CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3: SHOULD I TRY TO BE MRS. STERLING?

Three knocks sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Sophia Lowell opened the door with an anxious heart.

He was working in front of his computer, and unlike this morning, he’d taken off his suit. He wore a black shirt with two buttons undone and his tie tossed to the side.

If you looked closely, you could spot the marks she’d left on his neck last night...

He sat slanted in his office chair, giving off a vibe of lazy nonchalance, fake sophistication.

She walked in slowly, and Ethan Sinclair casually closed the door behind them.

"Bang."

The door made a quiet sound, but in Sophia’s ears, it was deafening.

"Mr. Sterling, you asked to see me."

"Mm." Zane Sterling glanced at her standing by the door, then turned his gaze back to his computer.

Silence—

Just one minute, yet it felt like years.

He stood up and walked toward her.

No denying, he was the picture-perfect boyfriend in the eyes of countless women.

Sharp features, an exquisite face, high nose bridge, thin red lips, almond-shaped eyes, even Sophia couldn’t help but steal a couple extra glances.

Standing next to him, her head barely reached his chin.

His physique was amazing—Sophia had to admit—as last night in the bathroom, her hands had wandered over those rock-solid abs more than anything...

Shit, she was remembering all those embarrassing stuff from last night again.

"Is there something you need, Mr. Sterling?"

On the surface, she was calm, speaking clearly with remarkable self-control; but inside, her nerves were in chaos.

"Sit." He turned, sitting down next to the sofa.

Sophia walked over and sat down two meters away from him.

"Come closer." He patted the spot next to him.

Sophia hesitated for two seconds before getting up to sit there.

Zane Sterling stared at her, a little dazed.

Sophia nervously clenched her hands together.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked.

"..." Sophia froze, then shook her head.

This bastard wants to recap everything now?

"Any thoughts?"

Sophia glanced at him, noticing his perfect collarbones and those faint kiss marks on his neck...

"Sorry, Mr. Sterling, I had too much to drink last night... I really didn’t know I’d do such ridiculous things to you..."

"No need to apologize," he sat upright, interrupting her, leaning back into the sofa and looking at her flawless profile.

"I was the one who took the initiative last night." He replied in a laid-back tone, "You were drunk and kissed me, what happened after that was all my decision."

"Stop." She felt embarrassed enough as it was, did he have to make her relive it in person?

"We’re adults, what’s done is done. Just treat it like it never happened." Her cheeks were practically covered in blush.

"So I’m just a hook-up to you?"

Zane Sterling’s cold look was like he was about to interrogate Sophia under bright lights.

"You’re misunderstanding." Sophia’s ears turned red.

What was he trying to do? Set up some inappropriate relationship?

With how classy he looked this morning, it didn’t seem that way!

"Do you want to try being Mrs. Sterling?"

"Huh?" Sophia thought she must’ve misheard!

Their eyes met, gaze tangled.

She couldn’t read the thoughts in his eyes.

"We didn’t use protection last night. If there’s a baby, we’ll have it. If not, I’ll still take responsibility for you."

He said it indifferently, as if he were telling some bland story.

Sophia went silent; she was more clear-headed now than at any other moment.

Zane Sterling was born into a cultured, prestigious family, impeccable upbringing and background. He was probably a conservative guy—otherwise he wouldn’t have made it to twenty-eight and stayed single.

Now that something happened between them, he was obviously struggling with his morals inside.

Sophia dared not reach for someone above her, because she knew her own family situation.

She was her mother and some businessman’s illegitimate daughter—as for who, she had no clue. Growing up, she’d endured endless gossip; to get involved with someone as clean as Zane Sterling would only drag him down.

Plus, she couldn’t get over the hurt Henry Quinn had caused her, and there was no way she could accept a new guy so soon.

"Sorry, Mr. Sterling, I really didn’t mean anything else. I took the morning-after pill already, so you don’t need to worry. I don’t want to be anyone’s Mrs. Sterling. If you think you wronged me last night and I, as the other party, won’t hold it against you, then let’s just call it even. Let’s not mention it again."

Zane Sterling’s eyes darkened, black irises deep and impenetrable behind his rimless glasses.

Sophia finished in one breath, and turned to leave the CEO’s office.

"Wait a minute." He slowly got up, for a moment stunned by what Sophia had just said.

He was City A’s famously wealthy tycoon; there were countless women trying to get close to him, but this was the first time a woman had flat out rejected him.

Sophia let out a long breath, turned, and looked at the man before her.

"Mr. Sterling, is there anything else?"

"Add me on WhatsApp."

He looked calm, holding out his phone’s QR code.

"..."

"Next month the company’s sending you and Director Nash to The S Republic Fashion Week. If you don’t want to go, just pretend I never said anything."

"Also," he added, "No rush to answer my earlier question. Take your time to think about it."

Hmph! Typical businessman!

With just a few words, Zane Sterling had steered Sophia in the direction he wanted.

The S Republic Fashion Week isn’t something everyone gets to go to; she definitely couldn’t turn down this opportunity.

No loss either way.

She pulled out her phone and added him on WhatsApp.

As for that last question—forget it.

——

Back at her desk, the gossip-loving Lily Ellison came up close.

"So, how is it? Is the CEO’s office super fancy?"

Honestly, she hadn’t looked much; from start to finish she’d just been dragged along by Zane Sterling’s fast and direct questions.

"It’s something you have to experience; words won’t do it justice. Next time I’ll help you apply and let you see for yourself." Sophia pursed her lips and winked at her playfully.

"You scared me to death! I thought they’d have to carry you out." Lily said, eyes glued to her data on the computer, sneaking glances over.

"Ms. Lowell!" Wyatt Nash came running over excitedly.

Everyone turned to look; his overly enthusiastic expression caught the whole department’s eye.

"Director Nash." Sophia hurriedly stood up.

After Zane Sterling had pinned her down last night, asking if she liked it, she’d developed a real fear of those who acted superior.

"Head office sent down a memo. You and I got spots for The S Republic Fashion Week!"

"I know." Sophia wasn’t surprised at all.

After all, there were plenty of veterans in the company, and for her—a rookie with just one year in—the spotlight would be on her from now on.

Zane Sterling probably only gave her this chance to make up for last night.

Once word got out, the whole department was buzzing; some happy, some upset, and the new hires all more motivated than ever.

But the old hands thought it was unfair. They’d worked here so long; some hadn’t even made it to the city’s fashion week, let alone a foreign one.

Sophia didn’t care, just kept quietly working away.

[Sophia, are you free tonight? Wanna catch a movie together.] Henry Quinn messaged.

Sophia pursed her lips; when shameless, no one can beat you. She placated one while flattering the other.

[Sure!]

She took a screenshot, planning to post it to her Moments, set to visible only to her bestie Sienna Lawson, captioned: Five years and counting.

Right away, the restless Sienna messaged to ask.

"Honey, I’m seeing a movie with friends tonight, too. What movie are you watching? What time?"

Ha—

With dedication like that, she really deserves a medal.

Sophia didn’t reply, just turned off her screen.