"Don't you think our boss is just a bit too protective?" Lisa felt too scared to speak up, so she kept her thoughts to herself.
Meanwhile, Sophie chuckled softly. She found Noah's caring nature comforting, like a sunny day in the middle of winter.
Sophie handed Noah the updated contract from the Mystic's meeting. As she did, Noah was sitting on the couch, tenderly running his fingers through her hair.
The moment was incredibly comforting and genuine, like gazing at the most beautiful painting in the world.
"The entertainment world shifts like the wind and clouds—never staying the same for long," Sophie remarked. "Newcomers don't become stars overnight, so it's tough to know what tomorrow holds. Kathy's probably still hoping Amber will make a big return, which is why she agreed to change the contract without a fuss. She's likely thinking if Amber makes it big again, she can easily step over me once more!"
"Exactly, exactly," Ashley nodded. "I just looked up the latest news about Amber, and all I found were stories about the rivalry between her and Sophie. These so-called modeling experts are already comparing their work. A few so-called insiders are saying that since Sophie was Amber's stand-in, if they were to be on stage together, Sophie would just look like a second version of Amber. They also claimed that Amber is one of the most stunning models for the oriental trend and that she has the potential to kickstart the whole movement!"
"If that wasn't enough, they're even picking apart their looks," Lisa chimed in. "They're saying that except for her legs, Sophie doesn't stand a chance against Amber in any other way."
"They're spreading nonsense like Amber was born with style while Sophie is just plain. What a ridiculous joke. Amber is nowhere near Sophie's level," Lisa fumed, clearly frustrated by the whole situation.
"This is just typical hype-building," Sophie reassured Lisa. "It's not worth getting upset about. Let Amber enjoy her moment while she can."
Noah stayed quiet, but his eyes, dark as obsidian, sparkled with amusement and a hint of mockery.
Sophie glanced over at Noah, giving his knee a gentle shake, and asked, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Let her overconfidence be her downfall," Noah replied with a simple nod.
Sophie gripped Noah's hand firmly. Noah was the one person who truly got her; she didn't have to spend time explaining herself to him. He just understood her without any fuss.
Kathy's statement clearly favored Amber and put someone else down. It was obvious she was taking sides. So, they decided to play along with Kathy's plan. They wanted to boost Amber's confidence and make everyone expect great things from her.
At the same time, they wanted to paint Amber as the next big thing in the modeling world. This way, she'd catch the attention of all the top models. The higher she rose, the harder she'd fall when everyone realized her true skills.
"When the moment comes, we won't need to say a word or try to help others gain more fame. Just showcase what you can do, and that'll be your best move!" Noah advised.
Ashley listened to Noah and then glanced at Sophie. When Sophie was around Nathan, she was sharp and unapproachable, like a knife. No one could get close enough to take her down. But around Noah, she turned into a gentle, delicate woman who relied on her husband for protection.
Sophie didn't rely on Noah, but she always paid close attention to what he had to say. It seemed like Noah was the only one who could make her totally open up.
To the rest of the world, Sophie was tough and unyielding. Yet, with Noah, she let her guard down and showed her vulnerable side.
She certainly had a special way of treating him.
Ashley thought, "This couple is a perfect match."
Seeing the smart team in front of her, Ashley was secretly excited about the amazing things Sophie would accomplish for Mystic.
Amber's overconfidence piqued Ashley's curiosity. She wondered how Sophie would bring her down now that Kathy had inflated her ego so much.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Noah had rolled up his sleeves and was busy cooking dinner.
Sophie, fresh from washing up and wearing one of Noah's shirts, quietly approached him from behind and wrapped her arms around him.
"Noah!" she called out.
"It's greasy and smoky in here. Go wait for me outside," Noah replied, concentrating on the fish he was cooking.
"What am I going to do? You're so sweet to me, it's starting to freak me out!" Sophie said, snuggling closer against Noah's back.
"You know, I don't feel secure when it comes to real relationships. I'm scared that one day you might leave me too."
"And are you just going to stand by and watch me go? If that day ever comes, wouldn't the career-driven Sophie have the guts to hold onto me? Remember, I need some cooking now and then, too," Noah teased with a playful grin.
Hearing Noah's last comment, Sophie grinned mischievously. She took one of his hands and slipped herself between his arms. Slowly, she undid the top two buttons of his shirt, just enough to show a hint of his chest muscles, then nestled her head inside his shirt.
"You're really making it hard to focus on cooking!" Noah chuckled.
With her back still resting against his chest, Sophie suddenly turned around at his words. Her cool lips pressed firmly against his chest, taking him by surprise.
