Chapter 21

My expression turned cold as I simultaneously activated the recording and screen recording functions on my phone. When I walked into Hugo's office, he didn't mince words. He got straight to the point about what he wanted—something I'd predicted after five years of similar scenarios.

"Sophia, I heard you drafted a brand-new design that's even better than the one you gave Bella yesterday!"

I nodded. "Yes. I thought of another great design, so I sketched it," I said nonchalantly.

"Then give this new design to Bella. You don't need this one anyway!" Hugo didn't bother to hide his vile intentions, speaking in a commanding tone.

I suppressed my anger and discomfort. How had I not realized Hugo was such a despicable person from the start?

Instead of agreeing, as usual, I flatly refused. "I won't. This design is for me! Besides, I already gave her a design yesterday, haven't I?"

"That one wasn't as good as this one. Do you think I don't know? Besides, what do you need it for? Is this design as important to you as it is to Bella? If she impresses the judges at the Century Jewelry Competition tomorrow, she might participate in the World Jewelry Competition. As for you, have you produced any work in the past two years? Who even knows who you are in this industry?" Hugo's face darkened as he continued.

My face also soured. "I haven't produced any work because you've taken all my design drafts from the past two years for Bella! Hugo, how can you say such things? Anyway, I've made up my mind. I won't give her this design!"

Hugo realized a hard approach wouldn't work, so he softened his tone. "Sophia, I know you've always been softhearted. Bella is the gold standard of Trifleming Jewelry now. Even if you don't consider her, consider me. We're getting married, and Trifleming Jewelry will belong to both of us!"

He added, more gently, "Besides, you've given all your design drafts to her for the past two years. It's useless to argue now. Bella's participating in the Century Jewelry Competition hosted by Strakovski Jewelry tomorrow, and it's important to her. We've reached this point; better to give her a push. If she succeeds on the world stage, it will benefit Trifleming Jewelry."

I was unusually stubborn. "I still haven't changed my mind. I won't give her this design! I want to keep it for myself!"

Hugo's face grew increasingly unpleasant, and finally, he surrendered. "Fine, fine, fine! If you don't want to give it, then forget it!" He waved impatiently.

With an unsightly expression, I huffed and left the office. As I left, I saved the recording and screen recording, sneering slightly.

Before leaving work, I placed today's original design draft in my bag and stored a backup where design drafts are usually kept. Then, I took a miniature pinhole camera from my pocket and discreetly placed it on the flower vase on the table.

Not long after, Bella approached me.

"Sophia, did you and Hugo have a fight?" she whispered. "When you came back, I thought you were willing to believe that Mr. Roberts and I really had nothing going on."

My eyes flickered. "Why do you ask?"

Bella looked helpless. "I knew it! You argued with him! He said he wants to take you out to dinner, but he asked me to be his messenger!"

Of course, he would approach me, I thought sarcastically. "Is that so?" I replied calmly.

Bella nodded. "Yes! He also said the three of us should have dinner. I could tell you two really quarreled!"

After Bella's repeated prodding, I feigned defeat and agreed to dinner with them. We went to a well-known Western restaurant in Mediopolis. They sat by the window, Bella and Hugo opposite each other, with me beside Hugo.

After ordering, Hugo and Bella chatted as usual, and I listened quietly. Not far away, Lukas entered the restaurant with his assistant. The assistant noticed us at the window, did a double take, and looked awkward. "Mr. Strakovski, isn't that Miss Sophia?" he asked, gesturing.

Lukas glanced where his assistant pointed and focused on Hugo and Bella's legs, which were intertwined under the table. A mocking smile crept onto Lukas's lips as he strode confidently toward their table.

The passage still contains some minor inconsistencies (e.g., the use of "Hupp" instead of "Hugo"), but the major grammatical and punctuation errors have been corrected, and the overall flow is improved. The inconsistent formatting of the percentage numbers at the end is also retained as it appears to be part of the original text's formatting.