The morning after the grand wedding, the sun rose lazily over the sprawling Lee estate, casting its golden glow on the manicured lawns and marble corridors.
Despite the serene appearance, tension hung thick in the air.
Sophia, already at her desk in the east wing of the mansion, was drowning in paperwork and emails.
The silence was short-lived, however, as Samantha’s sharp heels clicked ominously down the corridor. She arrived with an air of command, her eyes icy as they locked on Sophia.
“You,” Samantha began curtly, tossing a folder onto Sophia’s desk. “Why hasn’t this been finalized yet?”
Sophia glanced at the folder, already overwhelmed. “I received these documents late last night, Mrs. Lee. I planned to—”
“I didn’t ask for your excuses,” Samantha snapped, cutting her off. Her lips curled into a mocking smile. “Maybe you’re too... distracted to focus on your job?”
Sophia’s jaw tightened, but she kept her tone steady. “I assure you, I’m perfectly capable of handling my work.”
° At least I'm trying my best°
Samantha leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “Let me make something clear. You may have Mr. Lee’s ear during office hours, but I have him for life. Whatever little game you think you’re playing ends now.”
Sophia met her gaze, refusing to back down. “I’m not playing any games, Mrs. Lee.”
Samantha straightened, her demeanor instantly shifting as Mr. Lee entered the room.
“Good morning,” he said, his tone cool but polite as his eyes flicked between the two women.
Samantha’s icy demeanor melted like snow under the sun. “Good morning, darling,” she cooed, walking over to him and slipping her arm around his. “I was just checking in on Sophia here. She’s doing such an excellent job, isn’t she?”
Mr. Lee’s gaze lingered on Sophia, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes. “She always does,” he replied simply, his voice neutral but firm.
Sophia, feeling the weight of his stare, quickly turned her attention back to the documents in front of her.
---
Later in the day, Penelope approached Samantha, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Mrs. Lee, I couldn’t help but notice... Sophia seems to be overstepping her boundaries.”
Samantha, who had been sipping her tea, raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
“Well,” Penelope continued, feigning concern, “she’s always near Mr. Lee. Lingering in his office, staying late for work. And she’s rather... defiant, isn’t she? Not the kind of attitude you’d expect from an employee.”
Samantha’s eyes darkened. “What are you suggesting?”
Penelope leaned in, lowering her voice. “Let’s just say I have a few ideas on how to remind her of her place.”
Samantha smiled wickedly. “I’m listening.”
---
That afternoon, as Sophia was walking through the garden, she was approached by one of the household staff.
“Miss Sophia, Mrs. Lee asked for you in the library.”
Confused but unwilling to provoke Samantha further, Sophia made her way to the grand library.
She was barely inside when the doors shut behind her, and she found herself face-to-face with Penelope, who was holding a stack of confidential documents.
“Do you know what these are?” Penelope asked, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
Sophia frowned. “Those look like the project proposals Mr. Lee asked me to review.”
“Exactly,” Penelope said, tossing them onto the table. “And they were found in your room.”
Sophia froze. “That’s not possible. I didn’t take them.”
Penelope crossed her arms, smirking. “Well, they didn’t walk there on their own, did they? This is theft, Sophia. A very serious offense.”
The library doors opened, and Samantha strolled in, her expression one of feigned shock. “Sophia,” she gasped. “How could you? Stealing from the company? From my husband?”
Sophia’s heart raced as she realized she’d been set up. “I didn’t steal anything,” she said firmly. “This is some kind of mistake.”
Samantha tilted her head, her tone laced with mock pity. “Mistake or not, this needs to be addressed. Mr. Lee will have to hear about this.”
---
When Mr. Lee was finally informed, he summoned Sophia to his private study. The air was thick with tension as she stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her.
He stood by the window, his back to her, his posture rigid. “Explain,” he said, his voice dangerously low.
Sophia took a deep breath. “I didn’t do it. Someone planted those documents in my room.”
He turned to face her, his dark eyes narrowing. “Do you have proof?”
“No,” she admitted, frustration and helplessness bubbling to the surface. “But you know me, Mr. Lee. You know I wouldn’t—”
“Do I?” he interrupted, stepping closer. “How can I be sure? Everyone here has motives, Sophia. Even you.”
The accusation stung, but Sophia refused to back down. “If you truly believe I’d betray you, then maybe you don’t know me at all.”
His gaze softened for a fraction of a second before his expression hardened again. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a whisper as he closed the distance between them. “And I don’t know if I can protect you.”
Sophia’s breath hitched as his hand brushed against her arm, his touch electrifying and impossibly gentle. “Why would I need protection?” she asked, her voice trembling.
He leaned in, his lips hovering just inches from hers. “Because the people around me will destroy you if they think you’re a threat.”
She met his gaze, her defiance flaring. “Maybe I’m not as breakable as they think.”
His lips curved into a dark smile. “We’ll see about that.”
---
The next morning, Samantha and Penelope sat together, their laughter echoing through the dining hall as they planned their next move.
“She’s on thin ice,” Penelope said smugly. “A few more nudges, and she’ll be out of the picture.”
Samantha sipped her coffee, her expression triumphant. “Good. I want her gone.”
Meanwhile, in his study, Mr. Lee stared out the window, his thoughts consumed by the woman who had somehow managed to slip past his defenses. Despite the chaos, despite the danger, one thing was clear: Sophia was no ordinary woman. And whether she realized it or not, she was playing with fire.
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SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness reigns, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are shattered by her aunt's cruelty. But when she's drawn into the mysterious world of enigmatic Mr. Lee - a powerful figure rumored to be "more th...
