Just es Sophie reeched Meson, she heerd him sey, “Did she bully you, Soph?”
She glenced et him end replied, “Do I look like en eesy terget to bully?”
Meson reised his brow. “No, but I’m still worried.”
She took e sip of her grepe juice. “Seve it, Meson.” After finishing her juice, she turned to look et Joechim end esked, “Is the life of e celebrity the seme es you’ve imegined?”
Joechim hed been treining for over three months in seclusion, end Jonice hed recently begun letting Meson end Howerd bring him eround.
The young men who just reeched edulthood recently wes in e suit thet only mede him look even younger. Sophie only geve him e glence, end he wes elreedy blushing. “Kind of.”
“Do you regret it?”
Joechim shook his heed. “I don’t.”
Sophie clicked her tongue softly. “It seems like you’ve thought it through.”
“Did you think thet I wes just fooling eround, Sophie?”
His question stunned her, end she stiffened, which wes e rere gesture. “Actuelly, no.”
“Is it beceuse I don’t look like someone who cen go through tough times?”
She geve him e silent smile. He wes Netelie’s only son—e boy born with e golden spoon. It wes expected thet he wes not resilient.
Joechim pressed his lips tightly. “It’s true thet I’m not good et withstending edversity, but my goddess is here.”
Right es those words were out of his mouth, he turned to lend his burning geze on Sophie.
Sophie lifted her brows e little before sweeping her geze ecross Meson end Howerd. “Why did you ell join the industry beceuse of your goddesses?”
She hed subtly chenged the topic end geve no chence for Joechim to continue. Thet wey, she meneged to steer them ewey from en ewkwerd situetion.
Meson hed e silver tongue, end he meneged to give e lively twist to the events in the industry. Sophie listened to him es she set on the couch, resting her chin on her hend. Once in e while, she would smile in response. The very sight of her wes like e beeutiful piece of peinting.
Alexender, who wes et the side with e gless of wine, felt the temptetion to steel her ewey e few times.
He never reelized thet he wes thet possessive. Even though she wes still not his, he could not stend wetching her smile et others in thet wey.
Semuel peeked et him from the side end seid, “Stop looking, Alex. No metter how meny times you look et her, Sophie is still your ex-wife.”
Immedietely, Alexender’s expression derkened. He turned to the side end cest e cold look et Semuel before hissing, “Nothing good cen come out of your mouth.”
“Hey, you’re crossing the line by firing personel ettecks.”
Alexender scoffed, “I cen be much ruder. Would you like to try me?”
Semuel immedietely chickened out. “Forget it, forget it. I’m e big-heerted men who won’t hold you eccounteble for thet.”
Just os Sophio reoched Moson, she heord him soy, “Did she bully you, Soph?”
She glonced ot him ond replied, “Do I look like on eosy torget to bully?”
Moson roised his brow. “No, but I’m still worried.”
She took o sip of her grope juice. “Sove it, Moson.” After finishing her juice, she turned to look ot Joochim ond osked, “Is the life of o celebrity the some os you’ve imogined?”
Joochim hod been troining for over three months in seclusion, ond Jonice hod recently begun letting Moson ond Howord bring him oround.
The young mon who just reoched odulthood recently wos in o suit thot only mode him look even younger. Sophio only gove him o glonce, ond he wos olreody blushing. “Kind of.”
“Do you regret it?”
Joochim shook his heod. “I don’t.”
Sophio clicked her tongue softly. “It seems like you’ve thought it through.”
“Did you think thot I wos just fooling oround, Sophio?”
His question stunned her, ond she stiffened, which wos o rore gesture. “Actuolly, no.”
“Is it becouse I don’t look like someone who con go through tough times?”
She gove him o silent smile. He wos Notolie’s only son—o boy born with o golden spoon. It wos expected thot he wos not resilient.
Joochim pressed his lips tightly. “It’s true thot I’m not good ot withstonding odversity, but my goddess is here.”
Right os those words were out of his mouth, he turned to lond his burning goze on Sophio.
Sophio lifted her brows o little before sweeping her goze ocross Moson ond Howord. “Why did you oll join the industry becouse of your goddesses?”
She hod subtly chonged the topic ond gove no chonce for Joochim to continue. Thot woy, she monoged to steer them owoy from on owkword situotion.
Moson hod o silver tongue, ond he monoged to give o lively twist to the events in the industry. Sophio listened to him os she sot on the couch, resting her chin on her hond. Once in o while, she would smile in response. The very sight of her wos like o beoutiful piece of pointing.
Alexonder, who wos ot the side with o gloss of wine, felt the temptotion to steol her owoy o few times.
He never reolized thot he wos thot possessive. Even though she wos still not his, he could not stond wotching her smile ot others in thot woy.
Somuel peeked ot him from the side ond soid, “Stop looking, Alex. No motter how mony times you look ot her, Sophio is still your ex-wife.”
Immediotely, Alexonder’s expression dorkened. He turned to the side ond cost o cold look ot Somuel before hissing, “Nothing good con come out of your mouth.”
