AN OVERBEARING MEETING

Sophie's POV

Sophie stepped out of her car turning heads. Right from the moment she stepped out of her car, till she got into her private elevator that led her to the grand floor, she was all her employees were talking about.

She never wore anything less of herself to work but each time her employees saw her, they always seemed to lose their shit. Most times it was more for other reasons than her beauty. They knew she was a party beast but when she stepped into her premises, she didn't joke around.

That was the same mood Sophie had in when she stepped out of the private elevator into the grand foyer that beseeched her office. Her assistant was already seated at her desk and she sashayed past her, Kristen shot out of her seat to follow her into her office.

“Is the board room set?” She asked as she pulled off her pants suit blazer and tucked it away, leaving the crisscross inner white wear she had on with her pants. 

“Yes, everything is set like you want. And here is your coffee,” Kristen handed her the cappuccino that was more milk than coffee itself. That was the way she loved to have her coffee, sugar endorsed.

She settled down fully and took a sip of the hot coffee while she turned on her laptop. “Mhmm, thanks, Kristen.” She passed her assistant the thumbs-up sign as she placed the mug down.

She started to type on her laptop while Kristen stood there with a smile. Kristen, the fresh out of college graduate was always admiring her boss. She loved how effortlessly she carried herself and how efficient and hardworking she is. Regardless of the numerous rumors flying about that said she didn't deserve the position of CEO, Kristen still adored her. 

Even more, she admired how Sophie never allowed her private life to meddle with her work duties, socialite or not.

“Yes, Kristen?” Sophie raised her head to grace her assistant with a small smile when she noticed that she was still standing there, staring at her.

“I just wanted to say that I sent out the email to Innovative Designs Inc this morning. We could only hope that they reply to this one.” Kristen mumbled.

“If they don't, schedule an interview with them. Be persistent, I'm not taking no for an answer. They are the only ones competent and reliable enough to partner with us.” She mumbled, her attention totally on the screen of her laptop.

“Yes, boss.” Kristen smiled, adjusting her black bob hair. “If you need anything else, holla at me.” She added before walking out.

“You don't have to tell me twice,” Sophie mumbled as the door shut closed. In the next hour, she buried her head into her work.

                  ★★★

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Morrison.” Sophie smiled politely at the middle-aged man as she held his hands. He smiled warmly at her before turning away from her and Kristen.

As soon as he was out into the elevator, Sophie let her shoulders fall as a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She was tired, beyond exhausted. She didn't know why the board meeting had to drag on for that long even with all her attempts to stop it before then.

Most of the board members wouldn't stop questioning the way she ran the company while hinting at her private life. She had to put her foot down and spelled out to them that she wasn't going to step down from the position of CEO so they had to put up with her.

“I think I'm going to head out for lunch.” She exhaled once more as she turned toward her assistant. It would serve her well if she went back to the office to complete the day's work before heading out for she might not get the chance to return after that but Sophie didn't want to take her chances.

After spending hours after hours listening to middle-aged men and women rant nonstop about how she ran her life and the company, she felt her brain had to shut down for the rest of the day.

“I'm not sure that would be possible, ma'am. Your father is waiting for you in your office.” Kristen informed her.

The assistant's words were enough to have Sophie's blood running cold. She stilled for a second while her brain started to process the new information. She had known he was going to come sooner or later especially as she had refused to apologize to the chauvinistic man. A part of her had been expecting him to show up.

Groaning, she palmed her face for a second while Kristen passed her pitiful looks. When she raised her head again her expression had turned neutral and her stance cold. She turned and walked away in the direction of her office.

“What do I owe for this visit?” She asked in a sing-song voice as she burst the door open and stepped in.

The middle-aged man seated on one of her couches had his gaze fixed on the large television mounted on the wall. He had been interested in what was showing up on the big screen right before his daughter sauntered in. He turned to look at her like what he had been watching wasn't important.

“Well, hello to your daughter.” The man's lips twitched up into a wry smile as he beheld the flaming eyes that mirrored his. They both had similar olive green eyes; a familiarity Sophie hated to be associated with him.

“Whatever, Father. Why are you here?” She went straight to the point as she leaned over on her table to glare at him.

“Where are your manners, child?” The man lost it and snapped, which had Sophie frowning in seconds.

“I'm not sure I ever had one,” she retorted with a grimace.

Daniel Pierce shook his head at his grown-up daughter, hints of dangerous elements sparkling in his green eyes. He ran a finger through his blonde hair before rising to stand on his feet.

“Did you apologize to Falcon?” He asked, steps slow and gaze unwavering.

Sophie gulped and looked away. She hated it whenever her father approached her with those slow menacing footsteps. It always made agitation pile up in her throat and that day wasn't an exception.

She was starting to cower and she hated that feeling.

“I didn't,” she answered, briefly.

“Even after I ordered you to?” The man asked again, in a gentle tone.

“You are not the boss of me, Father. I'm an adult and I will choose and decide whatever I want to do. He stepped overboard and I put him in his place. I'm not going to apologize for doing that.” She hissed in a snappy tone.

Her father smiled before he took that last step that landed him in front of her. Sophie gulped and considered taking a step backward but that was impossible since she was leaning against the table.

“What did you say?” The man ordered her in a quiet voice.

“I said that I'm not going to apologize Fa—” her words cut short abruptly when Daniel's hands went viper-like around her neck, his eyes darkening as he looked at hers.

“When I ask you to do something, Sophie, you do it. You don't joke with me.” He warned her, his voice sending chills to race through her spine.

Sophie was struggling to breathe and she tried to pry his hands off her but he wouldn't bulge. Her eyes were stinging so badly and her lips were trembling.

“Do you understand?” He asked.

She nodded quickly, blinking back tears. He let go of her and she stumbled for a second, coughing rapidly. Daniel smirked before he took a step backward to watch her.

“There is another date for you tonight. He is very important so treat him with respect. There won't be another one after that if you use your brain. Failure to do as you are told would cost you the company.” He threatened her.

Sophie gasped, shooting up from her slouched position. Her fingers were still massaging her neck and she was struggling to breathe fine since it felt like all the tubes in her had been cut off.

“You can't do that,” she jerked forward. He couldn't do that to her. He couldn't just ask that she obeyed the rules or he stripped her of the position she had worked her whole life for. Sophie could tolerate anything but that.

Working in the company as a CEO had been her long-time dream. She wasn't about to lose it for anything in the world.

“Try me, Sophie. Go against my rules and see what you would get.” Daniel smirked at his daughter and it made her blood rise.

“I don't understand you. I don't understand you, Father. You came back from Singapore and decided that my social life wasn't okay anymore for you. You want me to get married yet you keep selecting people I'd never settle for. I can't lose the company because of something trivial.” She grumbled, realization sinking into her.

“Then, don't.” Her father smiled. “Mira would send you all the things you need to know about him. Like I said Sophie, he is special.”

As soon as those words were uttered, Daniel Pierce turned around and walked out of the room leaving his threats to hang in the air.

Sophie had barely allowed him to shut the door before she went on her knees and collapsed to the floor right there and then.

It was over for her, she thought.