Think I Love You, Mr. CEO? That's a Lie

Chapter 3 Falling into Mr. Collins's Arms

However, there was one thing they miscalculated: Sophia was a financial expert, and this contract was hardly a challenge for her.

"Why so quiet? Weren’t you just sharp-tongued a moment ago?" Evelyn mocked, her eyes glinting with derision. "All these years abroad, wasn’t it the Bennett family’s money that sustained you? Now that the Bennett family is in trouble, are you too scared to act?"

"I can agree to this request." Sophia's response left Evelyn momentarily speechless, astonished.

Sophia smiled faintly, "However, I need a director’s position to handle contract negotiations."

Clara sneered, "Director? Sophia, you’re hardly qualified for the director’s position."

Evelyn interrupted Clara, saying coldly, "Fine, but I want you to close the deal within two days, otherwise you're not allowed to set foot in the Bennett family again!"

"No problem. Remember your words."

Sophia turned and left after speaking, not asking about the computer again to avoid raising Evelyn's suspicions.

She had already instructed her assistant to remotely erase the contents, eliminating any immediate threat, although restoring the data later would require significant effort.

As soon as Sophia left, Clara stomped her foot angrily. "Mom, why did you agree to that wretched Sophia’s request?"

Evelyn's lips curled into a sneer as she spoke with disdain, "A daughter of a lowly woman is equally lowly, utterly clueless. She actually dared to agree to two days, thinking she's some kind of financial expert."

"She still dreams of success. How laughable. In two days, we’ll drive her out of the Bennett family!" Evelyn let out a cold, sinister smile.

"Mom, what a great plan!" Clara began laughing but quickly stopped, wincing in pain.

Outside the company.

Sophia glanced at the documents in her hand. Thanks to Evelyn's decision, she was now able to openly enter the company and conduct her investigation.

However, upon checking, she discovered that the company was suffering severe losses, which explained their inability to close deals.

Signing a contract now would result in a losing deal. Filling this financial gap won't be easy and will require significant investment.

If this continues, the company will be on the brink of bankruptcy.

"Now, besides external support, we need to adjust the market. This contract is indeed feasible, the innovation is good, and it can enhance market competitiveness."

Sophia flipped through the contract in her hand, deciding to find the company's leadership to renegotiate terms and sign the contract.

"But when it comes to external support, who would be willing to invest in me? The Ashton family could easily cover this amount, but that would reveal my identity..."

As Sophia was fretting, her phone suddenly rang, and the caller ID displayed two characters: Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins, why would he call her voluntarily? Wasn't he sick of her yet?

Wait, isn’t this a perfect opportunity for funding?

The Collins family, the wealthiest family in the capital, top of the fortune list, with businesses spanning multiple industries.

And now, she was the Collins family's daughter-in-law.

Sophia’s eyes lit up with sudden realization. She cleared her throat and pressed the answer button.

"Hello~, Mr. Collins. How did you know I was missing you? I was just about to call you~" Her voice was syrupy sweet and coy, with an exaggerated drawl on the final syllable.

After she spoke, there was silence on the other end. After a while, she heard a deep breath, as if restraining something.

"Where are you?" His voice remained as icy as ever.

"I'm at the entrance of the Bennett family company."

"I'm coming to pick you up."

Before Sophia could respond, the other end had already hung up.

"Coming to pick me up? What’s going on? I still need to draft the contract." Sophia sighed helplessly but remained by the roadside, waiting for her gold mine.

Twenty minutes later, a sleek black sedan pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a strikingly handsome, refined face exuding nobility and detachment.

"Get in."

His words were ice-cold.

Sophia opened the car door and got in, her tone syrupy as she asked, "Why did you come to pick me up? Did you miss me?"

"Do you recognize this?" Mr. Collins didn't reply but pulled out a laptop from the side, adorned with a smiley face sticker.

The moment she saw the laptop, Sophia reached out eagerly to grab it. "My laptop."

Unexpectedly, she missed and stumbled into the man's firm, warm embrace.

Her hand landed on his firm, muscular chest as an enticing masculine scent surrounded her, a faint trace of cedar lingering in the air.

She looked up, and those deep, dark eyes were staring intently at her.

After a brief moment of locked gazes, Mr. Collins quickly pushed Sophia away.

The soft touch and faint sweet fragrance caused a rare flicker of unease on Mr. Collins’s face, quickly replaced by a look of disgust.

"Sophia," Mr. Collins said coldly, "remember, we are only husband and wife in name. Stay away from me."

Sophia hurriedly sat up straight, coughing awkwardly twice.

"How did you get this laptop, Mr. Collins?"

"What are you hiding on this laptop that you're so desperate to get it back?"

Mr. Collins said as he opened the laptop.

"Wait!" Sophia grabbed the laptop.

"Password," Mr. Collins said coolly, his eyes briefly flicking to her hand clutching the laptop. "If you have nothing to hide, what are you so afraid of?"

"Mr. Collins, this is a personal computer. It’s inappropriate to open it," Sophia protested, still clutching the laptop, confused by his insistence.

"Oh, really? Do you know what the members of your Bennett family said when they gave me this computer?"