Chapter 1038 Scandal
Seeing how Sonia would not tell him, Toby raised his eyebrow and decided not to force her. Instead, he let out a faint smile. “Fine, let’s not talk about Tom anymore. I’ll be feeling uncomfortable if you mention another guy. Why did you call me?”
She pouted. “Why are you so sure that something happens whenever I call you? What if I’m just bored and need someone to talk to?”
He chuckled lightly. “Because I know that you’re not someone who will chat with me during working hours.”
He pointed behind her through the screen. She turned her head to look at the book rack, which was behind her. He was implying that both of them were working at the moment.
As he had mentioned, she would not call someone for something trivial or text someone else to slack off during office hours.
Even Toby himself was not an exception. Therefore, there had to be a reason for her to contact him right now.
She smiled. “Okay. Since you know me that well, I’ll—”
“Reward me?” he interrupted.
Sonia gave an eye-roll. “Don’t interrupt me. Who says I’m going to reward you?”
“But I know you all too well. Don’t I deserve something?” He looked at her.
She pouted. “If we put it that way, I know you very well too. Shouldn’t you reward me as well?”
“Sure.” He nodded without hesitation. “What do you want? As long as you want it, I’ll do anything for you.”
The way Toby stared at her was so serious that it made her shy. “Who needs a reward from you? Let’s get back to business. About the commerce port cooperation with Lane Corporation, is it your way to show your gratitude to Charles?”
“How did you know about it?” A dark glint flashed across his eyes. “I didn’t tell you about it.”
She drank some water. “Charles told me. He phoned me a while ago to ask if I knew about it and the reason behind it. Then, I recalled what you said last night, so I told him that it’s your way of showing your gratitude.”
He understood the situation and nodded. “It is me. I always repay people’s kindness, so I won’t be indebted. Lane Corporation happens to be needing it, so I offered them the cooperation.”
“He was reluctant to accept it at the beginning, but I persuaded him.” She smiled.
He claimed, “Even if you didn’t do that, he will have to accept it in the end. His father won’t give in to his attitude. His father has always wanted to work with a suitable commerce port since it’s related to Lane Corporation’s transition. So, he won’t let the chance slip through when I’ve proffered the deal. If Charles dares to turn down the offer, I reckon he won’t be able to see the daylight. He’ll be sabotaged by his father.”
Sonia covered her mouth as she burst into laughter. “Well, that’s possible. In other words, my advice saved Charles from trouble, didn’t it?”
“More or less so.” Toby lifted his chin.
She giggled. “It seems like he owes me one.”
Just as he parted his lips in an attempt to say something, she heard a knock resounded from his side. His brows furrowed as he was displeased by how an outsider interrupted the conversation by knocking on the door. Nevertheless, he responded to the knock. “Come in.”
The door swung open and a secretary entered. “President Fuller, the guest who made an appointment yesterday, has arrived. He’s waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute. Please entertain the guest while I’m on my way.” He nodded to acknowledge the notification while motioning the secretary to leave.
The secretary reciprocated as his gaze swept across the phone in Toby’s hand before he left the office. After closing the door, he leaned against it and patted his chest in relief.
It was no wonder he was welcomed by Toby’s unpleasant and murderous gaze the moment he entered the room. It was because he had interrupted the lovebirds’ video call.
That was why his boss was pulling a sour face at him. It was really bad timing to enter the office. Still, it was fortunate that Toby did not punish him for his untimely arrival, albeit displeased. Otherwise, he would have lost his job.
The secretary smiled bitterly. Placing his hands down, he marched toward the lift. Reporting to the supervisors was never an easy job. It took a simple mistake to step on the timebomb and lose one’s job.
Guess I should leave this kind of errands to Mr. Brown.
He entered the lift while shaking his head.
In the meantime, the crease on Toby’s forehead smoothened after the door closed. He averted his gaze upon the phone screen in the presidential office.
Just as he was going to say something, Sonia suddenly smiled. “I heard you’ve got a guest.”
He hummed. “He’s a close friend of my late grandfather. We have some business going on together. It seems like he needs my help this time round.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Since it’s your grandfather’s close friend, you should get going. I called just to confirm about the commerce port cooperation with Lane Corporation. That’s all. Now that I’ve confirmed, you should go ahead. We can talk at night if there’s anything.”
Now that she had put it that way, what else could he possibly say? Furthermore, he did not wish to keep Harry waiting. Not only was Harry a close friend of Toby’s grandfather, he was one of Toby’s teachers.
Harry Lore was an economy professor when he was young. Toby’s knowledge pertaining to economy was basically taught by him. Thus, he was credited to Toby’s contemporary success too.
Plus, he was a great person. Aside from overindulging and being over protective of his granddaughter, he was a perfect man. Therefore, Toby should pay his homage by not keeping Harry in wait.
“Okay, I’ll meet him now. I will introduce you to him during the business party.” Toby gazed at Sonia.
She nodded. “Alright.”
“I’ll hang up the call now.”
“Hmm, go ahead.” She smiled.
After looking at her for the one last time with a heavy heart, he terminated the video call. She looked at the screen displaying the list of contacts in messenger while smiling. She then put her phone aside and got back to work.
Suddenly, someone pushed open the door. Daphne entered the office frantically. Due to the fast pace, her face was flushing red.
Sonia was taken aback to see her in this state. She blinked her eyes and questioned, “What’s the matter? Did something happen?”
As the ever polite staff, Daphne always knocked on the door to seek Sonia’s permission before entering the office. It was not until something serious happened that she would barge in without reporting herself. Now that she was behaving this way, it had to be something serious happening.
Daphne panted before looking at her. “President Reed, you’re involved in a scandal.” It was as Sonia had expected—a bad news.
“What?” She was stunned for a moment before processing Daphne’s words. With a baffled expression, she reconfirmed, “Me? Scandal?”
“Hmm.” Daphne nodded.
The corner of Sonia’s lips twitched. “Impossible. I’m not a celebrity. Why would I be involved in a scandal?”
She then broke into a smile in an unbothered manner.
Daphne hurriedly explained, “President Reed, you’re not a celebrity, but you’re a public figure. Please do not forget that you’re the president of Paradigm and President Fuller’s lover. These alone are enough to draw attention from the public.
Not to mention the fact that you were trending on the Internet a few times previously. You’re as influential as the top celebrities. Many netizens pay attention to your activities online. Someone took a picture of you and a man into a hotel, and a scandal broke out.”