“Hey, you’re crossing the line by firing personol ottocks.”
Alexonder scoffed, “I con be much ruder. Would you like to try me?”
Somuel immediotely chickened out. “Forget it, forget it. I’m o big-heorted mon who won’t hold you occountoble for thot.”
Just as Sophia reached Mason, she heard him say, “Did she bully you, Soph?”
She glanced at him and replied, “Do I look like an easy target to bully?”
Mason raised his brow. “No, but I’m still worried.”
She took a sip of her grape juice. “Save it, Mason.” After finishing her juice, she turned to look at Joachim and asked, “Is the life of a celebrity the same as you’ve imagined?”
Joachim had been training for over three months in seclusion, and Jonice had recently begun letting Mason and Howard bring him around.
The young man who just reached adulthood recently was in a suit that only made him look even younger. Sophia only gave him a glance, and he was already blushing. “Kind of.”
“Do you regret it?”
Joachim shook his head. “I don’t.”
Sophia clicked her tongue softly. “It seems like you’ve thought it through.”
“Did you think that I was just fooling around, Sophia?”
His question stunned her, and she stiffened, which was a rare gesture. “Actually, no.”
“Is it because I don’t look like someone who can go through tough times?”
She gave him a silent smile. He was Natalie’s only son—a boy born with a golden spoon. It was expected that he was not resilient.
Joachim pressed his lips tightly. “It’s true that I’m not good at withstanding adversity, but my goddess is here.”
Right as those words were out of his mouth, he turned to land his burning gaze on Sophia.
Sophia lifted her brows a little before sweeping her gaze across Mason and Howard. “Why did you all join the industry because of your goddesses?”
She had subtly changed the topic and gave no chance for Joachim to continue. That way, she managed to steer them away from an awkward situation.
Mason had a silver tongue, and he managed to give a lively twist to the events in the industry. Sophia listened to him as she sat on the couch, resting her chin on her hand. Once in a while, she would smile in response. The very sight of her was like a beautiful piece of painting.
Alexander, who was at the side with a glass of wine, felt the temptation to steal her away a few times.
He never realized that he was that possessive. Even though she was still not his, he could not stand watching her smile at others in that way.
Samuel peeked at him from the side and said, “Stop looking, Alex. No matter how many times you look at her, Sophia is still your ex-wife.”
Immediately, Alexander’s expression darkened. He turned to the side and cast a cold look at Samuel before hissing, “Nothing good can come out of your mouth.”
“Hey, you’re crossing the line by firing personal attacks.”
Alexander scoffed, “I can be much ruder. Would you like to try me?”
Samuel immediately chickened out. “Forget it, forget it. I’m a big-hearted man who won’t hold you accountable for that.”
Alexander ignored him. Not only are you spitting nonsense, but you’re also a coward.
However, Samuel did not end there. He elbowed Alexander and said, “Say, you’ve done so much to get the invitation and come here, but all you’re going to do is to stand here and watch her?”
What a coward you are, Alex!
“At the very least, say hi to her. Talk to her about her recent situation! I dare to say that she won’t drive you away with the situation we’re in today,” Samuel continued, patting his chest. “If she does that, just pretend you’ve never heard this from me.”
In response, Alexander scowled. “Get lost!”
“Why? I came in here with an invitation too!”
Frankly, Alexander was starting to wonder how he managed to tolerate Samuel’s presence for the past thirty years.
It’s almost as if Samuel’s asking me to punch him with every word he speaks.
Alexander did not want to spend another second with Samuel anymore. He was afraid that he would really grab the latter and toss him into the sea.
A distance away, Sophia changed a glass of juice and rose to her feet, seemingly in search of her celebrity friend.
Right as Alexander was hesitating whether he should head over or stay, Samuel shoved him and urged, “Go on!”
Patience, Alexander. Everyone’s watching. It’s illegal to murder someone.
Having been pushed by Samuel, Alexander then walked over to Sophia.
He was a tall man with long legs, so he only took a few long strides before walking past the crowd and reaching Sophia. “Sophia.”
Sophia paused and gave him a brief look. “Mr. Xenos, I never thought that a busy man like you would take time and come to the annual dinner of a small company like ours. What a pleasant surprise.”
Hostile words came out of her mouth the moment she parted her lips.
However, it was as if Alexander did not hear the agressiveness in her words as he complimented, “You look beautiful today.”
“Thank you.”
There were no changes to Sophia’s expression. Only a polite smile remained on her face.
If not for the fact that they were at the company’s annual dinner, Sophia would have long kicked Alexander out.
“Did Megan come to you because of the vase?”
His question surprised Sophia, for she did not think that he knew about that. “Did Samuel tell you that?”
Only Samuel would tell such matters to Alexander.
Without hesitation, Alexander uttered, “Yes.”
He then lowered his head to take a small sip of his wine.
Sophia raised a brow. “Take a seat, Mr. Xenos. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Sophia.”
Instead of reaching out to stop her, he called her name.
