After parting ways with Michael, Sophia continued her day at the hotel. Little did she know, Michael's encounter with her had an unexpected outcome.Watching Sophia walk away, Michael found himself crossing paths with Emily Williams within the bustling corridors of the hotel. A smile crosses his lips.He couldn't help but seize the moment to engage in some playful banter, his tone flippant as he teased her."Well, well, if it isn't Alexander's girlfriend. Waiting here for a romantic date, I assume?" Michael says as she slides up alongside Emily.Emily's cheeks flushed a faint shade of pink, a mix of embarrassment and surprise sweeping over her features.Stammering, Emily replies, "I—what? No, I'm not his girlfriend. I'm here for something else entirely."Michael's eyes sparkled mischievously, the bouquet of vibrant flowers in his hand that Sophia had rejected. He presents it with a dramatic flourish.With a grin, Micheal replies, "Ah, so you're saying you're not here to sweep him off

Sophia sat in her office, surrounded by a mountain of documents, her thoughts immersed in the intricacies of the investigation. The door to her office slammed open, and her assistant Trevor burst in, an urgency radiating from him. Without giving her a chance to speak, he launched into his news. "Turn on the news on your TV," Trevor demanded, his tone urgent and his face flushed. Baffled by his abrupt entrance, she questioned, "What's going on?" Trevor grabbed the remote without answering, the TV screen flashing to life and revealing a news segment featuring Michael. Reporters swarmed around him in front of the hotel they had met at just two days prior. The reporters' barrage of questions filled the air. "So, you're asserting that Sophia had no involvement in the bribery?" they questioned, their voices eager for his response. A smug smile curved Michael's lips as he responded confidently. "Absolutely. I've obtained the footage from the lobby cameras that show me and Miss Johnson

Sitting in the dimly lit expanse of his office, Alexander awaited Kyle's report. He needed answers, and he needed them soon. As the door swung open, he turned his attention to the figure entering.Kyle, the informant Alexander had enlisted, wasted no time in delivering his findings. His tone was direct and matter-of-fact, a reflection of the challenging task he had undertaken."I don't know who this woman is, but she has covered her tracks very well," Kyle's words hung in the air, drawing Alexander's full attention.Alexander's brow furrowed, a scowl forming as he processed the information. His impatience was palpable as he nodded for Kyle to continue."I can find absolutely no information about Miss Johnson's two-year marriage," Kyle's words held a sense of exasperation as if he had encountered an insurmountable barrier.The revelation caught Alexander off guard. "So, she wasn't married?"Kyle shook his head. "No, she was married, but the details surrounding her marriage are shrouded

Sophia's network of connections extended into various spheres, and she had a close friend with unique hacking skills that allowed them to breach computers and social profiles. With the help of these skills, Sophia had managed to obtain a private chat between Barbara and Mr. Thompson. In this conversation, they discussed their plan to shift blame onto Sophia in case any issues arose with the bribery scheme. As Sophia repeatedly read through the conversation, her anger grew more palpable. She was not about to be played as a pawn in their scheme. It was time for her to take control and retaliate. Just as she was contemplating her next steps, her secretary informed her of an unexpected visitor. It was Mr. Thompson's secretary, the very person involved in the bribery. Sophia welcomed her into her office, a smile playing on her lips. It seemed that her revenge plan might be unfolding on its own terms. A petite woman entered the office, clutching her small black bag with obvious anxiety.

The sharp sound of the slap still reverberated in Sophia's office. The charged air hung heavy between them, filled only with the rapid rhythm of their breaths. As the echo of their actions subsided, Sophia took a deep breath and decided to break the silence."What do you think you're doing?" Her once-desirous gaze now transformed into one of fierce indignation as she stared at Alexander.He stood there, his own internal chaos reflecting in his eyes. His mind raced to find an explanation for his impulsive act, for the kiss that had defied all reason. He was as bewildered by his own actions as Sophia was."It was stupid," he muttered.Sophia wanted to get him out of her sight immediately. She didn't understand why she had let him kiss her, and it horrified her even more that she had kissed him back."Yes, it was. I think it's time for you to go." Her voice was firm.Alexander nodded. Neither of them could meet each other's gaze as the weight of their shared impulsive act hung heavily i