a mont, ma’am—please show your ID," the guard at the entrance said firmly.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "And if I don’t have it?"
"Sorry, ma’am. Company rules. No one gets in without proper identification."
She pulled out her executive badge and held it up.
The man froze. "President Morgan!"
Sophia smiled coolly. "How much do you make here?"
"Uh... twenty-eight hundred dollars a month, ma’am."
In City A, that was barely enough to get by. Her expression darkened. I distinctly rember setting base pay at thirty-five hundred minimum.
"I see. One more question—why are you guarding the gate alone?"
"There should be two of you," she said sharply.
"Uh... he, uh, went to the restroom."
Sophia’s tone dropped to ice. "I don’t like liars. When he’s back, both of you report to my office."
She walked past him, her six little shadows trotting close behind—like ducklings following their mother.
Employees in the lobby stared, whispering to each other.
Then—ding! The elevator doors opened.
A man in uniform stepped out and walked straight into Sophia.
"Mommy!" the kids gasped, steadying her.
The man wasn’t so lucky—he stumbled backward and fell flat on the floor.
"Who the hell are you? Can’t you watch where you’re going?"
The man cursed under his breath as he stood up, brushing off his uniform. He looked young—too young—and the mont his eyes landed on Sophia, a smirk of arrogance crept across his face.
Then, as if suddenly rembering his job, he straightened up. "Who are you? I’ve never seen you before. How did you get in here? Where’s your ID badge? Co with —I’m going to search you."
Sophia let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Search ? Based on what authority?"
"On the authority of corporate security!" he barked, puffing out his chest. "It’s my duty to make sure no one’s carrying anything dangerous."
Eric took a step forward, ready to argue, but Sophia gently pressed his head down, stopping him. Her lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. "Alright then," she said coolly.
The guard blinked in surprise—he hadn’t expected her to agree. His eyes darkened. "Follow ."
Sophia glanced over her shoulder at her kids. "Go upstairs. Find Sean Turner, and tell him to co down here."
Dustin and Eric nodded, bolting for the elevator.
She followed the guard into the locker room.
"Raise your hands," he ordered, pulling out a handheld tal detector.
Sophia lifted her arms, her expression calm.
His hands trembled slightly as he moved closer, his gaze betraying excitent.
That was his mistake.
"Do you know karate?" Sophia asked casually.
"What—?"
Before he could finish, she grabbed his wrist and twisted hard.
"AHHH!"
His scream echoed down the hallway. Outside, a few employees stopped and stared at the door, exchanging uneasy looks as the man’s cries grew louder.
"What on earth is going on here?"
The elevator dinged open. A well-dressed man stepped out—Sean Turner, the branch director.
"Mr. Turner!" soone gasped as the group quickly parted.
Sean’s brows furrowed—then, suddenly—
BANG!
The door flew open, and the security guard was kicked straight out, crashing onto the floor. The sheer force made several bystanders flinch.
The woman who stepped out of the room was terrifyingly calm.
"Mr. Turner! She—she attacked ! She’s causing trouble!" the guard stamred, clutching his chest.
Sophia dusted off her hands and t Sean’s gaze.
The mont their eyes locked, recognition flashed between them. Sean’s posture shifted instantly—from executive authority to nervous deference.
"President Morgan," he said quickly, almost bowing, "I’m terribly sorry. You shouldn’t have been bothered. I’ll have him removed imdiately."
A ripple of shock passed through the crowd.
President Morgan?
The President from headquarters?!
Reviews
All reviews (0)