Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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?” NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.
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.”
“I don't believe you.”
“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.