SWNOVELS Chapter 22
Sophia was a little anxious and stamped her feet nervously.Patrick had a completely indifferent attitude as if seeing Sophia
anxious was an enjoyable thing.
"If you don't speak, I will go in." Adriana threatened.
Adriana's hand was already touching the handle.But then, she heard Patrick say, "I'm changing my clothes.Wait for a bit"
Outside the door, Adriana made an "Oh" sound and said doubtfully, "Just now, Lianna said that the meeting was about the
evaluation case that Sophia worked on.Sophia hasn't arrived yet at the meeting room, and you as well.Everyone is
speculating..."
Sophia did not know if Adriana knew already or was just suspicious, but Sophia was so nervous that she clamped her hands
over her mouth.This was a dilemma.Sophia regretted her decision.If she had known earlier that this would happen, she would
not hide.
However, she was alone in there initially and complicated things when Patrick arrived, followed by Adriana.
"Why don't you come in and take a look!" Patrick said lightly.
Sophia wanted to shout that he was crazy.
But, instead, the calmer he was, the more flustered she got.
Adriana seemed to hesitate for a moment and said faintly, "It's okay, Patrick, I believe you"
Sophia wore the company uniform for female employees.She was wearing a white shirt.
Because of her nervousness, she was sweating bullets.
The fabric of the shirt stuck to her skin and outlined her perfect figure.
Patrick crossed his arms over his chest.He admired Sophia's worried expression and was in high spirit.
"Now you know the result of hiding from me" Patrick said.
Patrick leaned and whispered in Sophia's ear.He was boasting.
Sophia could not think of any reason why he was happy.And she did not want to know.
"Tell her to leave!" Sophia whispered back.
Patrick disagreed, "Why? I didn't do anything wrong’ Sophia opened her eyes wide.
He spoke as if she had done something wrong.
"It's better to avoid trouble.Anyway, I'm about to be transferred.President Evans doesn't want to cause trouble, does he?" Sophia
asked.
"Transfer?"
Patrick frowned, "Your two-month work in Evans Group is finished?"
Sophia nodded, utterly unaware of what her ex-husband was planning.
Sophia anxiously paced back and forth while the man opposite her still had the same gloating expression on his face.
Patrick seemed to enjoy her distressed and embarrassed expression.
And clearly, it was making him happy.
"I am the president; it doesn't matter."
Patrick would not care about anything because he was the president of Evans Group, but Sophia could not afford to be
complacent.She was afraid that if she were late for the meeting, she would lose her job.
"Patrick!"
No matter how patient Sophia was, she lost it this time.
Adriana was just about to go down and wait when she heard the sound inside and immediately returned.
"Patrick, I seem to have heard a woman's voice!" Adriana called out.
Sophia saw a mischievous gleam in Patrick's eyes.
Then, when Sophia saw that he was about to speak, she was so frightened that she quickly tiptoed, placed one hand on his
shoulder, and the other covering his mouth.
She lowered her voice and warned, "What are you going to do? If you have something to say, just say it.If there is nothing, go out
quickly.It is not a good thing to cause a misunderstanding"
Sophia pleaded.
Patrick raised his eyebrows, and the corners of his lips slowly straightened, "Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding can
there be between an employee like you and me?"
The soft sound of voices inside was muffled, and Adriana could not hear very well.She wanted to leave, but she was afraid that
there was a woman inside with Patrick.
On the other hand, if she didn’t go, she was worried that Patrick would get mad at her if she did not follow his instructions.
‘Forget it, go to the conference room and wait” Adriana told herself.
She didn't believe that the two of them would not appear in the meeting.
Sophia listened for any sounds from outside the room.She calmed down when she did not hear anything and sighed in
relief.Then, she said, "Mr.Evans, go first, please.I will follow you in a little bit.Patrick sneered.He suppressed the inexplicable
feeling of depression in his heart, "You have the potential to be a mistress.It was unfortunate that I am not interested"
Patrick's chilly words were harsh in Sophia's ears, but she did not care at all.What she cared about was getting a copy of the
evaluation document and reviewing it.
There was no need to let everyone wait.
Sophia returned to her seat.She didn't have time to check the document on her desk, so she copied it in her flash drive and
rushed to the conference room.
When Sophia arrived in the conference room, it was packed with people already.Patrick was already seated at the head of the
table.
His clothes were neat.
And there was no trace of arrogance and frivolousness that could be seen from him that he showed Sophia earlier in his lounge.
Adriana was sitting beside Patrick.
All the managers from various departments were also seated in the conference room.
Sophia hesitated until Lianna opened her mouth to speak, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and start!"
Sophia nodded.She walked to the front of the microphone platform and began to make preparations.She talked about her
experience for the last two months and then began talking about the case that she was reviewing.
Patrick had been looking seriously at the giant projection screen in front of him.
His tall and lithe body was covered by a black suit, but that did not hide his aristocratic aura.
He was sitting leisurely, but he commanded the room nonetheless.
Adriana tilted her head and looked at Patrick's face.
She wanted to observe if there were any emotions on it, but she did not see anything.
Sophia took a deep breath and tried to look very confident.
Then, she inserted the flash drive into the computer, opened the Powerpoint file she prepared in advance, and began narrating.
The presentation was very comprehensive.
Every part Sophia talked about was matched with a picture.
Her voice was beautiful and resonant.
Excitement could be seen in her eyes, and she made a lot of progress.
Even Lianna, who had always been known for being picky about cases and presentations, had to admit that Sophia had done a
perfect evaluation this time.
If Lianna were the one who handled this case, she would not be able to produce this kind of material.
The meeting went on for about an hour.
Sophia spoke until her mouth was almost dry.
Although she tried to sound calm and confident, her limbs and mouth continued to stiffen from time to time.
Fortunately, Patrick interrupted her.
"Let's take a fifteen-minute break and continue after."
Sophia was thankful that Patrick had a habit of taking a break midway through the meeting.So she was given a chance to catch
her breath and compose herself.
After Sophia had relaxed for five minutes, she returned to the podium and prepared for the following slides.
She continued to flip through the documents on the computer, only to find a significant blank page.
The contents inside had disappeared.
Sophia couldn't believe it.She had checked this document so many times.
How could there be such a problem? And on the day that she had the presentation.
Unless...
Someone had been observing her and planned this whole nightmare.
‘But who could it be? I am not someone who is worthy of being an enemy, let alone be a threat?’ Sophia asked herself.
After the break, people came back to the conference room.Sophia reached the part where the file was blank.
There were talks around the room, and everyone wondered what had happened.
But Sophia didn't stop.
Instead, she bit the bullet and continued to explain.
The worst thing already happened, and she was not a person who either complained or whined about stuff like this.
Although she seemed to be gentle and weak, in terms of work ethics, she liked to face the problems head-on and resolve them
instead of running away.
It was completely different in how she dealt with her feelings.It was said that women had a thousand faces.
This sentence was confirmed in Sophia; though she was fragile and panicked in dealing with the relationship, she was cautious
and professional at work.
Her mind refined the content she remembered quickly and tried to transform it into a perfect narration.
There must be some obscure parts in the process, but fortunately, she persisted.
After she said the presentation’s conclusion, what awaited her was not indifference but thunderous applause.
Her appraisal case had received the affirmation and support of most people.
But every company had rules; it was the foundation of how they manage the staff.
Even though Sophia’s presentation was perfect, some of her slides were blank, and it was her mistake.So, Sophia needed to be
punished.