"Mr. Burke, please, don''t rush off just yet. Why not sit down and enjoy the show first?" Skye emerged from not too far away, her face adorned with a calm smile.


    James frowned and said, "Sophie is ill. Why am I only hearing about this now?"


    "Ms. Sophie might be sick, but it doesn''t hinder the show from going on. Besides, this was Ms. Sophie''s wish."


    Skye''s words were tinged with meaning. Colt, standing by, asked, "Mr. Burke, are we still leaving?"


    James was silent.


    "Mr. Burke, the show is about to start soon, and I''m sure you wouldn''t mind sparing a little more time," Skye stepped forward, lowering her voice. "Ms. Sophie will be here shortly, rest assured, Mr. Burke." The frown on James'' face finally eased slightly.


    By then, both the guests and the judges had arrived.


    "Mr. Burke, Mr. Ricardo, what a pleasure to meet you both!"


    Many came forward to greet them. Seeing James had decided to stay, Skye stepped back, wiping the sweat from her forehead.


    Sophie had passed the buck perfectly. Standing in front of them was none other than James! If she really angered James, who knew if she could continue working at Aldridge Global.


    "Mr. Burke! Look, it''s really Mr. Burke!"


    Backstage, several female trainees craned their necks to observe the situation outside. James and Ricardo sitting there truly made for a splendid sight.


    Wendy adjusted her hair and then confidently approached the two men. "Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Burke, I''m Wendy. My father is the chairman of Aldridge Global. Mr. Ricardo, we''ve met before." Ricardo, always the gentleman in public, nodded and said, "Do your best today."


    "Thank you, Mr. Ricardo!"


    Seeing a glimmer of hope, several female trainees rushed forward to greet Ricardo and James.


    "Mr. Burke, we''re on the same team as Sophie. We all saw you thest time you came to pick up Sophie at thepany!"


    Jean stared at James with admiration.


    James'' expression was indifferent, seemingly not moved by Jean.


    Jean felt snubbed but continued, "It''s just a pity Sophie couldn''t make it today. She vanishedst night, and no one knows what she''s up to every day. She is always getting picked up in luxury cars, making us all green with envy."


    Jean''s insinuations suggested to James that Sophie had a sugar daddy.


    Hearing this, James'' eyebrows knitted together, his gaze towards Jean turning cold. "What are you trying to say?"


    "I... I didn''t mean anything. I just... think Sophie is really lucky to have such a wonderful husband like you, Mr. Burke. If I were Sophie, I would never dream of divorcing..."


    James coldly spat out a few words. "You''re not even fit topare with her."


    Seeing that James appeared displeased, the director quickly stepped forward, scolding the trainees, "Don''t you have rehearsals? Or preparations to make? Get back to it, now!" With the director''s reprimand, everyone stopped approaching the two men and retreated.


    The director quickly apologized, "Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Burke, I''m terribly sorry, the new trainees don''t know any better."


    James and Ricardo remained silent, clearly not pleased.


    The director offered a sheepish smile, not speaking further.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    It wasn''t until Vanessa appeared that the director went forward to greet her.


    Vanessa had the backing of the


    White family, and although she had been embroiled in an online controversy recently, the storm had gradually calmed down with the support of Burke International.


    The director couldn''t neglect her, treating Vanessa with the utmost respect.


    Vanessa approached James, politely saying, "Mr. Burke."


    "Hmm." James responded lightly.


    Vanessa looked around, asking, "I don''t see Mrs. Burke?"


    James heard the title ''Mrs. Burke,'' and his heart suddenly tightened.


    "Ms. Sophie isn''t feeling well today, so she couldn''te."


    "Oh, that''s really a pity."


    Vanessa took her seat among the special guests. Today, as a special guest, she was supposed to have the power to decide Sophie''s debut, but who could have imagined Sophie being absent. Truly a missed opportunity.


    As the three of them didn''t seem to engage in conversation, the director wisely went off to attend to other matters.


    The show went on as nned, with the female trainees taking the stage for a lively dance, sending the audience into a frenzy.


    Among the audience, Sophie,


    wearing a mask, sat in the most conspicuous spot, watching the


    performances on stage and themet


    slowly pping her hands. She didn''t miss the cleaner in the back, wearing a cap.


    The next moment, the woman took off her cap and shed her cleaner''s uniform, revealing a trainee''s outfit underneath. She dashed onto the stage so swiftly that the director couldn''t yell cut before the camera had already captured the cleaner''s face.


    The person was Shirley, who had been expelled from Aldridge Global.


    "Cut! Cut! What''s going on!"


    The show was recorded, and such a mishap immediately infuriated the director. "You! Who are you? Who let you barge in here!"


    "Shirley? How did she get here?"


    "Oh my, and dressed like that?"