“Okay” Sophie replied simply, then followed Colt into the lounge next door.


    “Ma’am, is there anything specific you’d like to eat?”


    “Just a cup of tea, please


    “Right away.”


    After Colt poured Sophie a cup of tea, she settled on the couch and asked, “How has Mr. Burke been


    faring at thepanytely?”


    “Mr. Burke? Recently, he’s been quite distracted and has taken to drinking. Today is the most normal


    he’s been in a while, all thanks to


    you, ma’am”


    Sophie frowned. “He’s been drinking?”


    “Were you not aware? Thest time Mr. Burke visited S Corporation, he had been drinking Colt


    expressed his concern, “He’s been drinking far too much these past few days. I’m really worried.”


    “Why did James suddenly go to S Corporation that day? Do you know?”


    “I’m not sure”


    Colt’s expression gave him away


    Sophie looked down. Colt surely knew, but knowing something and sharing it were two different


    matters.


    After all, her position was suspicious. Even the directors of Burke International thought so, let alone


    anyone else.


    “Alright, I’ll talk to James. You can leave now. I’d like to rest a bit on my own.”


    “Yes, ma’am.”


    Once Colt had left, Sophie pulled out her phone and hesitated for a moment before sending a message


    to Tricia. [Help me investigate the recent activities of Burke International. The more detailed, the better.]


    Tricia quickly replied with an okay.


    Yet, Sophie’s heart remained uneasy.


    She couldn’t believe that James would let her participate in Burke International’s meeting so


    unguardedly and even generously offer her


    a twenty percent share.


    There had to be a catch.


    Meanwhile-


    “Can’t you even handle this small task? Are you really a graduate student from Eastwood College? Is


    this what you can do?” Ada red


    at Nichole


    Nichole kept bowing her head. “I’m sorry, I really don’t know how…”


    “Don’t know? Weren’t you a top student? I heard that your resume mentions you’re aiming to be an


    assistant manager. With your skills, do you think you’re worthy of your ambition?”


    Nichole’s face turned sour.


    Ada scoffed, “Take this project back and redo it! If it’s not better by tomorrow, don’t bothering to


    work!”


    Nichole bit her lip, “I’ll do it right away… right away…”


    After Nichole left the office, Ada picked up her phone and called Sophie.


    Inside Burke International’s lounge, Sophie nced at the caller ID on her phone, made sure there


    were no surveince cameras in the lounge, and answered the call.


    Sophie lowered her voice. “Didn’t I say not to call me recently?”


    “Ms. Sophie, I didn’t mean to, but I think there’s something off about Nichole.”


    “What’s wrong?”


    “Her academic record shows she’s studied finance for years and has excellent grades, but the project


    she submitted is riddled with basic errors. It feels off.”


    “Basic errors?”


    “Yes, it seems like she’s searching for professional terms online as she goes. I’ve checked her


    browsing history. Her stock market analysis is also a mess. I suspect there’s something wrong with her


    academic record or grades.”


    Sophie’s brow furrowed deeply.


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nichole was


    personally trained by James. How could her academic credentials possibly be in question?