Chapter 496 Gossip
During dinner, Larry rushed over to Sophia, fuming. "Sophia, I just heard them badmouthing you."
"What did they say?" Sophia asked calmly.
"They called you manipulative and said you only flatter Ms. Johnson. They even questioned how you became Ms. Johnson's goddaughter. Is it true?" Larry asked, curious.
Sophia nodded slightly, not hiding the fact.
Larry's eyes widened. "Wow, Sophia! Ms. Johnson must really like you to make you her goddaughter."
"They're just jealous. Don't let their nasty comments get to you," Larry reassured her. Sophia felt a bit upset but was mostly unfazed. She had grown a thick skin over time.
"What else did they say?" Sophia asked, pretending to be bored.
Larry saw she wasn't too bothered and continued, "They said you're no match for Ms. Brown. At least Ms. Brown is Ms. Johnson's relative, while you're just a knockoff."
Sophia sneered.
"Sophia."
"I'm fine, let's eat," Sophia said, focusing on her meal.
In the afternoon, Sophia and Patricia were doing embroidery together. Patricia, full of questions, was like a curious troublemaker.
Sophia was impatient but forced herself to answer Patricia's questions half-heartedly.
Celeste visited Fusion Dynamics Corporation in the afternoon and was pleased to see Sophia and Patricia getting along.
"Sophia, I still can't get this technique," Patricia called out sweetly.
Sophia looked up and saw Celeste nearby. She gritted her teeth and held Patricia's hand. "Do it like this."
Patricia smirked and whispered, "Sophia, you really have no shame."
Before Sophia could react, Patricia suddenly cried out in pain and pulled her hand back.
Celeste heard the cry and walked over, concerned. "What happened, Patricia?"
"Grandma, I pricked my hand," Patricia said, showing a drop of blood on her finger.
Celeste smiled. "It's just a needle prick. It'll heal quickly."
"Yes, but Grandma..." Patricia glanced at Sophia, looking scared.
"Never mind, Grandma, I'll help Sophia finish the project," Patricia said obediently.
Celeste patted her head lovingly. "Go put on a band-aid."
"Okay," Patricia said, lowering her head and walking away.
Celeste's loving expression faded. 'Is Patricia really afraid of Sophia? Why would she be?'
Celeste wondered if Sophia had done something to Patricia but knew Sophia's character well. Maybe she was mistaken.
Sophia could finish an embroidery piece in an afternoon, but with Patricia slowing her down, it felt like it would take two days.
As the sky darkened, the other students had finished their embroidery and gone home.
Only Sophia and Patricia were still at it.
Seeing half the work still undone, Sophia checked the time and pushed Patricia's hand away. "Stop embroidering. I'll do it myself."
"No, Jennifer said I have to work with you to learn," Patricia insisted.
"Stop being fake," Sophia said coldly.
"How am I being fake? I just want to learn fashion design from you."
Sophia knew Celeste and Jennifer wanted Patricia to learn from her, but she didn't want to teach someone like Patricia. Still, she couldn't refuse their wishes. She owed her position at Fusion Dynamics Corporation to Jennifer's support and didn't want to disappoint them.
"If we don't finish today, neither of us can go home," Sophia reminded her.
Patricia shrugged. "It's okay, I can stay here."
Sophia's sharp gaze cut through Patricia. Patricia wanted to retort but couldn't find the words.
After a moment, Sophia quickly finished her part and stood up. "The rest is yours. Take your time. I'm leaving."
Sophia stretched, her neck cracking. Sitting all day was exhausting.
Patricia smugly reminded her, "Don't forget what Jennifer said. If you don't finish, you can't go home. If you leave now, Aunt will definitely blame you tomorrow, and your good image will be ruined."
Sophia replied, "It's okay if my image is ruined, but your obedient image can't be."
She patted Patricia's shoulder. "Keep embroidering. You can't go home until it's done."
With that, Sophia grabbed her bag and left.
Seeing Sophia really leaving, Patricia panicked and tried to pull her back. Chasing her to the door, Patricia suddenly stopped.
"What are you doing here?" Sophia asked Gabriel.
The sky was dark, and Gabriel looked at her gently. "I came to pick you up."
"I drove here."
"I got off work early, so I came by."
Sophia glanced back at Patricia, who was chasing after her, and smiled. "Alright."
"Sophia!" Patricia called out, "You haven't finished the embroidery."
Sophia replied, "The rest is yours. You're the one who hasn't finished."
"We're a team."
"Even in a team, tasks should be clearly divided."
"You!" Patricia glared at Gabriel, not moving an inch.
"Bye-bye, take your time with the embroidery. We're leaving." Sophia got into Gabriel's car, and Gabriel didn't look at Patricia once. After Sophia got in, he quickly got into the driver's seat.
"Gabriel," Patricia tried to talk to him, but he stepped on the gas, leaving her in a cloud of exhaust.
Patricia stomped her foot in anger. "Sophia, just you wait!"
Sophia sat in the car, beaming. Seeing Patricia upset made her really happy. Patricia liked Gabriel, but Gabriel didn't even bother to look at her. Gabriel's timing today was perfect.
Gabriel sensed Sophia's happiness and couldn't help but smile. 'Does Sophia like me picking her up from work? Then I'll do it every day!'
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