Chapter 252


    Tim’s eyes were as cold as a viper’s when he heard what Tina had said, but he kept his voice light


    as he countered gently, “There is no need to kill her; sometimes living can be far more torturous


    than death.”


    “What does that mean?” Tina frowned on the other line, obviously displeased to hear that he


    refused to kill Sonia.


    The white light refracted off Tim’s sses as he exined with forced patience, “What I mean is


    that we could rustle up a couple of men to ruin herpletely while recording the process. That


    way, the child she’s carrying will be as good as gone, and she would be so agonized that she’d beg


    for death.”


    Tina lit up at this. “You’re right. Killing her would be doing her a favor, so we might as well let her


    suffer in purgatory for the rest of her life. I must say the n is a very appealing one indeed.”


    When all was over and done with, Toby wouldn’t think about loving a tainted and ruined Sonia


    anymore, even if he were to discover that she was Maple.


    Sonia’s life, on the other hand, would bepletely destroyed. She would never be able to keep


    her head high in society anymore, and she would live the rest of her days being ostracized by


    everyone. Even Paradigm Co. would be theughingstock of the industry because of her


    disgrace.


    Indeed, killing her would be too easy on her, especially when she deserves far worse punishments


    than death. Tina was practically trembling with twisted anticipation as the thought cemented in her


    mind.


    On the other line, Tim mused with a dark and unreadable expression, “Am I right to presume you’re


    on board with the idea?”


    “Yes.” Tina nodded decisively. She was much more than agreeable to the idea; she could hardly


    wait to see ite to fruition! Seized with newfound excitement, she urged, “When do you n on


    striking?”


    “Tomorrow. Would you like toe over and see the n in action?” Tim asked slowly as he turned


    his scalpel this way and that.


    Tina looked dazed for a moment, then deviously smiled as she quipped, “Of course. I want to see


    Sonia dragged into prison personally!”


    Bored, Tim flicked his thumb against the edge of the de of his scalpel and drawled, “Very well. I’ll


    lure Sonia over to Bay Street tomorrow.


    There’s hardly ever a crowd, and you can wait for


    me there.”


    Tina hung up the call, and she grew giddy with excitement as malice filled her eyes. “You’re done


    for, Sonia!”


    “Ah-choo!” In the presidential office at Fuller Group, Sonia had only just opened her notebook when


    she felt a sharp prickling sensation in her nose, and before she could stop herself, she let out a


    sneeze.


    Toby ced a cup of tea in front of her and asked casually, “Feeling cold?”


    “I’m fine,” Sonia replied, sniffing as she drew her fitted zer tighter around herself.


    The thermostat in the office had been turned on. The temperature was fine, but there was a moment


    earlier when Sonia had felt a chill running down her spine and raising goosebumps along her skin.


    Meanwhile, Toby pursed his lips in mild dismay when he saw Sonia’s gesture and cranked up the


    heating by a fraction. “That should keep the room warm,” he dered.


    “Thank you, President Fuller.” Sonia shed him a courteous smile. She didn’t think that he was


    doing this out of concern for her. Rather, it was a considerate gesture on his part to make sure his


    business partner didn’t catch a cold. She would have done the same thing if she were in his shoes.


    Presently, Toby hummed in response and made no other remark, then set the thermostat remote


    aside before taking up his seat next to her.


    As he did so, Sonia could smell the faint scent of peppermint that lingered on him. She stiffened,


    and her thoughts drifted far away as she was transported back to the day she had first met him,


    which was well over ten years ago.


    Images of a young girl standing underneath arge tree shed in Sonia’s mind. The girl was


    secretly taking photos of the boy she liked, and when the breeze picked up, it carried with it the


    boy’s crisp peppermint scent. Pulled back into reality, Sonia realized how this exact moment in the


    office mirrored her memories, but she no longer felt the butterflies in her stomach as she once had.


    The peppermint scent was still there, but the boy she liked was a whole different person now.


    She drew in a sharp breath and steadied the emotions that stirred within her like a tempest, then


    gazed up at Toby with an unreadable look as she said, “You should think about switching up your


    cologne, President Fuller. The one you’re wearing hardly suits you, and if I may be so bold,


    I think something more ocean-breeze would be perfect for your type.”


