CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 88: FOR YOU

In the afternoon, the executives at Spectra Group were having a meeting, summarizing next year’s development and sales trends.

Sophia Lowell, feeling bored, sent him a message on WhatsApp, then left the CEO’s office.

Zane Sterling glanced at her, then at his phone.

[Stepping out for a bit, I’ll come pick you up later.] On WhatsApp, she sent him several questions and solutions she’d come up with during the meeting regarding apparel sales strategies.

He paused, staring blankly at his phone.

Without saying a word, he walked over to his desk, looked at the new file on his computer desktop, and sent it out to the senior management’s emails.

He also listed out, one by one, all the issues and solutions Sophia had just raised.

"We’ve been stuck on this problem for over a week, Mr. Sterling, you’re brilliant!"

"I can’t believe we didn’t spot where the issue was!"

Zane curled his lips into a smile and sat up straighter.

"It wasn’t me—it was my wife."

He couldn’t help but admire this young lady even more.

She’d just sat here for less than half an hour.

At first, Zane thought she was playing games, but unexpectedly she really was looking up information on apparel market sales.

He hadn’t imagined she’d have insights in this field, too.

Everyone started whispering to each other, all curious about who Zane’s wife really was. They only knew Mrs. Sterling could design, but none of them realized she was also so familiar with this aspect of the business.

"Looks like we’ll get to enjoy the New Year early," one executive couldn’t help but praise, "Mrs. Sterling truly makes us see her in a new light."

"We’ll have to find a chance to ask her for advice!"

"Mrs. Sterling seems pretty young too, and she can spot market problems so quickly. She must be an expert in her own right!"

...

The compliments kept coming.

Zane tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Let’s keep the meeting going."

After leaving, Sophia went over to the courtyard, where Hugh Irving was checking the inventory of existing items.

The two chatted for a bit, and soon a familiar figure walked into the yard.

"Hello, we’re renovating at the moment, so the shop’s temporarily closed..."

Before Hugh could finish speaking, he looked up and saw a perfectly sculpted face.

Sophia, Hugh: "Faye Ellison."

Faye glanced around, nodded slightly, his gaze settling on Sophia.

"You came too."

Sophia smiled, "Just here to lend a hand."

Hugh put down his pen and notebook, tore off a picnic chair and handed it to Faye.

"Mr. Ellison, what brings you here?"

"Just passing by. Nice place. Heard you’re partnering with Professor Fumble?"

Actually, he’d seen Sophia’s car parked by the roadside, and figured, since he’d bumped into her near here last time, she’d probably be around, so he got out and found the place.

Hugh: "Yeah, came back to work in China—gotta let the seniors show me the ropes."

Faye sat down, legs casually apart, leisurely gazing at Sophia. "And you?"

"Same as always." Sophia poured him a cup of tea and handed it over.

"Why not come work for me? Whatever Spectra Group pays you, I’ll give you more." Faye made an offer.

Hugh blinked in surprise for two seconds, looking at Sophia.

She shook her head, saying, "Your stuff’s haute couture—if I screw up, I’ll just get yelled at. I’d rather keep my head down as a small-time designer. Besides, you do menswear, not my specialty."

He nodded slightly, not arguing.

The three of them chatted in the courtyard all afternoon.

——

It was close to six in the evening before Sophia returned to the CEO’s office.

The meeting hadn’t ended yet, though it was nearly wrapping up.

She crept in quietly. Zane’s eyes immediately landed on her.

"Hello, Mrs. Sterling!"

No one knew who actually called out first, but everyone else chimed in instantly.

She put on a cool facade, nodded calmly, and acknowledged them.

Then she sat in his office chair, pulled out her phone, and started playing a matching game.

She endured until the meeting finally ended.

Everyone crowded around Sophia, wanting to ask her about market issues.

She was resigned and just gave them some casual answers.

She’d skipped grades countless times at school, so she had a good grasp of multiple fields.

Market research wasn’t a mystery to her, plus she’d picked up some experience from working on overseas design sites, so she was fairly confident here.

Domestic development lagged behind abroad, but there were aspects to learn from.

Now her clothing designs had even been chosen by the government, putting her even closer to her goals.

Off to one side, Zane Sterling sat elegantly, cradling a coffee cup and tilted back in the office chair, watching Sophia surrounded in the center, answering questions one by one.

For a moment, he felt like she was glowing.

This went on for almost half an hour.

Eventually, Sophia realized Zane was staring at her without blinking from nearby.

She stopped, feeling a bit awkward, and the others took the hint, said their goodbyes, and left.

Zane Sterling was famous for his cold temperament. If Sophia hadn’t helped them solve those issues today, they probably would’ve gotten chewed out hard.

Everyone else cleared out.

The CEO’s office instantly became quiet.

Sophia’s scalp prickled under Zane’s gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Zane walked over, lifted his leg, and sat on the desk, looking down at the girl sitting in the big office chair.

"You really surprised me today," he pinched her nose teasingly.

"You surprised me today too."

Sophia pursed her lips and set the phone screen down on the desk.

Like she was putting him on trial.

The phone displayed the following info:

Sterling Group’s President, age 28, including Spectra Apparel Corporation, Sterling Automotive, Sterling Technologies...

Even [Mountainview Farmstead] was just a minor project among his many companies.

Although the info didn’t show Zane’s name or photo, anyone with a sharp eye would struggle to know who it referred to.

But Sophia instantly knew it was the man in front of her.

Zane smiled, amused that she’d looked him up.

Sophia raised her head, looking at him, waiting to hear what he’d say.

She finally understood why he always said: "You don’t really know your husband."

Turns out, he was loaded.

Holding the nerve center of multiple industries.

Zane felt like he’d been caught red-handed, chuckled, "So, you know everything now."

"If I hadn’t checked, were you planning to keep it from me forever? Hm?" she demanded, "You’re such a major CEO—why hole up in an apparel company? Are the other businesses not profitable?"

She thought Spectra Apparel was already a giant company—who knew it was just a tiny piece of his empire.

Zane let out a quiet laugh, leaned over, hands on either side of the office chair, trapping Sophia between the chair and his body.

Sophia startled, leaned back, pressing against the swivel chair.

His heat poured over her from above.

A faint sandalwood scent wafted over—his masculine air instantly surrounding her.

She sensed danger approaching.

"For you."