Chapter 147: Can I Attend Your Birthday Party?
Sophia had just finished reviewing the monthly reports from each department when Tony knocked and entered. She closed the folder, glancing up. "Evelyn left?"
"Yes, Mr. Howard took her to a furniture showroom," Tony reported respectfully.
"Got it."
Sophia's casual response only heightened Tony's curiosity.
She tapped the stack of folders on her left. "These are reviewed—take them. Bring me a coffee. And notify Finance to sync with Poppy Games' accounting team the day after tomorrow."
"Of course." Seeing his boss fully immersed in work mode, Tony didn't dare ask anything more. He gathered the files and left.
As the door clicked shut, Sophia opened her computer to check the day's stock market performance.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it—the caller ID read Joshua. She froze.
John had gotten word to her: Joshua was still in Silverlight City, back in that surveillance-rigged mansion, with ten bodyguards shadowing his every move. House arrest, pure and simple.
Under those circumstances, his calls, texts, and social media would all be monitored. Why would he risk calling her now?
After a beat of hesitation, Sophia answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
She frowned. "Joshua?"
Still nothing. Just as she assumed it was a pocket dial, his voice crackled through—broken, distorted.
Static kept cutting in. She couldn't make out full sentences, only fragments. Piecing together the words she could catch, she guessed what he was asking: Can I attend your birthday party?
Even knowing how he felt about her, Sophia didn't believe for a second that Joshua would call during such a critical time just to RSVP.
He'd spent years at Maggie's side. His tactics and strategic thinking were razor-sharp. He had to know Maggie's plans—and understand exactly why Sophia was throwing this party.
Calling specifically to ask about attending meant openly defying Maggie.
Willing to risk her discovering his betrayal just to make this call—what was he trying to tell her?
Was Maggie planning something at the party?
Sophia feigned confusion. "Hello? You're breaking up—can't hear you. If it's nothing urgent, I'll let you go. I'm swamped."
She ended the call and immediately contacted Asher.
He picked up almost instantly, as if he'd been waiting by the phone.
"Asher, what's Joshua's situation?" Sophia demanded.
Asher sounded equally tense. "Not sure. He's under house arrest at the villa. Only leaves when accompanying Maggie, and he's watched constantly. All the staff there were handpicked by her—I can't get near him."
Sophia fell silent for a few seconds. Maggie must have caught on.
George had issued the blacklist order, but Andrew still hadn't made a move. The relationship between Vertex Innovations Group and Smith Group hadn't deteriorated the way Maggie wanted. She'd started suspecting Joshua was feeding information to the other side, preventing things from unfolding according to her script.
Sophia also understood why Andrew had stayed silent since the scandal broke—neither targeting Vertex nor declaring Smith Group bankrupt.
Not targeting Vertex was because he hated being manipulated. Not declaring bankruptcy was partly for the same reason, but more importantly, Maggie had spent years orchestrating all this to destroy the Smith Group.
If Smith Group went under, Maggie's goal would be achieved. And Joshua, a blood member of the Smith family, held captive at her side—what fate would await him then?
Andrew was protecting Joshua.
Realizing this, Sophia felt genuinely surprised. That cold-blooded bastard Andrew actually had a shred of humanity in him?
"Did you tell Andrew all this?" she asked Asher.
"Already reported it. Mr. Smith told me to stand by and discreetly confirm Joshua's safety."
"Alright, then do as he says."
If Andrew had a plan, Sophia wasn't going to meddle. She hung up.
Cloud Group.
Michael had decided to promote Arthur to CEO, taking over his own position. The past few weeks have been spent transitioning key responsibilities and relationships. The workload wasn't heavy.
So the moment the lunch hour hit, Michael bolted—straight to his girlfriend.
"Mr. Green, hold on—sign these first." Arthur pressed the escaping Michael back into his office chair, handing over several folders. "You mentioned investing in Nexus's body wash production line. Deal's finalized—this is the partnership contract. And here's the monthly financial report."
Michael shot Arthur a resentful look. "You're about to take over. Can't you handle these yourself?"
Arthur smiled. "Not officially in the role yet."
He checked his watch. "At this hour, Ms. Johnson's still in meetings. You won't catch her anyway. Might as well finish up here first?"
Grumbling, Michael flipped open the files.
The past five years had been like this—either he was swamped, or Sophia was. Even when they scheduled time together in advance, sudden work emergencies constantly forced them to reschedule.
In hindsight, he should've convinced his parents to have more kids. Then he could've been carefree like John!
Although—scratch that. If he were actually like John, only interested in partying and living aimlessly, Sophia probably wouldn't have fallen for him in the first place.
He rapidly processed the documents, tossed them back to Arthur, grabbed his phone, and left without a backward glance.
Watching Michael race off toward love, Arthur sighed and shook his head.
Outsiders would probably never guess that the composed, accomplished young chairman who gave polished presentations at press conferences was, in private, absolutely lovesick.
Michael couldn't care less what anyone thought. He loved Sophia—deeply, completely—and he didn't mind the whole world seeing it.
He drove straight to Vertex Innovations Group, heading directly to the executive floor with practiced ease.