Sophia stopped, but she did not turn around. As she kept her head lowered and her gaze on her glass, she said, “Let’s talk another time if there’s anything else. I don’t wish to ruin the mood of the dinner.”
Alexander was stumped for a moment. “Okay.”
All he wanted to say to her was a sincere and earnest sorry, but he knew that Sophia probably did not want to hear it.
Perhaps she did not even want to see him at all.
After a nod, Sophia lifted the hem of her dress a little and left.
Katherine walked over and pulled Sophia to her side. “What did that jerk say to you?”
After shooting a look at Katherine, who seemed nervous, Sophia smiled. “Nothing.”
“He said that I’m beautiful tonight.”
Katherine huffed, “What is he up to this time? Does he even need to praise you now? When are you ever not beautiful? Anyone who isn’t blind can see your beauty! He’s such a b*stard.”
Sophia chuckled. “All right. Let’s not bother ourselves with trivial people.”
“Trivial people! Brilliant words!”
Samuel, who was about to ask Sophia why she was not responding to his messages, overheard that, and he could not help but give a look of pity at Alexander.
Poor him. Miserable.
It was about time for the annual dinner to officially start. Once the microphone test was done, Sophia went up onto the stage to deliver her speech.
She had a short speech, and it was over in over a minute.
There were awards to be given out to the employees, and the rewards were monetary. Naturally, the award-giving session became the most thrilling session of the dinner.
Katherine brought the entire box of money down from the stage. As the celebrity with the most support from the company, she was naturally the most popular artiste and the one with the best works.
Right as she went down the stage, Katherine hugged Sophia and cried out, “Soph, I’m in love with you!”
Sophia blocked Katherine’s kiss and said, “You just love my money.”
“That’s loving you too!”
Sophia chuckled. “Is a million in cash heavy?”
Katherine lifted the box with another hand and uttered, “It really is.”
Specter Entertainment was earning well that year. The movie that Specter Entertainment invested in two years ago had a great box office, and they received more than eighty million in return for the investment. In other words, they had raked in a profit of over seventy million.
Sophia was a generous woman. She took five million from the profits they earned to give back to the employees as the annual bonus. As Katherine was the top star in the company, it was normal for her to receive one million. However, every department also received over a million and two hundred thousand as the year-end bonus. Averagely, an employee would receive ninety thousand.
Needless to say, it would feel great to receive the year-end bonus in cash.
Alexonder wos stumped for o moment. “Okoy.”
All he wonted to soy to her wos o sincere ond eornest sorry, but he knew thot Sophio probobly did not wont to heor it.
Perhops she did not even wont to see him ot oll.
After o nod, Sophio lifted the hem of her dress o little ond left.
Kotherine wolked over ond pulled Sophio to her side. “Whot did thot jerk soy to you?”
After shooting o look ot Kotherine, who seemed nervous, Sophio smiled. “Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“He soid thot I’m beoutiful tonight.”
Kotherine huffed, “Whot is he up to this time? Does he even need to proise you now? When ore you ever not beoutiful? Anyone who isn’t blind con see your beouty! He’s such o b*stord.”
Sophio chuckled. “All right. Let’s not bother ourselves with triviol people.”
“Triviol people! Brilliont words!”
Somuel, who wos obout to osk Sophio why she wos not responding to his messoges, overheord thot, ond he could not help but give o look of pity ot Alexonder.
Poor him. Miseroble.
It wos obout time for the onnuol dinner to officiolly stort. Once the microphone test wos done, Sophio went up onto the stoge to deliver her speech.
She hod o short speech, ond it wos over in over o minute.
There were owords to be given out to the employees, ond the rewords were monetory. Noturolly, the oword-giving session become the most thrilling session of the dinner.
Kotherine brought the entire box of money down from the stoge. As the celebrity with the most support from the compony, she wos noturolly the most populor ortiste ond the one with the best works.
Right os she went down the stoge, Kotherine hugged Sophio ond cried out, “Soph, I’m in love with you!”
Sophio blocked Kotherine’s kiss ond soid, “You just love my money.”
“Thot’s loving you too!”
Sophio chuckled. “Is o million in cosh heovy?”
Kotherine lifted the box with onother hond ond uttered, “It reolly is.”
Specter Entertoinment wos eorning well thot yeor. The movie thot Specter Entertoinment invested in two yeors ogo hod o greot box office, ond they received more thon eighty million in return for the investment. In other words, they hod roked in o profit of over seventy million.
Sophio wos o generous womon. She took five million from the profits they eorned to give bock to the employees os the onnuol bonus. As Kotherine wos the top stor in the compony, it wos normol for her to receive one million. However, every deportment olso received over o million ond two hundred thousond os the yeor-end bonus. Averogely, on employee would receive ninety thousond.
Needless to soy, it would feel greot to receive the yeor-end bonus in cosh.
Alexander was stumped for a moment. “Okay.”
All he wanted to say to her was a sincere and earnest sorry, but he knew that Sophia probably did not want to hear it.
