บท 25: Sophie's Surprise to everyone
Back at the grand manor, Ashley and Lisa dashed up to Sophie, excitement bubbling over as they grabbed her arms in a joyful greeting.
Sophie chuckled warmly, determined not to let them down, especially given the kindness of the man who had been such a great help to her.
Lisa observed how Sophie's eyes kept drifting towards the man lounging on the sofa, engrossed in his stack of documents. With a playful grin, Lisa nudged Sophie towards him and whispered, "We won't keep you any longer. Go on, spend some time with him!"
After their chat, Lisa and Ashley headed to their own rooms.
But Lisa soon rushed back, holding out her phone to Sophie with a look of distress. "Nathan's calling! Do you want to answer?"
Sophie glanced at Noah, then nodded, taking the phone from Lisa.
On the line, Nathan's voice was curt. "Sophie, since the magazine isn't going to feature you, you should head back home. There's no reason for you to stay in Mexico anymore. Don't hold it against my sister for being harsh; she did it for Global Pictures' sake. The magazine wasn't pleased with you, so there's no one else to blame!"
Nathan spoke as if he and his sister had done nothing wrong, as if their actions were completely justified.
"After using me and then tossing me aside, you expect me to just accept all this happily?" Sophie's voice was calm, but laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Why don't you just give up? Why must you oppose Amber? Why can't you just leave us alone?" Nathan asked, his impatience clear.
Sophie felt like she was carrying a heavy, irritating burden that she was eager to discard, yet she continued to deal with him.
"There's no good reason for me to let troublesome people off easily," Sophie replied with determination. "I understand how the industry works. Today, Amber has support, allowing her to trample over me and use me for her gain. But that doesn't mean she'll have the same luck tomorrow!"
"You don't stand a chance anymore; just let it go. It wasn't Amber's fault that I fell in love with her. My sister was right; you really lack tolerance!" Nathan said coldly.
Sophie's anger flared, and she clenched her left fist tightly. Sensing her distress, Noah reached out and gently pulled her into his comforting embrace.
Nathan was indeed heartless. How else could he treat Sophie this way?
He had taken her love and crushed her career. Now, he expected her to support his new relationship? It was as if he was trying to drain her of everything she had.
"Your selfishness will only drag Amber further into a nightmare!" Sophie declared before hanging up the phone, trying hard to steady her racing heart.
Noah set his documents aside and gently held her hand, softly swaying her to comfort her.
"I'm fine," Sophie assured him, taking a deep breath. "It's normal to get upset now and then; it helps me build a stronger heart."
Not wanting to dwell on the matter, Noah shifted the conversation. "Did you get a chance to see your mentor?" he asked, steering them toward a lighter topic.
"Everything went perfectly!" Sophie exclaimed, settling naturally beside Noah and leaning against his arm. "I even met some famous photographers. I was so thrilled, but I kept wishing you were there with me. Just imagining us at such an event, hand in hand, seemed so perfect!"
"You'll have plenty of opportunities for that," Noah replied with a hint of promise in his voice.
"Are you tired? Would you like a massage?" Sophie offered, kneeling beside him.
Before she could start, Noah turned to her, took her hands, and lifted her into his arms. With a playful grin, he said, "I have a different kind of massage in mind!"
"Sweetheart, I promise you won't have to wait much longer!" Sophie whispered under the glowing moonlight, wrapping her arms around Noah. As their embrace deepened, she softly confessed, "Whenever I imagine you kissing someone else, it makes my heart ache with unease."
Early the next morning at Mystic's Headquarters, Linda summoned Amber and Nathan for an important meeting. After drafting the contract the previous day, today was the moment to make it official with their signatures.
Amber was eager to dive into the magazine shoot as soon as she could. Her pregnancy was already over a month along, and any further delays might make it obvious to others.
The prestigious top ten model awards were set to occur in just two weeks. Amber hoped that her work with Mystic would propel her to win one of those coveted awards.
This opportunity was Amber's ticket to rise through the ranks and become an A-Grade Model. Since Mystic was a weekly publication, her feature would hit the stands before the award ceremony. Her ability to influence the latest trends would be a crucial factor in her assessment for the top ten model awards.
Five minutes later, Linda walked into the meeting room. She cast a mocking glance at Kathy and Amber, but neither of them seemed to notice her expression.
"Linda, we're all set. We can start the shoot whenever you're ready. Don't worry; Amber is a true professional. She'll complete Mystic's task with flair and spark the oriental trend," Kathy said confidently, unaware of what was coming. "Plus, we've arranged for Sophie to head back home, so she won't be causing any more trouble. You know how difficult she can be."
Linda sneered, twirling a pen between her fingers. "What should we do now?" Kathy asked.
"Sorry, Kathy," Linda replied with a cold smile. "I didn't call you here to sign the contract. I called you to inform you that we're changing the models again."
With a decisive motion, Linda ripped the contract from Amber's hand into pieces. "I'm no longer interested in either of your models," she declared. "This is the demand of the model I truly want."
Kathy, taken aback, slammed her hands on the table in frustration. "Linda, what do you mean by this?" she demanded, disbelief and anger coloring her voice. She couldn't fathom that Mystic would backtrack on their agreement.
"Isn't it clear?" Linda replied coolly. "I said I'm not signing Amber. You tried to push an unsuitable model on me because of your family's personal issues, Kathy. Is this how you treat your friends?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Kathy exclaimed, her face a mask of surprise.
