Chapter 155: Collaboration
Harsh sunlight pierced through the curtain gaps into the dim bedroom.
Aching all over, Sophia shifted uncomfortably and slowly opened her eyes to find herself staring into a pair of familiar ones.
Memories of last night flooded back. Fully awake now, she blushed and averted her gaze, burrowing deeper into his embrace.
Michael found her adorable. He chuckled softly and pulled her closer.
He wished every morning could be like this—waking with the woman he loved in his arms, peaceful and perfect.
"Want to sleep a bit more?" His hand gently stroked the back of her head.
"What time is it?" Sophia asked, her voice muffled against his chest.
"Ten-thirty."
Well past work hours, but Sophia didn't feel rushed. No important meetings today—she could afford to linger.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, her palm sliding up his back. Then she paused, remembering something. "Does it hurt?"
Last night had been overwhelming—like being a lone sailboat caught in a violent storm. She'd been afraid of scratching him and had clung to the sheets instead.
But he'd told her: "Don't grip the sheets. Hold me. You can scratch me."
Michael laughed low in his throat. "I'm fine. You're the one who's hurting."
Embarrassed and indignant, Sophia pushed at him weakly, only to be pulled tighter against him.
Neither made any move to get up. They simply lay there, savoring the closeness, neither wanting to let go.
The spell broke when a phone rang. Michael reluctantly released her, reached for the nightstand, and handed Sophia her phone.
Andrew.
Sophia sat up, clutching the sheet that had slipped down, and answered.
"What is it?"
Andrew's eyes narrowed on the other end. "What's wrong with your voice?"
Sophia hesitated, then realized it was none of Andrew's business anyway. "Just woke up. What do you want?"
Andrew knew Sophia well enough to recognize that wasn't a just-woke-up voice. He had a pretty good idea what had happened on her end.
His expression darkened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Even though he knew full well it was Michael she was with, acceptance didn't come easy.
The little princess he'd painstakingly cultivated had ended up in someone else's bed. The thought grated.
When silence stretched too long, Sophia asked impatiently, "Is there a point to this call? If not, I'm hanging up."
She detested Andrew as always. The violent, bloodthirsty lunatic never brought good news.
Too much contact with people like him, and she worried she'd catch their particular brand of madness.
Andrew gritted his teeth. More pressing matters demanded attention. He cut to the chase. "We found Jane. She's at Ray's vacant property in Blossom Creek District."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. Then she laughed—a cold, contemptuous sound. "Whose intelligence is Maggie trying to insult here?"
Kidnapping Jane and dumping her at a Johnson family property, then forging letters to George in the Johnsons' name?
What kidnapper hides their victim in their own house? The frame-up was laughably transparent. Did Maggie think everyone was an idiot?
"It's a setup targeting George," Andrew said flatly. "Whether George believes it or not doesn't matter. He's already lost patience. Now that Jane's been found, he won't stop to think things through—he'll go after the Johnsons with everything he's got."
Regardless of whether Vertex or Cloud Group moved against Smith Group, George's irrational accusations against the Johnsons would backfire spectacularly once the truth came out. Public opinion would crucify Smith Group.
The day their stock hit bottom would be Smith Group's death knell.
"How about we collaborate on this?" Andrew suggested.
Sophia's eyes flickered with interest. She'd considered it before but hadn't expected Andrew to propose it first. "What do you have in mind?"
"Word from Phoenixia—Emily's booked a flight for tomorrow."
They'd suspected all along that someone was orchestrating Emily's return to the Smith family.
The timing was too convenient—right when the Johnsons were under fire and Sophia was preparing her birthday party.
Combined with Joshua's cryptic warning call, it was virtually certain that Maggie had been feeding Emily information all along.
Of course, Maggie wouldn't genuinely help Emily. Bringing her back now likely meant using her as a pawn in some scheme.
Sophia glanced thoughtfully at Michael beside her, piecing together a hypothesis.
In any collaboration, both parties stood to gain something.
She asked Andrew directly, "What's your price?"
"Joshua."
"Deal."
After she hung up, Michael wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and kissing her earlobe.
"Baby, what was that look you gave me just now?"
He had the unnerving feeling he'd just become a bargaining chip.
It made him nervous.
"It's nothing. I'll explain later." Sophia turned her head and kissed his lips. "I'm starving. I want pasta."
Michael ruffled her hair affectionately and released her. "Brush your teeth, wash your face, get dressed, and come downstairs. I'll cook for you."
Even after all these years, Sophia remained a princess who'd never learned her way around a kitchen. She'd never done housework, never cooked a meal.
Michael, on the other hand, had picked up some basic cooking skills over the past couple of years when work slowed down. Sometimes when he stayed over, he'd make her breakfast or a late-night snack.
He was pretty good at it too—good enough to earn genuine praise from Sophia, which proved he had a natural talent.
After washing up and getting dressed, Sophia still needed to do her skincare routine and makeup, so Michael headed downstairs first to start on the pasta.
Sophia sat at her vanity, applied toner and moisturizer, and while waiting for her skin to absorb the products, she sent Joshua a private message with the electronic invitation to her birthday party.
She suspected the first person to see that invitation wouldn't be Joshua—it would be Maggie.
If Maggie truly intended to make a move at the party, she wouldn't miss this opportunity. She'd definitely allow Joshua to come to Emerald City.
After all, compared to Emily, Joshua was steadier and far more trustworthy.
Andrew would probably attend as well. With a legitimate excuse to bring Joshua back to Emerald City, he'd never let his brother return to Silverlight City to be monitored and confined by Maggie again.
Looked like the birthday party was going to be quite the event.
She had a moment to spare, so Sophia remembered to call Evelyn.
She set her phone on the vanity table, put it on speaker, and continued applying her makeup.
Evelyn picked up quickly, sounding like she'd been up for a while. "Sophia? What's up?"
"Evelyn, have you been feeling down lately?" Sophia asked directly.
Some things couldn't be discussed with Bruce, but what couldn't be talked about between girlfriends?
That was Sophia's philosophy, anyway.
But after a few seconds of silence, Evelyn chose not to confide. "No, not at all. I'm not even working right now—what would I have to be upset about when I'm just relaxing at home?"