Sophia’s eyes fell on Isabel’s hands gripping Magnus’s arm. Then she looked up at her overly sweet expression.
An icy look settled over her features.
‘No wonder he never had feelings for me,’ she thought bitterly. ‘This damn man is used to having women around him all the time. The moment I left, he already found someone new. Who knows how many there have been? Five? Six? Maybe I was just another name on the list.’
The thought irritated her, but she didn’t allow a single emotion to show on her face. Not a single crack appeared in her composure.
Watching Sophia step toward him, Magnus didn’t even notice the hands gripping his arm.
Isabel’s fingers were wrapped tightly around him, her manicured nails pressing into his sleeve, but Magnus remained completely unaware. His attention was locked entirely on Sophia.
His eyes held open admiration.
“Sylvia,” he said, his voice firm yet impressed, “that was a great auction.”
He took a small step forward.
“You did an exceptional job, especially considering you didn’t have much time to prepare. I wasn’t expecting it to go this smoothly.”
Sophia didn’t smile.
Her expression remained calm, almost distant.
“Thank you,” she replied evenly. “I was simply doing my job.”
Magnus kept staring at her, something unreadable moving behind his eyes.
After a brief pause, he continued, “I would like to offer you a full-time position at our company.” His posture straightened, confidence settling back into his shoulders. “You can tell me your terms, conditions, and expectations. I will personally make sure we offer you more than your demands.”
Isabel’s grip tightened slightly at his words.
Sophia met Magnus’s gaze politely but without warmth.
“Thank you, Mr. Graves. However, I’m not interested.” She paused briefly before adding, “And I’ve also decided not to accept the JKJ project.”
Magnus blinked, surprise flashing across his face.
“You’re not going to accept our project?” he asked, as if confirming he had heard her correctly.
“That’s correct.”
The air between them shifted.
A shadow passed over Magnus’s face. His jaw hardened, and the faint admiration in his eyes was replaced with something darker. He wasn’t pleased. And beneath that displeasure was anger.
He wasn’t used to rejection.
“What is the reason, if I may ask?” he said, his voice low, restrained.
“I just don’t want to,” Sophia replied dismissively.
She reached for her bag on the table beside her, lifted it over her shoulder, and without giving him another glance, turned and started walking away.
Magnus’s eyes followed her until she disappeared beyond the doors.
He didn’t look away.
A troubled, confused expression lingered on his face, one he couldn’t seem to shake. Beneath it, displeasure simmered. Anger flickered in his eyes, dark and dangerous.
