Chapter 45


    Sophia woke up slightlyte. She had been in a good moodst night. However, a meeting with the


    insolent Evan after dinner and a tiff with Alexander had thoroughly ruined her mood. She had gone to


    bedte. Her rm clock cried in vain at six in the morning.


    It was already seven, almost eight.


    Sophia cursorily scrolled through her phone. She got out of bed and stepped into the shower. Then,


    she made herself a quick sandwich and a ss of milk. She wolfed down her breakfast while scrolling


    through Twitter.


    For once, everything was fine. There was not a scrap of news that involved her.


    Sophia gulped down thest of her milk. After turning the yoga mat out, she went downstairs to feed


    her goldfish.


    Even in November, Jadeborough was not a cold ce. It was close to nine o''clock when the sun had


    fully risen. There was just a slightly cool breeze.


    Sprinkling food into the fishbowl, she was about to head back upstairs for two hours of yoga when her


    phone suddenly rang.


    It was Benjamin.


    She raised a brow as she hadn''t expected him to uncover information about Bethany so quickly.


    “Good morning, Mr. Morris.”


    “Good morning. Something happenedst night. I think it''s crucial that you should be informed about it


    in advance.”


    Sophia frowned. She was somewhat baffled. “I''m sorry, I don''t follow. What do you mean?”


    “Let me rify. After we parted yesterday, I had the opportunity of nting a bug on Bethany''s phone.


    Last night, she went to the bar. At first, she wanted to leave with Samuel and Charles, but she was


    rejected by them. In the end, she got into the car of a man named Jay.”


    Sophia hummed in acknowledgment as she digested the new information.


    She waited patiently for Benjamin to continue.


    Thetter continued, “Last night, Ms. White and Jay were in a room at Salia Hotel. After listening to the


    wiretap recording, I found that she talked about you with Jay.”


    A man and a woman spent a night together in a hotel room. Every adult knew what that meant.


    Sophia didn''t know Bethany was that type of person, but that wasn''t the main point. What she was


    puzzled by was why Bethany had mentioned her name in a conversation with Jay.


    “Well, what did she talk about with Jay?”


    “I must say, you''re quite a sharpdy, Ms. Yarrow.”


    Benjamin chuckled triumphantly and yed the recording for Sophia.


    The voice in the recording was initially thin and reedy. After a few seconds, Sophia could pick up a pair


    of human voices in the conversation. “You''re even better than I thought!” “Is that so? How do Ipare


    with Sophia?” “Why? Is there some rivalry between the two of you?” “You''re quite perceptive.” “Well, I''ll


    have to hook up with your rival sometime.” “I believe you''ll soon get that chance.”


    Sophia was silent for a few moments after listening to the recording. Clearing her throat, she asked,


    “Do you know what sort of person this Jay is?”


    “I''ll look into him if it''s something you''re interested in finding out.”


    Sophia chuckled. “Good. I''ll send your fee over right away.”


    “You''re quick, Ms. Yarrow. I like that. I believe it''ll take me about three days to dig up some information


    on Jay. Well, I''ll hang up now. I shan''t bother you any longer.”


    “Good luck,” said Sophia.


    She stared at her phone in disbelief for a few seconds before trudging upstairs.


    After her yoga session, Yvonne called to remind her that she had a lunch appointment with Tobias at


    noon.


    The reminder was unnecessary. Sophia remembered the appointment very well. After a quick shower


    and a change of clothes, she spent half an hour dabbing on some makeup before stepping out of her


    house.


    Yvonne was waiting for her at the restaurant entrance.


    Spotting her car, Yvonne walked up to the driver''s seat. “Ms. Yarrow.”


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Sophia nodded and smiled in greeting. Taking off her shades, she asked, “Has Tobias arrived?”


    “He reached ten minutes ago.”


    “I see. That might mean he''s quite sincere.”


    As Yvonne led her into the restaurant, she said, “Mr. White''s opening offer is three hundred million.”


