Chapter 400: Sophie Crowned as CEO!

Chapter 400: Sophie Crowned as CEO!
Adam's POV

I woke with a start, immediately aware of something unusual. A soft, rhythmic breathing tickled my ear—too light to be Sophie's. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I glanced down to find Alayna curled against my chest, her tiny hand clutching my shirt.

For a moment, I froze, completely unsure what to do with my daughter using me as her personal teddy bear. I looked over to see Sophie watching us, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Don't look so terrified," she whispered, her smile widening. "Alayna's just like me—a bit restless when she sleeps."

I arched an eyebrow. "So she climbs on people regularly?"

"Only the ones she trusts." Sophie winked, then carefully slid out of bed. "I'll head down first and start breakfast."

I watched as she tiptoed across the room, her movements deliberately quiet to avoid waking Alayna. When the door closed behind her, I returned my attention to the small human sprawled across my chest.

"Hey," I whispered, gently tapping her shoulder. "Time to wake up, kid."

Alayna's eyes fluttered open, revealing those striking blue-green irises that were unmistakably a blend of Sophie's and mine. For a moment, she just stared at me, then her little brow furrowed in an expression so reminiscent of my own scowl that it was almost comical.

"Daddy?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"The one and only," I replied, awkwardly patting her back. "Let's go downstairs. Your mom's making breakfast."

She nodded solemnly and climbed off me with surprising agility for someone so small. I watched her march toward the door, her stuffed bunny dragging behind her.

This kid is something else.

By the time I made it downstairs with Alayna, Grandfather was already seated at the dining table, newspaper in hand. Sophie bustled around the kitchen, the smell of coffee and pancakes filling the air.

"Good morning," Grandfather called out, his eyes twinkling as he observed Alayna and me entering with matching expressions—both of us still clearly adjusting to being awake.

"Morning," I grunted, pulling out a chair for Alayna before taking my own seat.

Sophie placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of me. "Black, no sugar—just how you like it."

"Thanks," I murmured, taking a grateful sip. The caffeine was exactly what I needed.

"I need to go to the company today," Sophie announced as she set down a plate of pancakes.

I looked up sharply. "For what?"

"To resign properly," she replied matter-of-factly. "I've already sent my resignation letter, but I need to complete the paperwork. Besides, I worked there every day, even if it wasn't for long. I'm not leaving without my paycheck."

I couldn't help but smile at her practicality. "Are you sure it's to resign?"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Of course it's to resign. What else would it be?"

"Just checking," I said, hiding my amusement behind my coffee mug. "Want me to come with you?"

"No need," she replied, ruffling Alayna's hair. "I can handle this small errand myself. You stay here with Alayna."

Alayna looked up from her pancakes, syrup dripping down her chin. "Mommy going?"

"Just for a little while, sweetie," Sophie assured her, wiping the syrup away with a napkin. "I'll be back before you know it."

I watched the interaction with a strange feeling in my chest. This domestic scene—so normal, so ordinary—felt both foreign and oddly right. For a moment, I allowed myself to savor it.

After breakfast, I heard the sound of tires on gravel when I was playing with my daughter. I looked up to see Chase's car pulling into the driveway, a large black dog visible in the passenger seat.

"Chase!" Alayna squealed as she raced toward the car.

Chase emerged, looking suspiciously cheerful for so early in the morning. The massive black dog—Shadow, if I remembered correctly—bounded out after him, nearly knocking him over in its excitement.

"Hey there, princess!" Chase called, kneeling to receive Alayna's enthusiastic hug. "I brought someone to see you."

"SHADOW!" Alayna shrieked with delight, approaching the dog with her arms outstretched.

I stepped forward instinctively, concerned about the size of the animal compared to my daughter, but the dog merely lowered its head, allowing Alayna to pet it with surprising gentleness.

"Chase," I acknowledged coolly. "What brings you here so early?"

"Just thought Alayna might want to see Shadow," he replied, though the slight shift in his stance betrayed his nervousness. "She's been asking about him."

"How thoughtful," I remarked dryly.

"Since you're here," I added, seizing the opportunity, "would you mind watching Alayna for a bit? I need to head to the office."

Chase's expression brightened. "Of course! We'll have a great time, won't we, princess?"

Alayna nodded enthusiastically, already leading Shadow toward the garden. "We can play fetch!"

---

I arrived at the newspaper's building just in time to see Sophie entering the human resources department. The office was relatively empty, being a Sunday, which worked perfectly for what I had planned.

Staying just out of sight, I watched as Sophie approached the HR manager's desk.

"Hello," she said confidently. "I'm here to finalize my resignation."

The manager looked up, recognition dawning on her face as she took in Sophie's features. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she recalled the explicit instructions regarding Sophie White—instructions that had come directly from the new owner of The Beacon Press.

"Oh, Ms. White," the manager said, hastily standing up and retrieving Sophie's resignation letter. "About your resignation..."

Sophie nodded, clearly expecting a routine process. "Yes, I emailed it last week. The news department should have already forwarded it."

The manager's demeanor shifted to one of careful respect. "CEO White, are you absolutely certain about resigning?"

I bit back a smile as confusion washed over Sophie's face. "CEO? I think there's been a mistake. I'm just a regular employee."

"No mistake, ma'am," the manager assured her. "Foster Group's Mr. Foster has acquired The Beacon Press, and you're listed as the Chief Executive Officer. If you don't believe me, you can call Mr. Foster directly to confirm."

Sophie stood frozen. Unable to contain myself any longer, I stepped into the doorway. "Surprise."

Sophie whirled around, her eyes wide. "Adam! What is going on? Did you buy this newspaper?"

"I did," I confirmed, enjoying her bewilderment. "I thought you might want to continue your work in journalism—properly, openly, making a difference for people who need a voice."

"So you... bought me an entire newspaper?" Her voice was incredulous.

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the warmth spreading through my chest at her reaction. "It seemed like a good investment."

Sophie stared at me for a long moment, her expression cycling through shock, disbelief, and finally, a radiant smile that made everything—the paperwork, the negotiations, the considerable sum I'd paid—absolutely worth it.

"Thank you, Mr. Foster," she said formally, though her eyes sparkled with emotion. "That's... incredibly thoughtful of you."

"You're welcome, Mrs. Foster," I replied, matching her tone but unable to keep the smile from my face.