"I am telling you she is coming in today," a man in a black striped suit whispers urgently as he briskly passes the reception desk at Johnson and Associates Law Firm.
"There is no way. She hasn't been in for over three years. Why today?" the woman seated at the reception desk whispers.
Another woman, with an air of curiosity, approaches the desk and leans in, her voice hushed. "I heard she had a major something happen, which is why she is returning."
"Well, I heard that major something is that she lost a lot of money in some sort of deal," the man murmurs back, sharing the gossip.
At that precise moment, the sleek chrome doors of the elevator swish open, revealing Sophia Johnson stepping out with an air of confidence. Her face remains impassive and composed as she looks discerning at the employees gathered around the reception desk.
"Yes, I'm back," she remarks, her words seeping with authority. The employees quickly disperse, sensing the power that emanates from her presence. Sophia strides purposefully towards the desk, her footsteps echoing through the room.
Sophia gives the receptionist a warm smile, her expression suggesting that the past three years had faded away like a distant memory. "I'm heading to my office," she states, confident and resolute.
In her office, Sophia takes a moment to inhale deeply, allowing the familiarity of her surroundings to wash over her. Everything appears exactly as she left it. Settling into her plush leather chair, she powers up her computer, ready to restart her life.
"Ms. Johnson," Trevor, an office assistant, announces as he opens the door, his voice filled with genuine joy but also with a hint of anxiety. "Welcome back. Your absence has been too long."
Motioning for Trevor to take a seat on the exquisite West Elm sofa, a cherished heirloom from her grandfather, Sophia joins him.
"So, what did I miss?" Sophia chuckles, positioning herself beside Trevor. She is genuinely pleased to see him still working at her law firm. Sophia always appreciated Trevor's source of humor and impeccable fashion sense.
"Well, there's actually something," Trevor begins, his tone becoming more serious. "We've been presented with a challenging case that has stumped the other partners."
"Excellent! I thrive on problems that only I can solve," Sophia interjects, a mischievous twinkle dancing in her eyes.
"The case involves a company's shares that someone transferred under suspicious circumstances, and the board of directors is facing an impending change of ownership. The company's chairman, who needs to testify against the share transfer, has fallen seriously ill," Trevor explains, passing the papers of the brief to Sophia.
Sophia takes a moment to peruse the documents, her face betraying no sign of the complexity before her. She takes a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities, and gazes at Trevor. "How grave is the chairman's condition?"
"It's quite serious. I believe it's cancer. Our investigation shows that he's nearly lost his ability to speak," Trevor replies.
Sophia's brow furrows briefly before a spark of inspiration ignites within her. "What about the client's share transfer contract? If we can obtain it, we can compare the handwriting. Discrepancies would provide the evidence we need to prove the illegal nature of the trade. Get John on the line."
Trevor swiftly dials the extension for one of the law firm's partners. The phone rings once before a familiar voice emanates from the speaker. "Sophia? Are you back? I must admit, I was surprised to see your name on the caller ID."
"I'm back, John, and already diving into the depths of it," Sophia responds. "Have you reviewed the briefing on the illegal share transfer that Trevor just shared with me?"
The partner quickly responds, his voice filled with uncertainty. "Honestly, Sophia, I'm at a loss on how to proceed. If anyone can get a handle on it, it is you!!"
"Well, what about the client's share transfer contract? I'd like to take a look at it. We can examine the handwriting and see if it matches," Sophia suggests over the speakerphone.
"That's a brilliant idea, Sophia," John acknowledges.
"But," John continues, "the opposing party has taken the contract. We have no means to retrieve it. The fact of the matter is that if this persists, the company will fall victim to a hostile takeover."
Sophia's expression hardens, her resolve solidifying. "That is indeed a problem. We cannot allow a larger corporation to interfere."
Trevor interjects urgently, "Sophia. We need to act swiftly; time is running out."
At that same moment, a deep and chilling voice resonates from the doorway, capturing Trevor and Sophia's attention. Both of them swiftly turn their heads to behold a tall and strikingly handsome man emanating an air of cold power. The man announces, "I can intervene in this malicious acquisition case, but I need your help with something."
