CHAPTER 6: CHAPTER 6: BREAKFAST TOGETHER

The design department was bustling early the next morning.

As Sophia walked in, everyone’s eyes were fixed on her, and there were quite a few people pointing and whispering behind her back.

With one glance of her almond eyes, she could surmise that this "liveliness" might involve her.

"Sophia, the design department was robbed last night," Lily Ellison whispered beside her, "The design drafts prepared for the competition in the director’s office were found at your desk."

As soon as Sophia heard this, she immediately understood.

The year-end design competition among designers in the department had many colleagues submitting their finalized drafts to Director Wyatt Nash for safekeeping.

If they went missing or were leaked, then all the designers’ efforts would have been in vain, and they’d have to redesign, wasting time and giving competitors a chance to catch up.

Sophia didn’t say anything and glanced around.

The crowd was stunned by her sharp gaze, perhaps not expecting Sophia to remain so unperturbed.

The design department fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

She chuckled lightly, not even having a chance to set down her bag and tablet, then she noticed a small stack of documents on her desk.

With disdain, she picked up the documents pinned under her fingers with her index and thumb, lifted her eyes, and scanned the crowd again.

"Your design drafts might have found their way to my desk." She released her grip disdainfully, and sure enough, the drafts were neatly piled on her workstation.

Everyone knew the drafts were on her desk, but no one had dared to take them, all waiting for her arrival to confront her.

"Sophia! You don’t need to do such things if you want to be first!"

"I wondered why you were still working overtime last night! You were really just borrowing our works!"

"The work is confidential, but you’ve seen ours, where’s the fairness in that?"

...

The crowd was bustling, all blaming Sophia.

Sophia remained unruffled.

"If I wanted to borrow them, I’d have taken pictures and reviewed them at home, still keeping the drafts on my desk? I might as well throw them in the trash! Leaving you with no leads!

Why would I post on social media about working overtime? Shouldn’t I be hiding far away instead?

Who would do something so ridiculously obvious?"

The crowd was left speechless.

Yet, many remained unconvinced, especially the veteran designers, who wished she could be crushed on the spot.

Sophia was reluctant to listen, throwing all the drafts on the side printer.

She generally had a good temper, at least not stirring conflict before establishing herself in a new company.

But for some reason, she could no longer tolerate any grievances recently.

"What’s going on here? Such a commotion early in the morning!" Wyatt Nash entered, followed by Zane Sterling and Ethan Sinclair.

For the first time, seeing the boss’s sudden arrival, everyone fell silent.

Sophia glanced at Wyatt Nash, caught Zane Sterling’s eyes behind him near Wyatt’s ear, and quickly retracted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes for long.

"It’s nothing, just Ms. Lowell borrowing the year-end competition drafts last night, just a few casual complaints." Someone started.

"I didn’t." Sophia’s tone was firm.

She noticed Zane Sterling had been staring at her, and his cold gaze made her feel nervous, even slightly trembling as she spoke.

"Evidence is essential in everything. Though I returned very late last night, it doesn’t imply I was the one who did it.

Besides, from my perspective, none of the works here hold any reference value to me, and I don’t believe they could hinder my chance of coming first at the year-end."

... The design department was bustling again.

Some called her arrogant, some conceited, and others accused her of speaking boastfully.

Zane Sterling listened, then gently looked down and chuckled lightly.

"Check the surveillance, and you’ll know." Wyatt Nash.

"The security said there was maintenance last night, and the camera was inoperable. It only captured Ms. Lowell working in the office, not taking any drafts." Lily Ellison answered, trembling.

The first moment things happened, Lily had checked the cameras, hoping to vindicate her good friend.

Without a conclusion, they remained in endless disputes, and Sophia chose to stay silent, pondering over how the stack of drafts ended up in front of her.

"Sophia."

A calm voice emerged from the crowd, causing everyone to suddenly quiet down.

It was Zane Sterling, "Come with me."

His tone was indifferent, still as cold as ever.

After speaking, he turned towards the elevator.

As he turned, everyone began to whisper quietly.

Everyone believed she was about to face a harsh reprimand.

Sophia, upright and unafraid, followed suit, holding her head high.

Stepping into the elevator, a hint of sandalwood scent from him calmed her restless mood gradually.

Once inside his office, Ethan Sinclair walked out and closed the door.

"Sit down and have breakfast together." He pointed to the simple morning tea on the table.

"Hmm?" She was slightly taken aback.

What does this mean?

She tried to say something but was interrupted by her stomach growling untimely.

He sat down, unwrapped a pair of disposable chopsticks, and handed it to the dazed Sophia.

Sophia didn’t understand why the situation reversed so quickly, but tempted by the allure of food, she accepted the chopsticks and sat across from him.

Today, she wore loose casual pants and a semi-high neck short-sleeved T-shirt, with her casually messy bun neatly atop her head, looking effortlessly seductive.

Occasionally drawing Zane Sterling’s unintentional glances.

She ate slowly, and in sync with Sophia’s pace, Zane slowed down, eating leisurely with her.

"Are you full?" Zane Sterling.

"Hmm."

Sophia pulled a tissue and wiped her mouth.

This month, she’d been too busy preparing for National Day to have a proper breakfast.

"Work well, go on." He started tidying up.

Sophia hastily followed to help, accidentally brushing her small hand against his warm palm, she retracted it and tucked it behind her.

"Then I’ll leave."

"Hmm." He didn’t even lift his head.

Sophia didn’t understand why he brought her up here now, thinking he might inquire about the design drafts after breakfast, but he said nothing.

She paused at the door, turned, and looked at him: "Mr. Sterling."

"Hmm." He tossed the takeaway box into the trash, dusted off his hands, and looked at her with clear, bright eyes.

"Let’s not mention our matter to others."

"Which one?"

Which one?

"All of them."

"Alright." He replied before heading to his desk.

Sophia let out a breath of relief, unclear of the domineering CEO’s intention.

Returning to her workstation, the office atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

"Do you want the leftover dumplings?" Lily pushed the dumplings towards Sophia.

"No, I’m full." She sat down.

"Right, you’re probably full from anger!"

After a while, Ethan Sinclair entered and called Wyatt Nash upstairs.

The discussions grew louder, unabashedly drafting the next Chapter.

"Did the abstinent boss scold you?" Lily asked quietly.

"No."

"Then what did you do up there for ten minutes?"

"He just asked some questions about this morning’s events."

Sophia felt guilty, quickly changing the subject and starting her day’s work.