"After work, take these Smith Group's information downstairs.At six o'clock in the evening, you have to
go to the airport with Sir Patrick to pick up the executives and then from there go to dinner"
Sophia bit her lip and didn't say anything, but she heard John say, "The job of helping the president
with the assessment is one of the roles of a general management consultant.Don't read too much into
it"
John couldn't help but add that sentence, making Sophia think more of it.
Sophia smiled.
Although she did not know what Patrick and John had talked about, she was not an unreasonable
person.
She worked on the same floor and in the same building.It was impossible to avoid meeting each other.
Besides, Patrick and Sophia just made things clear, and it was not like they would die if they did not talk
to each other.
They were both adults, and she was not immature.
"I don't overthink about it.Secretary John, I think you are overthinking"
Sophia walked around John.She raised her glass and shook it.
"Then I will go get that water first.I know what is going to happen tonight. Sophia walked towards the
pantry.
John touched his head.
Her response made him feel that the added sentence was unnecessary.
When it was time to get off work, Sophia tidied up Smith Group's information one by one and put them
into a document bag.
Then, she turned off her computer and walked out of the General Manager Office with it.
She got on the elevator and got off on the first floor.
The moment she stepped out of the elevator, Sophia told herself that since she had already made her
stance clear with Patrick, she must be firm and remain steadfast in her decision.
The low-key but luxurious Rolls Royce was parked below the steps outside of the Evans’ building.
Since she was still far away and since the car had heavily tinted windows, Sophia did not know if
Patrick was already inside.
She went down the steps and approached the car slowly.
It was not until she was two meters away that the driver came out of the car and opened the passenger
door.
She looked inside.
Patrick was flipping through the documents with his legs crossed, he was ignoring her, and it was as if
he did not notice her arrival.
Sophia took a deep breath and got in the car.
After sitting down, Sophia greeted him out of courtesy, "Mr.Evans."
Patrick gave a very light grunt, and he continued flipping through the files.He then instructed the driver.
"Drive."
The car drove steadily on the road.
It was so quiet except for the sound of paper being flipped through.
Sophia felt suffocated because of the silence.
It wasn't until they reached the airport that the driver, Leroy, said the first sentence inside the car,
breaking the silence.
"Sir, there is a section of the airport road ahead that seems to be blocked.There might be a traffic jam."
‘A traffic jam? Does that mean that we still have to stay in the car for a while?’ Sophia nearly fainted
after hearing this.
Patrick looked up and thought for a moment.
"Then let's take a detour and go around the 9th Avenue.We can't be late today"
Sophia looked at the sky that gradually became dark.She felt a pang of pain in her heart.
He said that they couldn't be late today, which made it difficult for her not to associate it with her
willfulness on the night of their business trip in Hillwood City.
Was he blaming her in his heart? Previously, he tolerated it because he was still fond of her.
Now, there was nothing between them, and Patrick had no reason to tolerate her stubbornness.
The car windows reflected the man's delicate and flawless profile.
Sophia sighed and thought, ‘What was I thinking? Did I expect to be special in his heart?’
‘Sophia, are you not thinking straight? You already know that after refusing him, this man will end his
thoughts of you and return to his normal life’
She scolded herself.
Perhaps it was because her mind was too preoccupied with the thoughts of Patrick recently that she
couldn't sleep well.
It seemed that a good night's sleep was a must for her after tonight.
When they arrived at the airport, the two of them shook hands with the executives of the Smith Group
and exchanged a few words of welcome.
Then, Patrick took them to the cars he pre-arranged earlier and asked the drivers to take them to the
hotel they booked for the guests.
Patrick was an excellent host, overall.
The road on the way back was unimpeded.
Leroy drove steadily and quickly as they soon arrived at the Golden Pavillion hotel.
Sophia glanced at the place where she had worked part-time for a few months.
Everything seemed to be the same.
If there were any changes, it would be her state of mind.
It was unknown whether Patrick had done it on purpose or not.
The reserved room was the one that Adriana had last held her birthday party, and it was also the same
one she had been in charge of.
The few executives of the Smith Family who had come were all around forty years old, and their figures
were all leaning towards obesity.
The years of attending these kinds of business entertainment made their stomachs bulge, which
genuinely showed their age.
After everyone sat down, Patrick started the conversation with his opening statement and began to talk
about what benefits the two sides would bring to each other if they pushed through with the
partnership.
Sophia was not good at socializing.She knew nothing about the social language between men.
It was very strenuous for her to listen on one side.It was inevitable to drink at the dinner table.
Patrick drank a lot, but he still sat upright.He looked not any different from when he was sober.
During this time, the executives noticed Sophia sitting beside Patrick.
One of them smiled and said, "This young lady is the one you brought with you on a business trip to
Hillwood City last time, right? President Evans has such a good eye.She must be very good at
work.That's why she is your assistant, right?"
Sophia responded awkwardly, "I'm ashamed.It's just that I was only lucky to be able to assist President
Evans."
"Alas, don't say that.I didn't expect this young lady to know how to be modest at such a young age.I am
sure you are a blessing to President Evans."
This senior executive said a lot of words of praise to Sophia.
It was nothing more than disguised flattery for Patrick.
As a man, who didn't like to be praised for having good taste? Patrick slightly tilted his head.His eyes
rested on her for the first time tonight.
After drinking a lot of wine, his eyes remained bright and full of meaning.
"I also think that my taste is quite good’ Patrick agreed.
Then, Sophia changed the topic and asked, "What is Mr.Smith busy doing in Hillwood City? Why didn't
he come with you this time?"
What the other party answered, Sophia, didn't hear it.It was as if someone had suddenly covered her
ears.
Except for the roaring inside her mind, she couldn't hear anything else.
His words kept flashing through her mind.
‘I also think that my taste is quite good”
Although she knew that it was to agree to the executive's comment, why did her heart skip a beat? This
situation lasted for a long time until someone called her name, and she came back to her senses.
"Ms.Hill, President Evans and I drank a lot tonight and ignored you.I will punish myself with a glass of
wine.You have to bear the responsibility, though"
One of the executives said.
The executive might have thought that Patrick had asked her to come to entertain guests so that she
could drink the wine for him.
In the end, they only cared about drinking with Patrick and ignored her.
Subtly, they told Patrick that they did not do it on purpose.
They thought that Sophia was a unique existence for Patrick.The social engagements at the table were
no different from real life.
Every step she took, she had to be careful.
Patrick said timely, "She is just an assistant, and she is here to record important information.There is no
need for her to drink"
Patrick's simple response had two meanings.
One was that Sophia did not have any special relationship with him, and the second one was that she
was not here to drink.
Although what he said was obscure, the few executives of the Smith group were all listening.
They realized that Patrick had some undisclosed relationship with Sophia, but of course, none of them
dared to speculate out loud.
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