"Mobbed by Matrimony" (wlw)

Chapter 9: The Knight and Shining Armor

It had been a few days since Sophia had seen Alex, both in the penthouse and the PC Building. She wasn't certain if Alex was deliberately avoiding her due to their recent confrontation, but Sophia found some relief in the absence. She thought it was for the best, as another encounter might escalate their already fraught relationship.

"Hey, Sophia! Are you okay?"

Christina asked, noticing that Sophia was staring blankly at her food.

"Yes, sorry," Sophia replied, snapping out of her daze. "I was just lost in thought."

It was lunchtime, and both women were seated in the cafeteria, surrounded by the hum of conversation and the clatter of utensils.

"Well, we'd better pick up the pace. I heard Brad is in a terrible mood and has called an emergency meeting for after lunch."

Christina said, her concern evident.

Sophia gave a brief nod and offered a reassuring smile.

As Sophia and Christina entered the Data Privacy room, they were met with a cacophony of loud scrambling noises. Brad was furiously tossing papers and slamming files, while the rest of the employees looked on in stunned silence.

"How could this information leak when you've all claimed to be so meticulous with your work?!"

Brad roared, slamming a stack of folders onto the table.

He glared at the room full of employees.

"We were the only ones aware of the scheduled deal with this client. How on earth did our rivals get hold of those conversations?"

Everyone remained tight-lipped as Brad continued his tirade. Sophia and Christina stood on the periphery, quietly observing.

"You! Intern!" Brad shouted, pointing directly at Sophia. "That file I asked you to deliver to the messenger—where is it?"

"I handed it to the messenger just as you instructed, sir."

Sophia replied calmly.

Brad's face reddened with rage.

"Did you get the name of the messenger? Did you remember what he looked like? Are you absolutely certain he even works here?!"

"I have his name noted on my desk, sir. I'll—"

Sophia began to respond, but was abruptly cut off by Brad.

"Shut up! You can't even recall the messenger's name when I ask you directly?!"

Brad thundered, his frustration palpable.

A few minutes before the chaos erupted in the Data Privacy room, Gabriel sat in his office, scratching his head in frustration.

"Calm down, we'll get to the bottom of this, Gab."

Alex said soothingly, observing Gabriel's distress.

"I'm in deep trouble. That deal was crucial,"

Gabriel sighed heavily.

Alex frowned as the noise from the next room became more intrusive.

"This racket is driving me crazy. I can't focus with all this slamming."

"Let's grab a drink and head to your office. This floor is in chaos right now."

Gabriel suggested.

As they stepped out, they briefly saw Sophia and her colleague entering the room where the commotion was happening. As they walked away, the sounds of Brad's furious outburst reached them. Alex's expression shifted abruptly as she stopped to listen, her face paling as she heard Brad's intense interrogation of Sophia.

"Shut up! You can't even recall the messenger's name when I ask you directly?!"

Sophia stood frozen, her face flushing with embarrassment as Brad berated her in front of everyone.

"Was it really appropriate to delegate a critical document to an intern and ask her to deliver it to the messenger, Mr. Welton?!"

A voice from the far end of the crowd cut through the tension.

Brad turned in shock to see Alex stepping forward.

"Boss! I assigned it to the intern to test her ability to handle the task."

Brad defended himself.

"Handing over a crucial file, Mr. Welton? A file that could jeopardize a major deal and substantial financial interests? Were there no less critical documents available, or are the others even more significant than this one?"

Alex questioned calmly, but with a gaze as intense as a lion ready to pounce.

"No, boss, that file was of the highest priority than the others."

Brad replied, his voice trembling.

"Given its importance, shouldn't you, as the person in charge, have been responsible for ensuring its safe delivery to the messenger? Considering the situation, who do you think should bear the brunt of the consequences?"

Alex asked, her tone sharp and unyielding.

"But, boss—"

Brad began to protest, but Alex cut him off.

"Shut up, Mr Welton! But what?! Aren't you supposed to be accountable for that file? Answer me!"

The room fell into a chilling silence as Alex's voice echoed with a cold, relentless fury. Her eyes, cold and piercing, locked onto Brad.

"You're right, boss! It was my mistake. I'm sorry! Please let me make this right."

Brad stammered, his fear palpable as he knelt before Alex. The rest of the room stood paralyzed, their faces etched with shock and fear.

Sophia was at a loss for words, her eyes fixed on Alex as she subjected Brad to intense humiliation in front of the employees. Meanwhile, Brad remained on his knees, crying and begging for mercy—not just for his job, but possibly for his very life.

Alex leaned forward, grabbing Brad's shirt and forcing him to meet her fierce gaze.

"Does it feel good to be interrupted, Mr. Welton? Does it feel good to be humiliated?"

Brad, still on his knees and pleading, responded with a trembling voice.

"No, boss. It doesn't. I'm sorry!"

Alex released her grip, turned her back on Brad, and began walking away slowly.

"Back to work, everyone."

Gabriel instructed the stunned staff before following Alex out of the room.

Alex's office was noticeably quieter than Gabriel's. She stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the window.

"Did you just play the knight in shining armor for your wife back there?"

Gabriel asked with a teasing tone, noticing Alex's preoccupied demeanor.

"Can you keep it down? I've got a headache,"

Alex sighed, her mind still replaying the chaos from the Data Privacy room.

The noise and disruption had clearly unsettled her, but Alex wondered if there was more behind her reaction. Was it only the commotion that triggered her response, or was there something deeper driving her emotions?