Reacting swiftly, Trevor scribbles a name on a piece of paper placed in front of Sophia. It reads, ALEXANDER STONE??? Sophia glances down at the note and nods subtly.
However, a frown creases on her forehead as she contemplates the unexpected presence of Alexander. What in the world is he doing here? She ponders, her thoughts filled with agitation.
"Mr. Stone, I presume," Sophia says, rising from her chair and approaching him. "Is there something you require? I don't recall scheduling an appointment with you." Her piercing blue eyes lock firmly with his crystal green gaze.
"As I said, I can help you with your case, but I need something from you first," Alexander states as he confidently strides into the office. Trevor was taken aback by his audacious demeanor and presumptuous attitude.
Sophia responds with a tight smile, her tone betraying her irritated feelings. "I highly doubt we are in need of your assistance, Mr. Stone."
"I beg to differ, Ms. Johnson. However, I don't intend to discuss it here and now. I wanted to extend a personal invitation to my company's 20th-anniversary banquet. Given that your firm has been a steadfast ally of mine, I thought it would be fitting to invite you personally. We can discuss matters further there," Alexander explains, presenting Sophia with an exquisite invitation.
Sophia opens the invitation, her mind racing. My ex-husband, whom I haven't laid eyes on in three years, is extending an invitation to me? she contemplates, a whirlwind of thoughts clouding her mind. This man doesn't even recognize me. He has no idea. And he believes HE can offer ME help? That is a joke! Sophia quickly starts to evaluate her options.
As Sophia reads the invitation, a new idea begins to form. Looking back up at Alexander, Sophia softens her expression, adopting a gentler tone as she responds, "I'm afraid I must decline, Mr. Stone."
Alexander's face turns bleak.
The banquet hall exudes an enchanting aura, adorned with vibrant emerald greens and pristine whites, the traditional colors for a momentous twentieth anniversary celebration. Despite Sophia's initial rejection of Alexander's invitation in her office, she acknowledges the significance of his company for her future endeavors and decides to attend.Even though three years have passed since Sophia last donned formal attire, she remains well-versed in the art of making a grand entrance. Her figure-hugging Alexander McQueen black dress accentuates every curve flawlessly, while the embellished bustier emits a subtle radiance, captivating the attention of onlookers. As she strides into the resplendent banquet hall, Sophia's gaze scans the room, eventually resting upon Alexander, who stands near one of the bars, observing her intently.Sophia offers a mere nod in Alexander's direction before purposefully steering herself in the opposite direction, determined to forge her own path.Making her
Sophia couldn't help but chuckle softly, finding the situation absurd. How could she win a lawsuit against herself and regain shares after finalizing their divorce? It seemed ridiculous. But she had to find a way to use this situation to her advantage. Putting on a fake smile, Sophia returned the divorce papers to Alexander, "This contract is flawless. I can't find any loopholes. I won't be able to assist you in reclaiming your shares." Undeterred by Sophia's response, Alexander retrieved a checkbook from his suit pocket. "If you need money, how much would be an acceptable consultation fee? I'll write the check for you." Glancing at the open checkbook, Sophia replied, her tone firm. "Whether or not I accept your consultation has nothing to do with money." The flush on Alexander's face grew more prominent as anger coursed through him. He attempted to steady his voice as he spoke, "Ms. Johnson, tell me your price. Everyone has a price." Taking a step toward Sophia, Alexander corner
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Alexander asked, visibly shifting so Emily's head no longer rested on him.Sophia took a deep breath, composing herself once more. Emotions had no place in her plans, and she reminded herself of the task at hand."Nothing," Sophia replied calmly. "I think I'll be heading home now.""Really?" Emily chimed in, her voice laced with fake concern. "The party is just getting started.""Umm, Emily," Alexander interjected, "Why don't you go back in? I'll join you in just a moment."Emily glared at Alexander, clearly disgruntled, but obediently turned to leave. Sophia couldn't help but watch as Alexander's eyes followed Emily down the hallway.Once Emily was out of earshot, Alexander turned his attention back to Sophia. "My family and Emily's family have been close friends for many years. She's very ambitious but naive. I brought her into my company after she graduated from the University of Chicago last year. It was a way
