After about twenty minutes, she returned, panting heavily, clutching a bag of breakfast in her hand. Without a word, she tossed it to me with a huff, then headed upstairs to change without so much as a glance back. I picked up the bag, a wry smile tugging at my lips. Her temper seemed to be growing more explosive by the day.

Not long after, she came back down, now dressed and ready. Striding to the car, she yanked the door open with unnecessary force and slipped inside. As I started the engine, I asked casually, "Did you eat breakfast?"

She shot me a frosty glance, as if I had posed the most asinine question imaginable. "Are you seriously still planning to live in that dump of yours?"

I paused, caught off guard, then chuckled lightly. "What dump? I don't need much—just a place to shield me from the wind and rain."

Her expression darkened further, as though a storm cloud had settled over her face. "Why won't you move in with me?"

"I've explained this before, haven't I? You're the chairman; I'm your subordinate. You have a boyfriend, and I have a girlfriend. It's inappropriate." My tone was measured as I eased the car into motion, mindful of the potential storm brewing beside me.

She snorted derisively, a flash of contempt in her eyes. "Your girlfriend's arriving tomorrow. Excited?"

I froze momentarily, tension coiling in my chest. "She's coming tomorrow?"

She let out a laugh, chilling and laced with something ominous. "Struggling to figure out how you're going to explain last night's little rendezvous?"

Her words sent a jolt through me, but I forced a calm facade. "What rendezvous? Don't talk nonsense."

Her gaze sharpened, cold and cutting. "The perfume you're wearing smells exactly like Charlotte Hayes'. Were you with her?"

My heart skipped a beat, knowing I couldn't easily talk my way out of this. "No, of course not."

Suddenly, she raised her hand, and with a crisp slap, her palm met my cheek. The sound echoed sharply, stunning me. "Unbelievable, Ryan. Truly, your standards know no bounds."

Anger flared within me, and I slammed the car to a halt by the roadside. "Sophie, what on earth are you on about? Yes, I was with Charlotte Hayes last night, but all we did was have dinner, and I dropped her off at her hotel."

She sneered, her eyes brimming with mockery. "Go on, keep spinning your story!"

I sighed, frustration mounting. "I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, ask Vincent—or better yet, ask Charlotte Hayes herself."

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Her icy stare didn't waver. "Still insisting there's nothing? Tell me, was I wrong to call you indiscriminate? She's so much older than you!"

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself. "Sophie, I told you—I only took her to the hotel. And even if there were something between us, what does that have to do with you?"

Her gaze cut through me like a blade, scrutinizing every inch of my composure. I felt a chill creep up my spine. Before I could act, she unbuckled her seatbelt, threw the car door open, and stepped out. Standing by the roadside, she fixed me with a frigid glare.

What on earth was she up to now? Exasperated, I got out of the car and walked over. "What's wrong with you this time?"

She remained silent, pulling out her phone and fiddling with it. I let out a resigned sigh. "Are you getting in or not?"

Still, she refused to speak. The silence stretched taut between us, each second dragging on painfully. Then, a white ride-share car pulled up, and without hesitation, she climbed in and drove away.

I stood there, watching her retreating figure, a mix of frustration and bemusement swirling within me. Shaking my head, I got back in my car and drove to the office. A perfectly good apartment left unused, opting instead for hotels; a car abandoned in favor of ride-shares. Truly, some people have money to burn.

In the company parking lot, just as I parked, Vincent pulled in beside me. The moment he stepped out, he grinned knowingly. "No Sophie today? You didn't give her a ride?"

"No, she took a cab," I replied evenly.

Vincent's smile turned mischievous, his expression one of teasing implication. "Had fun last night, huh? Don't deny it."

I waved him off, exasperated. "Nothing happened! Stop imagining things."

He shrugged, smirking. "Relax, I won't say a word. I get it."

Shaking my head, I muttered, "Get what? You're way off."

Vincent was about to retort when his expression shifted, his voice dropping. "Better shut up. Sophie's here."

Following his gaze, I saw Sophie approaching, her presence as icy as a winter gale. Her sharp eyes met mine, unrelenting. She stopped in front of me, her tone curt. "Car keys."

Quickly, I fished them out of my pocket and handed them over. Without sparing me a second glance, she took the keys and drove off.

Vincent watched her leave and murmured, "She's in rare form today. Be careful, man." With that, he hurried off, leaving me to face the storm alone.

I sighed heavily, bracing myself for the tense day ahead. As I entered the building, Charlotte Hayes rushed in, slightly out of breath. Seeing me, she flushed and murmured, "Overslept."

Walking alongside her, I whispered, "Sophie suspects us from last night. If she asks, just say you were drunk, and I dropped you off at your hotel."

Charlotte Hayes gave me a puzzled look, frowning slightly. "Why does Sophie care about us?"

I sighed, my voice low. "I'm just giving you a heads-up. She might not even ask."

She nodded, then suddenly flashed a mischievous grin. "So, why didn't you take the chance last night?"

Her question caught me off guard, and I coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, Charlotte, don't joke around. What if someone hears?"

She dismissed my concerns with a wave. "Coward. I'm not worried, so why are you? What, were you afraid of losing out?"

I could only shake my head helplessly. "Enough. Get to work." I turned to leave.

Before I could take another step, she playfully swatted my backside and burst into laughter. "Nice feel!"

Standing frozen, I couldn't help but regret having drinks with her. This woman was a force of nature, completely unrestrained. Still, I admired her carefree spirit—a quick cry, and then she'd simply let it go.

As I settled into my desk, her boldness lingered in my thoughts. Charlotte's audacity had caught me off guard, but I couldn't deny that she brought a fresh energy to my otherwise monotonous life.