Chapter 11: Business Trip to Eldoria
Sebastian's professional acumen was undeniable. A few sweeps of his gaze and he pinpointed the exact source of the data conflict, offering a fix with surgical precision.
"Here. Risk management's market projections are too optimistic—they don't align with last quarter's cash flow report from finance. Adjust the forecast down five percentage points and recalculate all associated budgets."
His fingertip tapped the screen with deliberate lightness, stopping mere inches from her hand.
The crisp scent of his body wash mingled with a faint trace of tobacco, slipping into Sophie's senses and threatening to derail her focus entirely.
She forced herself to concentrate, rapidly adjusting the data model according to his directives.
Sebastian's thought process was staggeringly efficient. The moment she raised a question, he'd already mapped out two or three viable alternatives.
Before she realized it, pale light had begun creeping through the windows.
When the final slide of the presentation clicked into place, Sophie released a long exhale. The tension that had wound her nerves tight all night finally loosened, and bone-deep exhaustion crashed over her in waves.
"Mr. Carter, I've completed all the revisions you requested." She rubbed her burning eyes and stood.
"Mm." Sebastian leaned back against the sofa, eyes closed, looking equally drained.
Sophie thought she might finally escape. But professional habit kicked in, and before leaving she automatically began her report. "Mr. Carter, let me confirm your schedule. Monday morning is the executive committee meeting, Monday afternoon you're meeting with the CEO of Luminous Group, Tuesday—"
"Wednesday we're flying to Eldoria," Sebastian interrupted, eyes snapping open. "You're coming with me."
His tone carried no emotion, yet possessed an authority that made refusal impossible.
Sophie froze. A business trip? She'd barely been in this position two weeks, and he wanted to bring her along to such a critical international negotiation?
Unease gnawed at her, but she didn't dare refuse.
"Yes, Mr. Carter." She lowered her gaze respectfully. "I'll prepare all the relevant materials in advance."
"Get out." Sebastian waved dismissively, closing his eyes again.
Sophie practically fled the hotel suite, clutching her laptop like a lifeline.
The morning chill hit her face, gradually cooling her flushed cheeks.
She glanced back at the towering Grand Globe Hotel, emotions churning.
This night had been harrowing.
Her relationship with Sebastian seemed bound by something beyond work now—some force she couldn't define, pulling them into tighter orbit.
News of the trip spread like wildfire Monday morning.
When Sophie placed the organized itinerary and meeting materials on Sebastian's desk, he barely glanced at them before saying, "Make sure your passport and visa are ready. We leave Wednesday."
The announcement dropped into the office like a stone into a still pond, sending ripples of reaction through the entire branch.
Everyone understood what this Eldoria trip represented—the year's most critical acquisition deal. Being selected to accompany him wasn't just a resume booster; it was a symbol of the CEO's trust.
And Sophie, the new secretary who'd been on the job less than two weeks, had somehow leapfrogged every senior executive to claim this opportunity.
The office immediately filled with complicated stares—envy, resentment, speculation—all trained on her.
"Some people just know how to climb the ladder."
"Right? One minute there's rumors about her and the CEO, next minute she's jetting off to Eldoria with him."
The supervisor's snide remarks and colleagues' whispered commentary didn't escape Sophie's notice.
She simply pretended not to hear. She understood Sebastian hadn't chosen her out of favoritism, but because she could deliver results.
The only thing she could do was execute flawlessly and silence them all.
Just as she was drowning in preparations, an unknown number called.
She answered, and Emma's saccharine voice poured through the speaker.
"Sophie, are you busy? I heard the news—congratulations on accompanying Mr. Carter to Eldoria!"
Sophie's chest tightened. How had Emma gotten this information?
She suppressed her unease and replied politely, "It's just a normal work assignment."
"Oh, come on, no need to be so formal with me." Emma laughed lightly, then pivoted with a touch of bragging. "The place I'm staying is absolutely massive, gorgeous views too. It's just not really convenient for visitors, otherwise I'd love to have you over to see it."
Sophie pressed her lips together, offering no response.
"Sophie," Emma suddenly called out, her tone shifting to concern, "I heard this acquisition involves Stellar Technologies as the competing bidder? Didn't you have dinner with someone from their team the other night?"
Sophie's mind reeled as if she'd been struck.
How did Emma know about her dinner with Samuel?
And more shocking—Samuel worked for Stellar Technologies?
"Emma, who told you that? Samuel is just a college friend—I had no idea he worked at Stellar Technologies!"
"You didn't know?" Emma's voice dripped with surprise. "Oh dear, that's problematic, Sophie. You need to be careful not to give anyone ammunition. Mr. Carter despises disloyalty above all else."
After hanging up, Sophie couldn't calm down. A powerful sense of dread seized her.
She immediately searched Samuel's information online. When his name and position appeared prominently on Stellar Technologies' management roster, her blood ran cold.
Why such a coincidence? Why had Samuel hidden this? How did Emma know? The questions spiraled through her mind in chaos.
The next day—the final day before departure—a rumor detonated through the company: the floor price and core strategy for the Eldoria acquisition had allegedly been leaked, and Stellar Technologies had already deployed countermeasures.
The news sent shockwaves through upper management.
For the Carter Group, it was like going into battle with no armor.
An emergency meeting convened in the CEO's office. Every relevant department head was summoned. The air hung heavy enough to suffocate.
"This proposal was only accessed in its complete form by two people. Myself, and Sophie." Sebastian sat at the head of the table, expression glacial, his gaze cutting across each person like a blade.
Every pair of eyes in the room instantly locked onto Sophie, standing off to the side.