"Alright, let me ask you this," Linda said, her voice rising with anger. "Why did you tell me Sophie was a newcomer? She's internationally renowned, has multiple awards, and is even a protégé of the Royal Magazine's editor. Yet, you called her a newcomer. Were you worried I wouldn't choose Amber and so you tried to undermine Sophie?"
"I..." Kathy stammered, at a loss for words.
"Do you realize how humiliated I felt at last night's photography exhibition all because of your selfishness?" Linda shouted, her frustration boiling over. "Kathy, I don't care what you do behind closed doors, but in front of me, you had better curb your scheming ways," she continued, casting aside any regard for their friendship.
"But... but you can't just dismiss her like that! You've seen Amber's talent before," Kathy protested, feeling cornered.
"This isn't up to me anymore," Linda responded firmly. "I've promised the model I've worked hard to secure. If you want to plead your case, speak to her directly. If she agrees to work with Amber, I'll have no objections."
Linda placed the torn contract on the table and turned to her assistant. "Is she here yet?" she asked.
"Yes, she's arrived," the assistant confirmed.
Kathy clenched her teeth, her frustration barely contained. 'Let me see,' she thought to herself, 'who this model is that made you tear up our contract and break our ties.' She braced herself for the reveal, eager to understand who had enough influence to disrupt her plans so thoroughly.
Kathy turned to face the entrance of the meeting room, her eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of defiance. Nathan and Amber, equally upset, glared at the door, eager to see who was responsible for unraveling their plans.
Amber's heart pounded with anger and frustration. After finally dealing with Sophie, she hadn't anticipated another challenger stepping into the fray. Her mind raced with questions about who this new contender could be and how they managed to disrupt everything so effectively.
The tension in the meeting room was palpable, a charged silence hanging in the air. Suddenly, the door swung open, and all eyes turned to the figure stepping inside—a striking presence that demanded attention.
It was Sophie.
Amber's mind reeled with disbelief. 'It's Sophie again!?' she thought, struggling to comprehend how Sophie had returned to challenge them once more. The surprise of seeing Sophie again heightened the already intense atmosphere, leaving everyone on edge.
Kathy clenched her fist, struggling to comprehend how Sophie had managed to sway Linda and Mystic to reconsider their decision.
Amber and Nathan stood up, their shock mirrored in each other's eyes. 'This is impossible,' Amber thought. 'Sophie was already out of the picture. How did she manage to make Mystic change their mind?'
Linda addressed the room with a calm but firm voice, "After careful consideration, everyone at Mystic has decided to use Sophie as our model." Her announcement sent ripples of surprise and disbelief through the room, underscoring the unexpected turn of events.
Linda glanced at the group with a casual air, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity as she said, "I know Sophie is supposed to be a model with Global Pictures, but something feels off. Could it be that she's not really one of your models?"
Amber's frustration boiled over as she turned to Sophie, her voice sharp with accusation. "Sophie, what did you do to get ahead? Why did you have to take the cover spot that was mine?"
"The cover was yours?" Sophie replied with a steady smile, her emotions perfectly masked. "You leveraged my fame to make your overseas trip happen, pretending it was a partnership. You used me to create a distraction from your scandal. Once we landed in Mexico, you cast me aside when I was no longer useful. You smeared my name with the client and faked my portfolio. So, tell me, how does this cover belong to you? I simply reclaimed what was rightfully mine, with the fairness I deserved," she stated calmly.
"You leveraged your connections to push me aside for your own gain, but I used my own skills to reclaim my cover. I didn't take anything from anyone! I refuse to let others trample over me. It's as simple as that," Sophie declared, her voice unwavering and strong. Each word she spoke was clear and powerful, transforming Linda's misunderstanding into admiration.
'What a strong character!' Linda thought to herself, truly impressed.
"Sophie, I've told you before," Nathan interjected angrily, "this is a crucial time for Amber. Everyone at Global Pictures should be rallying to help her overcome these hurdles. Can't you stop being so selfish?"
Sophie remained composed, her voice steady as she replied, "The obstacles she faces are of her own making. I've said it before—I have no issue with you supporting her, and I truly don't care. But if she thinks she can advance her career by stepping over me, I will ensure she falls and learns her lesson."
"Sophie," Linda interjected, "if you just say the word, Amber can still join the Mystic's photoshoot. She doesn't have much time; she's about to compete in the top ten model awards."
Sophie chuckled softly, her tone amused. "Why should I agree? If she's struggling, that's her problem. Why am I obliged to help her? Is there some law that says I must?" she questioned. "Isn't Kathy supposed to be quite capable? Let her find Amber a spot in another magazine!"
"Sophie, don't push it too far!" Kathy exclaimed, stomping her feet in frustration.
Seeing the tension rise among her colleagues at Global Pictures, Linda decided to step in. She gently patted Sophie's shoulder and said, "Sophie, I'll wait outside. Let me know your decision in half an hour—whether it'll be a solo shoot or one with Amber, it's up to you."
"Thank you, Linda," Sophie nodded, appreciating the timing. She had more to discuss, things best said away from outside ears.
"I've arranged for a few bodyguards to stand by the door. If anything happens, you can call for help," Linda assured before stepping out.
The situation had flipped completely. Just yesterday, Linda had been dismissive of Sophie, but now she was speaking in her favor and even offering assistance. It's astonishing how quickly some people can change, faster than a chameleon adapting its colors.
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