    Upon hearing this, Toby felt his heart twist.


    He had been using the peppermint scent for over a decade, and he never stopped because it was


    Maple’s favorite. This was the first time anyone had told him so forthrightly that the scent did not


    be him.


    Also, what’s with that look she gave me? If I saw correctly, it was almost like she was seeing some


    other person through me. I wonder who that person could be. Was it Charles or Carl?


    When Sonia felt the air around them grow cold and heavy, her brows knitted together. Is he mad


    about what I just told him? At the thought of this, she managed an embarrassed smile and said


    flippantly, “I’m sorry, President Fuller. I spoke out of turn earlier. Just pretend as if I never said


    anything in the first ce.”


    Toby’s lips were pressed into a thin line. “Does the scent really not suit me at all?”


    “Huh?” She blinked at him, bewildered that he was asking further on this matter instead of snapping


    at her. She took a sip of her tea and asked carefully, “Do you want the truth, or would you prefer a


    white lie?”


    He looked at her, deadpan, as he replied, “What do you think?”


    A smallugh escaped her as she said, “Well, then. Since you asked, I’m going to tell you outright


    that the scent doesn’t suit you anymore.


    “What do you mean ‘anymore’?” He narrowed his eyes at her skeptically, feeling as if there was


    more to her words than they seemed.


    However, she shook her head and refused to borate any further. She put down her cup and


    pushed the notebook toward him. “President Fuller, do you think you could tell me more about these


    points I’ve underlined?”


    Toby regarded her darkly. Atst, he set aside his questions and began to exin to her the details


    of the meeting.


    After an hour or so, Sonia closed her notebook and rose from her seat, thereafter bowing at Toby as


    she said gratefully, “Thank you for taking the time to exin these to me, President Fuller.


    I think I understand the points better now.”


    Even she had to admit that he was a capable teacher. He had managed to put the concept of


    alternative energy into simple terms that even a newbie such as herself couldprehend; if there


    had been any points that confused her before, there were none now, and she could read up on the


    rest of her notes with just an extra bit of research this evening.


    Following this session, she felt confident that she coulde up with the analytical report by


    tomorrow.


    “You’re wee.” Toby reached out a hand to help Sonia up from her seat, but she got onto her


    feet first and dodged his hand.


    He stared at his hand, which hovered in mid-air, and his face darkened imperceptibly. Then,


    pretending as if nothing happened, he withdrew his hand and said inly, “This project calls for


    teamwork, and I don’t want anyone to be deadweight, so feel free toe to me should you


    face any problems. There’s no need for you to shoulder through everything on your own.”


    When Sonia heard this, she found herself thinking, So I was right after all—he only helped me


    because he didn’t want me to drag down the rest of the team.


    Now that her guess was proved correct, she broke into a smile. It was a good thing that he offered


    her help for the sake of the team’s best interests. It eased her mind and kept her from second-


    guessing his intentions.


    Relieved, she looked him in the eyes and said, “I understand. Thank you in advance, President


    Fuller.”


    He lowered his gaze. “You’re wee.”


    At that moment, Sonia nced at her watch as she announced, “Well, it’s gettingte, and I should


    be going. I’ll see you tomorrow, President Fuller.”


    Toby’s lips parted slightly like he was about to say something to make her stay, but in the end,


    words deserted him, and he watched mutely as she left his office.


    When the door fell shut with a decisive click, he was all alone in the spacious office once more.


    His gaze broke away from the door and fell onto the seat in which Sonia had been mere minutes


    ago, his thoughts far away.


    Secondster, he looked toward the coffee table where her cup of tea was resting. He saw that the


    rim of the cup clearly bore the red smudge of her lipstick stain.


    He stared at the stain, and his eyes were dark pools as he reached for the cup, then brought it up.


    Then, he took a sip of the tea, pressing the stain against his own lips.


    The tea had gone cold, and as the liquid trickled down his throat and into his stomach, he realized


    what he was doing. His expression shifted, and quickly, he put the cup down, then clenched his fists


    in frustration.


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    What the hell am I doing?


    He glowered at his own hand as storm clouds gathered in his eyes. He could hardly believe that he


    drank Sonia’s leftover tea. Is that strange mysterious force controlling me again?