    Sophia smiled wryly. “That''s quite a number.”


    She thought, “Expedite was listed on the market five years ago. It''s now valued at more than two


    billion. However, Tobias wants us to pay thirty million for five percent in shares. What a farce.”


    Collecting herself, Sophia put on a cold, calcting expression and followed Yvonne to a private room


    in the restaurant.


    Just as Yvonne opened the door to the room, Tobias stood up and eximed, “Ms. Suny!”


    Upon seeing Sophia, Tobias'' expression changed noticeably. “Why are you here?”


    Sophia chuckled. “Ms. Suny is... busy. As her new secretary, I''m here in her stead.”


    Smiling faintly, she continued, “Hi, Mr. White. I don''t think it''s necessary to introduce myself.”


    She wanted to photograph and frame the look on Tobias'' face. When she and Alexander had gotten


    married, the White family had made gossiping about her their household pastime. Once, the White


    family paid the Xenos residence a visit. Tobias'' wife and Kristen had gleefully mocked and insulted her


    to her face. The memory was still fresh.


    If there was one thing Sophia was good at, it was bearing grudges.


    She still remembered the event, though it happened two years ago.


    Tobias was unsure how to react. Sophia calmly took a seat while Yvonne poured her a cup of tea.


    With obvious difficulty, Tobiasposed himself. He stared at Sophia. “Ms. Yarrow, you have changed


    since thest time I saw you.”


    Sophia beamed graciously. “People change. Some of the credit has to go to Mrs. White''s... tutge.


    Please help me thank her when you get the chance.”


    Tobias had spent many years immersed in the world ofmerce. He clearly understood the


    implication and resentment behind Sophia''s words.


    He shifted his feet ufortably like he was wearing ill-fitting shoes. He didn''t know whether he


    should leave or stay. It was a real dilemma.


    He was even beginning to regret contacting Sunshine Group. If he had known that Ms. Suny wouldn''t


    be present, he wouldn''t have bothered asking for an in-person meeting to conduct negotiations.


    He had refrained from any cruelments when Sophia married into the Xenos family. However, he


    knew that his wife and daughter soon found a new hobby in tripping up and making fun of Sophia.


    For the first time in his life, Tobias grasped the meaning of the well-worn adage—between a rock and a


    hard ce.


    Having finished speaking, Sophia leisurely flipped through the restaurant menu. Without the least bit of


    shyness, she ordered two expensive dishes. Looking up at Tobias, she said, “Expedite is valued on the


    market today at about two and a half billion to three billion. Yet, for some strange reason, you want us


    to pay thirty million for five percent. Do you think Sunshine Group is in the business of printing money?”


    There was a predatory grin on her face. She was going straight for the jugr.


    Tobias was a sly man, but he didn''t know what to say in this situation. He wished to just leave.


    However, things were different this time. He had no cards to y. If Sunshine Group chose not to


    invest, Expedite was finished. They would struggle to exist even if they managed to survive this


    particr obstacle.


    Sophia nced at him triumphantly. She shed a look to Yvonne, who promptly shoved an acquisition


    booklet in front of Tobias.


    Sophia said, “How about this, Mr. White? I have a suggestion. For two and a half billion, Sunshine


    Group will buy out Expedite. What do you say?”


    She could see a throbbing vein on Tobias'' forehead. He cried, “You... you swindler!”


    Sophia tutted disapprovingly like a disappointed parent. “Well, it seems there''s no point in continuing


    this conversation. In that case, I think I''ll leave now.”


    shing Yvonne a look, she stood up.


    Halfway out the door, Sophia stopped and grinned at Tobias. “By the way, Ms. White seems to have a


    lot of free time on her hand these days. You should treat her well. You might regret it if something


    happens to her.”


    Sophia stepped out the door without sparing Tobias another nce.


    As she left the room, she bumped head-first into Alexander.