Chapter 172 Bullying
Tiffany knew full well that Harrison didn't like her, yet she insisted on speaking with him, offering him the perfect chance to tease her mercilessly.
To put it bluntly, any bullying from Harrison was entirely of Tiffany's own making.
Had she not approached him, Harrison wouldn't have bullied her without cause – he would've simply ignored her. Trying not to make things difficult for his good friend, Harrison refrained from further insulting Tiffany.
"I've got to swing by the lab; I'll take off now."
"Okay."
After Harrison left, Tiffany felt even more aggrieved.
"Gabriel, I know he doesn't like me, but I just wanted to try and smooth things over, so you wouldn't be caught in the middle."
"There's no need for you to do that. I won't feel troubled," Gabriel replied.
For two people whose energies just didn't mix, ignoring each other was the most peaceful way to coexist.
Tiffany failed to grasp this. She was always bent on getting along with the people close to Gabriel. Everyone else seemed easy enough to handle, but Harrison was a tough nut to crack, unyielding both to charm and pressure, often leaving her hopping mad.
Gabriel meant well, but when Tiffany heard this, she felt as if he didn't want her getting too close to his friends. This only intensified the sense of insecurity she harbored.
Tiffany emerged from the executive suite and made her way to the design department, which she hadn't visited for some time. True to form, she brought coffee for everyone as a little gesture.
"Congratulations, Miss Kelly, for being selected to represent our company at the national competition." Tiffany carried a cup of coffee over and placed it on Sophia’s desk.
Sophia stopped typing, swiveled her chair around, and said icily, "I'd advise you to take that coffee away unless you want it accidentally thrown in your face."
The friendly smile faded from Tiffany’s lips as her gaze fixed intently on Sophia’s neck.
Sophia had removed her coat and scarf to adjust to the warm office, exposing her delicate neck. The sparkling diamonds of her necklace made her fair skin seem even more radiant and smooth.
"How did you end up with that necklace?” Tiffany asked sharply.
She had come specifically to see Gabriel today, partly because she wanted to see him, but also to inquire about the necklace he had purchased.
Despite her better judgment, curiosity got the best of her and she had asked the salesgirl what Gabriel had bought. To her shock, the salesgirl revealed it was this year's limited edition star diamond necklace—worth a fortune!
She had spent so much time waiting in Gabriel’s office, yet he hadn't given it to her. She thought maybe he would present it at the annual gala, guessing that Gabriel intended for her to wear it then.
Sophia gave her a look as if she were a fool. "What's it to you? And since when do you have the right to ask?"
Tiffany really thought highly of herself. If Sophia hadn't been restraining herself, she might have given Tiffany a piece of her mind.
"Gabriel bought this necklace. So, tell me, how is it none of my business?" Tiffany raised her voice, undeterred by the office setting and the curious eyes of many coworkers.
This was potentially explosive.
Mr. Lancaster's necklace, showing up on Sophia’s neck?
Could it imply something scandalous between Mr. Lancaster and Sophia?
Speculation ran wild, and within seconds, people were concocting a juicy piece of gossip.
Sophia, daring to vie with Miss Foster for a boyfriend?!
Wasn’t she also involved with Harrison?
Sophia had some nerve!
Sophia's face darkened at the sound of the murmurs. She picked up the cup of coffee as if to douse Tiffany with it. Tiffany flinched and stepped back, but Sophia held back, only intending to scare her.
"Accusations need evidence. You say it’s from Gabriel—where’s the proof? Show me the receipt," Sophia challenged.
Tiffany had no receipt; it was unlikely Gabriel would have given her one.
But Tiffany had a witness. Obsessed with sullying Sophia's reputation, she saw this as a golden opportunity to make her life a living nightmare. She was so pumped up that she didn't even think before she spoke or acted.
"So, you want proof? I'll just call the jewelry store clerk over here. She saw Gabriel buying that necklace with her own eyes."
"Fine, call her then. I'll be dialing the police station to report you for slander."
Tiffany, boiling with rage, raised her hand to strike her, but Sophia was one step ahead. She grabbed Tiffany's wrist in a flash, pulled her forward, and suddenly the two were face-to-face, their noses practically touching.
Sophia stared into Tiffany's eyes with an icy glare and a hint of a smirk on her lips.
"So, what if Gabriel did buy it? The necklace was a gift from Sam. You better apologize right here and now, in front of everyone. Or else... I won't care if you're Gabriel's girlfriend or not."
As soon as Sophia finished speaking, she gave Tiffany a forceful shove, sending her stumbling backward. Luckily, she was caught by Fiona, who was spectating.
"Miss Foster, are you alright?" Fiona inquired.
Tiffany was as pale as a ghost. Sophia's chilling gaze had struck her like a demon from the underworld, cold and devoid of any warmth, making her feel like she was looking at a corpse.
She found herself completely overpowered by Sophia's presence!
A moment of clarity hit Tiffany. If the necklace had indeed been financed by Gabriel as a gift for her from Sam, would Gabriel approve of her dragging a clerk here to testify? He would probably be disappointed with her.
A shiver of fear ran down Tiffany's spine, and she turned to leave.
"You haven't apologized yet," Sophia reminded her.
Tiffany stopped in her tracks; her hands clenched into fists.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't catch that."
Grinding her teeth, Tiffany raised her voice, "I'm sorry; I misunderstood you earlier."
"Oh, and take your coffee with you."
Seething with anger and hands trembling, Tiffany snatched her coffee and scurried out of the design department without looking back.
The onlookers were stunned into silence.
What just happened?
Miss Foster apologized to Sophia?
Could it be that Miss Foster was actually wrong? And Sophia really had nothing to do with Mr. Lancaster?
Absolutely, it was not like Sophia was a regular at the corporate office. The chances of her getting close to Mr. Lancaster were next to none. Mr. Lancaster barely gave any woman the time of day, Miss Foster being the rare exception.
The crowd started to piece together the previous scuffle between the two as a misunderstanding.
Fiona, standing closer, could just make out Sophia whispering the name "Sam."
If memory served her right, wasn't Sam Lancaster the name of Mr. Lancaster's son?
Perplexed, Fiona scrutinized Sophia.
With a playful smirk, Sophia responded, "What? Have your affections shifted from Harrison to Mr. Lancaster now?”
Flustered, Fiona huffed, turned on her heel, and marched away.
Sophia gently took off her necklace, caressing the diamond pendant.
‘Sam, honey, Mommy's not going to wear this necklace for a bit. I'll put it on again when we leave B city. Thank you for always keeping me in your thoughts, sweetheart.’ She thought to herself.
…
Sam bubbled with joy at the thought of his dad going on a business trip on Saturday. He couldn't wait to invite Ethan and Emma over to keep their great-grandma company.
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