Chapter 36
I calmly picked up my phone, clearly feeling all eyes on me.
As I scrolled through my phone, Audrey unconsciously straightened up, trying to see the name on my screen.
The dial tone from my outgoing call and my ringtone created a symphony in the private room.
The sound was music to my ears.
I let it ring for a few seconds before turning the screen face-up. Andrew's name was right there.
Audrey let out a long breath of relief, and Armando's gaze returned to his own phone.
I stood up to go outside to take the call, but my wrist was pressed down by a large hand with prominent knuckles.
James's jaw tightened, though he didn't look at me.
"If he's calling me, it must be something important." I understood what James meant, but still peeled his fingers off one by one. My voice was soft and calm, with a hint of helplessness.
As if to say, "James, can you please not be unreasonable?"
James seemed dazed for a moment, and I easily broke free from his grip.
This familiar feeling that I'd experienced it countless times over the past three years.
Every time I tried to stop him from running to Amelia, he would repeatedly accuse me of being "unreasonable" in a similar tone, helpless yet effortless.
One second before the call automatically disconnected, I answered and closed the door behind me, shutting out the sound.
"I just discovered someone tampered with the permissions and got your contact information." Andrew's voice carried some anger.
Employee information leaks meant flaws in the company's defense system; any company head would be upset about this.
"After I found out, I immediately contacted the person who stole your contact info. He said he had a question for you. Did he contact you?"
The SIM card for ZeroSpecter wasn't in this phone, so Armando definitely couldn't reach me.
Instead of answering, I asked back, "Do you know who it was?"
"A new intern at the company, Armando."
An intern?
Shadow Circuit Studio's defense system had been strengthened by me. Even internal staff couldn't easily break through it.
For Armando to breach the firewall using his insider status, his skills were impressive; he definitely couldn't be just a simple intern.
"What's Armando's background?"
"He studied abroad. Though just an intern, I heard his technical skills are solid, the strongest among his batch of interns."
"If he can break through the defense system I strengthened, his goal can't just be my contact info. Keep this quiet for now and see what he's really up to."
"Okay." Andrew agreed with my suggestion, so I put away my phone and pushed open the door to the private room.
"ZeroSpecter might be busy; let me contact his assistant." Armando's call didn't go through. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead.
Audrey watched him eagerly from the side, her hand clenched tight.
James leaned back in his chair, his long legs crossed beneath his suit. One hand rested on his knee, the other fiddling with his watch. He looked down at the dial, brows furrowed.
Hearing the door open, his slender fingers stopped moving. He looked up at me, the impatience in his eyes deepening.
"Looks like ZeroSpecter won't be coming." I smiled lightly, looking straight at James: "Do you think this call is still necessary? Who knows who's really on the other end?"
"How do you know it's not ZeroSpecter?" Audrey's eyebrows shot up, but she didn't argue with me further: "Mr. Smith, Ms. Brown is being too careless, completely disregarding company matters."
Armando immediately chimed in, "Audrey, you wanted to help him contact ZeroSpecter, but he doesn't appreciate it at all."
"Armando, as long as I can help Mr. Smith, anything is fine."
Armando and Audrey sang in harmony, turning the private room into their stage.
James signaled Armando and Audrey to be quiet. He looked up at me, his thin lips parting slightly, "Sophia."
His tone was flat, with an underlying warning.
My gaze didn't waver as I quietly waited for him to speak.
"How are you so sure it's not ZeroSpecter on the other end?" He asked.
Looking at that handsome face, I suddenly asked, "James, in these three years, including now, have you ever trusted me even once?"
"I'm asking you about ZeroSpecter!" James raised his voice, a storm brewing in his eyes.
Sharp as James was, if it weren't for the ZeroSpecter matter, he wouldn't be here wasting time with Armando and Audrey.
The doubt I just raised was also his own question, but because I was the one who raised it, he instinctively objected.
He had never acknowledged or trusted me as a person.
"You've never trusted me. Not once." I spoke each word deliberately, each one like a slap across James's face.
He didn't believe I was pregnant, didn't believe our three-year marriage wasn't my choice, didn't believe anything I said, including now.
"Sophia, stop making a scene. Apologize to Mr. Carroll." James guiltily looked away and ordered.
I scoffed.
There it was again. No matter what happened, James always made me apologize first.
As if wronging me could solve everything.
"If I apologize, will that person become ZeroSpecter?"
"Does Ms. Brown know ZeroSpecter?" Armando asked.
James's face darkened: "I don't have time to play games with you here. My wife's concerns aren't unreasonable. Without seeing the person, I won't believe it either."
Armando's expression was quite a sight.
He thought James's questioning of me showed James's trust in him, not realizing James simply didn't believe my words. James still maintained basic judgment about other matters.
He wanted to meet ZeroSpecter, which was why he'd been willing to sit here this long.
If Armando couldn't get ZeroSpecter to show up, James wouldn't keep waiting.
"Mr. Smith, ZeroSpecter had something come up tonight, that's why he didn't come. Don't worry, next time I'll definitely confirm the time with ZeroSpecter." Armando's tone grew anxious, though his eyes were still darting around. "However, ZeroSpecter isn't someone just anyone can meet; it depends on sincerity. Just this one phone call took me quite some effort..."
"Wait until you can produce ZeroSpecter in person, then we'll talk about conditions." James cut him off.
Armando's face fell. His hands on his knees clenched into fists as he held back his emotions.
"Actually, it doesn't need to be this complicated. ZeroSpecter will be attending the TechNova Summit in Harmony City in a week. Meeting then would be more appropriate." I casually dropped this bombshell of news.
If I didn't cut off Armando's plan to manipulate James through ZeroSpecter, how could I find out Armando's real purpose?
I looked at James again. His eyes flickered slightly; clearly he agreed with me.
No one could impersonate ZeroSpecter at the TechNova Summit, and a formal meeting would be easier for making a good impression.
Compared to meeting through Armando's arrangement, my suggestion was more reliable and secure.
"Ms. Brown, you're are very well-informed." Audrey said with a light laugh.
"Just a bit faster than you." I linked my arm through James's. "Also, Mr. Smith and I aren't divorced yet, so you should actually call me Mrs. Smith."
Watching Audrey's expression change, my smile grew more genuine. "But I'm actually happy you call me Ms. Brown. I prefer that title."
Before I could finish speaking, James pulled me away.