Noah, taking his time, rinsed off the fish smell from his hands at the sink. Once they were clean, he turned around and gave Sophie a big, warm hug.
"Are you thinking of giving me something sweet before we even have dinner?"
Sophie's finger playfully traced circles on his chest. "Do you think I'm sweet enough for you?" she teased with a grin.
Noah felt his breath catch as she gently tugged her finger from his shirt. He then gently lifted her chin and kissed her deeply, their lips meeting with a passionate connection.
"I guess I'll have to taste and find out just how sweet you really are!" Noah chuckled, enjoying how Sophie could surprise him in moments like these. She had so many sides to her personality. Usually, she was gentle and calm, but other times, she was captivating and spontaneous, letting herself go in the moment. No matter how she behaved, he always found himself drawn to her.
Their tongues entwined in a passionate dance, sharing breathless whispers. Dinner was suddenly more exciting and fulfilling for both of them, as they savored each other's company.
Noah's fingers lightly grazed Sophie's legs, sparking a reminder in his mind about the other surprise he had planned just for her. He had been working on it for some time, and the moment to reveal it was drawing near.
They continued kissing for a while, lost in each other, until Noah realized it was getting late. Outside, the two of them, Ashley and Lisa, were probably starting to feel hungry.
Gently, Noah pulled back and looked at Sophie, who seemed a bit surprised. "I should get back to cooking," he said with a smile. "The others are probably waiting."
Sophie gave Noah one last kiss before she started fastening two of the buttons on his shirt that she had undone earlier. "Let's pick up where we left off after dinner," she said with a playful smile, heading toward the kitchen door. As she reached the doorway, she paused and glanced back at Noah. "Hey, what would you do if I ever decided to leave you?"
Noah grinned confidently, "The Sophie I know would never leave me."
Sophie chuckled softly, "But what if you don't really know the real me? What then?" she teased. But before Noah could come up with a reply, she quickly added, "I'm just messing with you. I'll be waiting outside. Give me a shout if you need anything," she said, leaving the room with a teasing smile.
Noah chuckled at Sophie's playful words and turned his attention back to cooking dinner.
Two hours later, the meal was finally ready to serve.
When Lisa saw the spread on the table, she was beyond surprised. She could hardly believe that the renowned CEO of Collider Scope Entertainment, the boss in the entertainment world, could be so considerate and thoughtful. It made perfect sense why Sophie was always so obedient towards him.
"Thank you so much, boss, for this amazing reward!" Lisa exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"Try not to look like you're about to sell this food at an auction!" Sophie burst into laughter, her giggles echoing in the room.
"How did you guess what I was thinking, Sophie? I just feel incredibly lucky!" Lisa said, playfully nudging Sophie's arm with a wide grin.
"After dinner, we have something important to do, so let's dig in," Noah announced with a mysterious smile.
"What have you got planned?" Sophie asked, her curiosity piqued.
"You'll find out soon enough," Noah replied, gently running his fingers through her hair with affection.
Lisa and Ashley watched with envy. In their eyes, no one else in the world could make Sophie so obedient and full of admiration.
But the night held an even bigger surprise that none of them saw coming.
After finishing dinner, Noah guided Sophie into the Manor's cozy living room. A handful of people were already seated, waiting for something to begin.
Sophie was puzzled about Noah's intentions, but he reassured her with a calming smile, "Don't worry, there's nothing to be nervous about."
Soon, a charismatic Mexican gentleman took center stage, striking up a conversation with Noah.
As Sophie listened in on their conversation, the pieces fell into place. Noah was arranging insurance for her legs.
It wasn't uncommon for celebrities to insure their body parts, often as publicity stunts. But this was different. Sophie quickly turned to Noah, "Noah, I don't think..."
"No need to overthink," Noah interrupted gently. "Your legs are extraordinary on the runway, and they deserve protection."
"But..." Sophie hesitated, still unsure.
Noah gently nudged her toward the valuer, "You never let me do anything special for you. Will you really deny me the chance to buy insurance for you?"
Sophie couldn't say no. Her legs were stunning, yet she wasn't very famous yet, so she figured the insurance wouldn't cost too much. With that thought, she stopped resisting and let the valuer begin his assessment.
But before the valuer could even give an estimate, Noah interjected, "Whatever the final value is, I want to insure it for ten times that amount."
"If that's the case, then we're talking about more than 100 million dollars!"
Ashley stood quietly to the side, watching in disbelief at what was unfolding before her eyes. She and Lisa were so stunned that they could hardly believe what they were seeing.
The most surprising part wasn't that Noah was trying to show off or draw attention to himself. He was simply helping Sophie out by making sure she had a solid guarantee. Sophie would be the one to benefit from this insurance in the end.
