Chapter 2 — Don’t Misunderstand
1316 Words
Sophia shoved the door open.
It hit the wall with a loud thud.
Alice jumped off the desk so fast she almost slipped. Johnson's hands lifted away from her waist, but his face didn't show guilt. It showed irritation.
Sophia's voice shook with anger. “What are you doing?"
Alice's eyes went wide. “Sophia—"
Sophia pointed at the desk. “Get off. Step away from him."
Johnson's tone turned hard. “Sophia, watch your attitude. This is my office."
Sophia stared at him like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. “Your office? I just saw my sister hanging on your neck."
Alice rushed forward, hands raised. “Please, don't misunderstand. It's not what you think."
Sophia laughed once, sharp. “Then tell me what it is."
Alice pressed a hand to her stomach like she might faint. “I wasn't feeling well this morning. I felt dizzy. Johnson was just checking on me."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. “Checking on you… while you're sitting on his desk?"
Alice's voice turned smaller. “I… I needed to sit down."
Sophia stepped closer. “If you were sick, you should have gone to a hospital."
Johnson cut in. “Enough."
Sophia turned to him. “Enough? You're going to defend this?"
Johnson's jaw tightened. “Alice is still your half-sister. Don't talk to her like she's trash."
Sophia's anger didn't just flare—it froze.
She was his fiancée, the woman he was supposed to protect, yet he chose to shield Alice instead.
Her heart went cold with disappointment.
Sophia's blood boiled. “Half-sister or not, she's acting like a snake."
Alice's tears appeared instantly. “Sophia, why do you always think the worst of me?"
Sophia pointed at Johnson. “Because I have eyes."
Johnson's voice stayed calm, but it was cold. “Alice stayed up late last night working on the proposal. She's exhausted. That's why she feels unwell."
Sophia wanted to shout that she had been the one losing sleep for this deal. Last night, as she finished the last page, Alice had drifted by and scoffed, “Work all you want—it's useless." Sophia had thought it was just spite. Now she understood: Alice had been watching so she could steal the proposal. But at work she couldn't say fiancé, couldn't claim him—so she could only watch him believe Alice without question.
Sophia froze. “Working on the proposal?"
“Yes," Johnson said firmly. “She worked hard. She doesn't deserve to be attacked the minute you walk in."
Sophia took a breath, trying not to explode. “That proposal was my work."
Alice swallowed, then whispered, “I only helped a little."
Sophia snapped her head toward her. “Don't lie. I finished the full proposal."
Johnson frowned. “Then why wasn't it on my desk when I got in?"
“It was," Sophia said. “I printed it. I saved the file. I was going to deliver the final copy—then my friends dragged me to that stupid party."
Johnson's eyes sharpened. “So you chose to drink instead of doing your job?"
Sophia's face flushed. “I chose one night to breathe. I was stressed, and I trusted my work was done."
Alice wiped her tears, voice sweet. “Sophia, you left early. I was worried about the deadline. I stayed and fixed a few parts."
“A few parts?" Sophia repeated. “You mean you took my work and put your name on it."
Alice gasped. “No! Why would I do that?"
Sophia's hands clenched. “Because you always do."
Johnson stepped forward, his tone warning. “Sophia, stop making a scene."
Sophia stared at him. “A scene? I'm telling you the truth."
Johnson's eyes were steady, stubborn. “The truth is Alice delivered the proposal to me this morning. That's what happened."
Sophia's voice rose. “Because I didn't get the chance! I came straight here."
Johnson shook his head. “You came here to accuse people. If Alice did something wrong, you could have spoken like an adult."
Sophia let out a bitter laugh. “Like an adult? I just watched her—"
Alice interrupted softly, “I was dizzy. I grabbed his neck so I wouldn't fall. That's all."
Sophia stared at her. “So you grabbed his neck… and smiled? Was that for balance too?"
Alice's lips trembled. “Sophia, please…"
Johnson's patience snapped. “Enough, Sophia. Alice has been contributing a lot lately. She's talented and loyal. You should learn from her."
Talented. Loyal.
He praised Alice like Sophia wasn't even in the room, and whatever hope Sophia had left sank in silence.
Sophia felt her throat tighten. “Learn from her? Learn how to steal?"
Johnson's gaze turned icy. “Learn how to put the company first."
Sophia's eyes stung, but she forced the words out. “I put the company first. For weeks. And you didn't even notice."
Johnson looked away. “That's not true."
Sophia pulled her phone from her bag with shaking fingers. “Do you want proof? I have the draft history. I emailed the final file to myself at 1:03 a.m. The edits are mine. The comments are mine."
Alice's eyes flicked to the phone, fast and nervous. “Sophia, you're being dramatic."
“I'm being accurate," Sophia shot back. She turned the screen toward Johnson. “Look at the timestamps."
Johnson didn't even lean in. “Put that away."
Sophia's voice cracked. “You won't even look?"
Johnson's face hardened. “Not here. Not like this. We're hours from a signing. I'm not going to waste time arguing about who typed what line."
Sophia stared at him. “So the truth doesn't matter?"
“It matters," Johnson said, firm. “But what matters more is the result. Alice delivered the proposal this morning. That's what the team saw."
Alice sniffed, eyes glossy again. “I only wanted to help the company…"
Sophia lowered her phone slowly. “You wanted to help yourself."
Sophia took a step closer, voice low. “Then answer one thing. Why was she on your desk?"
Johnson didn't hesitate. “Because she felt faint. She sat down."
Sophia's laugh was small and broken. “You're really going with that."
Before Johnson could reply, the door burst open again.
His assistant rushed in, breathing hard. “Mr. Wright!"
Johnson turned. “What?"
“The client called," the assistant blurted. “They loved our proposal. They said it's perfect. They want to sign today."
The air changed instantly.
Johnson's eyes lit up. “You're sure?"
“Yes," the assistant said, grinning. “They specifically praised the strategy and the budget. They're ready."
Johnson grabbed Alice's shoulders, relief and excitement breaking through his control.
“Alice," he said, almost laughing, “you did it."
Alice blinked, acting stunned. “Me?"
Johnson lifted her up in a rush of joy. “You saved this deal!"
Alice clung to him, smiling. “Johnson, put me down…"
Sophia stood by the door and said nothing.
Her proof—drafts, timestamps, truth—felt useless in her hand.
She was his fiancée, but in this moment she was invisible.
The assistant's eyes flicked to Sophia, then away.
Johnson set Alice down gently. “Call legal. Prepare the signing documents. I want the room ready in an hour."
“Yes, Mr. Wright!" the assistant said, already leaving.
Johnson didn't look at Sophia. He looked only at Alice. “Come with me."
Sophia turned and slipped out, a forgotten corner of the office.
Behind her, through the closing door, she heard Alice's gentle question.
“Johnson… should I come with you?"
Johnson answered without hesitation.
“Of course."
Sophia kept walking down the hallway, her steps fast and silent, because if she slowed down even once, she was afraid she would break.
- Writer