As Sophia stepped out of the sleek chrome elevators the following day, she found the usual hum of office gossip conspicuously absent. Instead, the atmosphere was charged with focused productivity. The air reverberated with the clicking of keyboards, the persistent ringing of phones, and the steady whir of the copy machines. Before Sophia could even shut the door to her office, Trevor burst in, loaded with stacks of case files. "Good morning, Trevor," Sophia greeted him with a yawn, the lingering effects of last night's whiskey leaving her slightly foggy. "Good morning, Ms. Johnson," Trevor responded, his voice brimming with eagerness. "All right, I can see you have some important matters. Let's dive right in," Sophia said, sitting at her desk while Trevor settled into a plush wingback chair opposite her. He flashed a reassuring smile and placed the first case file before her. "We have two major cases on our plate. The first is an antitrust investigation involving the Dillon Corpor
Moving away from the polished reception desk, Alexander turns to Laura on the phone again, his deep voice carries a tinge of bewilderment as he asks, "I genuinely cannot fathom what I could have possibly done to make this woman dislike me so intensely." Laura takes a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. "Mr. Stone, I truly don't know why she acts this way or how she truly feels about you. Women are complex, and their emotions can be elusive." "Laura, I'm asking for your perspective as a woman, so enlighten me. Why do you think she's behaving like this?" Alexander inquires, his voice laced with exasperation and a genuine desire to understand. "I appreciate you acknowledging my womanhood, Alexander. Perhaps there's a reason behind her actions that you may not have considered. Sophia is a fiercely independent and driven woman. Maybe she's playing the 'hard-to-get' game, knowing it ruffles your feathers. It could be her way of testing you or eve
Alexander looks at Sophia suspiciously, a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he considers her interest in his ex-wife.However, before he can respond, Emily interjects, her voice laced with defensiveness, "How is this any of your business or concern, Ms. Johnson?"Sophia, growing weary of Emily's presence and eager to distance herself from Alexander, lets out an exasperated sigh and turns to leave.But Emily reaches out, lightly grabbing Sophia's arm, and continues."Alexander's ex-wife was a mistake from the start. She has cost him millions of dollars that she in no way deserves. The woman is trash. She is not even worth still having a conversation about."Sophia shrugs off Emily's hand, her eyes narrowing as she locks gazes with Alexander."Could you please call off your attack dog? You clearly have no intention of answering my question, and I have important work to attend to." A smirk plays at the corners of her lips as she delivers her biting remark。 Emily gasps, her voice filled w
Alexander and Emily step off the elevator, returning to Stone Enterprise. As they ride up, Alexander finds himself still pondering his curiosity about Sophia Johnson. Upon reaching their floor, they are greeted by Laura, who stands by the elevator with a stack of papers in her arms. "I have what you asked for, Mr. Stone," Laura says, her voice professional and composed. Alexander nods to Emily, telling her he will speak with her later, and walks alongside Laura toward his office. Once inside, he settles into his chair while Laura sits across from him. "So, tell me, when have Ms. Johnson and I crossed paths during the last five years? There must be some incident or encounter that led to her acting so abhorrently towards me," Alexander asks. Laura hands Alexander a neatly organized spreadsheet showcasing his and Sophia's schedules over the past five years. "As you can see, there is absolutely no overlap between your events and hers during this time. I even went a step further and
Alexander, unable to resist the temptation, approaches Sophia and Evelyn at the café patio. With a half-joking, half-intimidating tone, he addresses them. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the two ladies discussing their disdain for a certain someone," Alexander remarks, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Evelyn, wasn't it? I must say, I'm quite intrigued by your strong opinions about this 'egotistical, arrogant, money-hungry man." Evelyn's eyes widen as she recognizes Alexander. She stammers, "Oh... uh... Mr. Stone, I didn't realize it was you. It was all in good fun, you know, just venting with Sophia here." Sophia, maintaining her composure, leans back in her chair and smirks. "You should be flattered, Alexander. I am sure you know that Evelyn's father owns a bank that heavily relies on Stone Enterprises. I'm sure he'd be interested to hear your reaction to his daughter's colorful assessment of men." Alexander chuckles, his gaze alt