From now on, whatever happened with her legs, she'd be covered by insurance.
Noah really went out of his way to pamper Sophie.
Sophie stayed silent the whole time, her mind racing with a million different thoughts.
Noah gently put his arm around her shoulders and said, "This industry is really complicated and unpredictable. I can't promise that in 10 or 20 years, Collider Scope will still be as successful as it is now. So, I want to do everything I can to give you peace of mind. I want to make sure your future is secure."
Sophie, feeling a bit overwhelmed, asked, "Then why don't you get one for yourself too?" She was at a loss for words, not realizing someone would go to such lengths for her.
Noah chuckled softly, leaning down to whisper in Sophie's ear, "Because I don't have beautiful legs like yours."
In that moment, under the softly glowing lights of the room, all Sophie could see was Noah. The Noah who did things for her without wanting anything back. He made her believe in his deep, genuine love for her.
"With everything you've done, do you know how much I'm getting used to the luxury of having someone like you in my life?"
"That's no issue at all," he replied with a warm laugh. "You'll always have me, so you never have to change yourself. You'll always have the luxury of having me around."
For Noah, as long as he believed something was worth it, he was ready to give up anything without a second thought. Sophie was the first person who made him act selflessly, doing things for her simply because he wanted to.
That's how life goes. While one person might trample over someone's heart, another will treat them like they're precious. Is she truly a treasure? Only time would reveal that answer.
So really, no one should feel shattered over a jerk. If you keep going, there will always be someone better out there, ready to offer the warmth and kindness you deserve.
"Sophie is now quite the treasure," Lisa whispered to Ashley. "Her insurance is worth over a hundred million dollars. That's enough to buy Global Pictures outright. I can't tell you how tempted I am to thank Nathan, the jerk, for letting Sophie go before marrying him," Lisa added with a playful wink.
"I'd love to see him clinging to that shameless B-Grade model and just disappear from sight," she continued.
"Little does Nathan know, while he's plotting ways to compete with Sophie, there's someone willing to invest a hundred million dollars in insurance just for her."
As the Mystic shoot drew near, Nathan was tirelessly reaching out to NYC Media, doing everything he could to boost Amber's visibility.
He put out statements claiming Amber was better than others and that she outshined them completely, causing her exposure to soar dramatically.
In contrast, Sophie also put out statements, but she only received sporadic mentions. Whenever she was mentioned, it was just a few lines buried among the news about Amber.
Fans were starting to get anxious. Members of the official fan club reached out to Ashley several times, wanting to know how Sophie was doing. But Sophie always signaled her to keep things quiet, and Ashley understood why.
Overseas, Mystic was just a third-rate magazine publication, not worth making a big deal over. Getting caught up in the hype would only make Sophie seem short-sighted and shallow.
So, Ashley simply reassured the fans with four words : "Have faith in Sophie."
Those four words brought a sense of relief to Sophie's fans. Based on past events and how Sophie had consistently handled herself, they knew she preferred to keep a low profile and stay focused, regardless of the situation. She was always clear about her goals and had a plan in place.
Meanwhile, back at home, Garry reported to Nathan, "Amber's support has increased again," as he scanned through the online comments.
"And what about the reaction towards Sophie?" Nathan asked, curious about her standing.
"Thanks to Kathy's PR efforts, we've managed to use Sophie to boost Amber's popularity and then leveraged the names of top celebrities to elevate Amber's brand value. As a result, our more recent statements didn't even need to mention Sophie. Although we've upset the fans of other celebrities, Sophie's mention rate is just a fraction of Amber's," Garry explained.
Kathy, observing the strategic path she was carving out for Amber, sneered, "Right now, we have both interest and popularity firmly in our grasp. However, to truly outshine Sophie, we need to see the outcome of this Mystic photoshoot. If Amber's performance matches the success we've achieved so far, then once we're back home, Sophie will be a non-entity."
"I am confident!" Amber assured the few people gathered around her. "I've seen Sophie's shows, and I don't think I'm any worse than her. Plus, let's not forget, she was once my substitute."
What Amber didn't realize was that Sophie had to significantly lower her own standards to mimic her style.
"As for the photographer, I'll work my PR magic," Kathy said. "I'll arrange for you to be the main focus on the front cover. Amber, just make sure you think carefully about how you'll execute the Oriental trend theme," Kathy warned.
"I'll really think it over," Amber promised.
"This is your first time sharing the stage with Sophie, and you need to understand that it's not just your reputation at stake. If you mess up, the entire Global Pictures will be embarrassed. And Nathan's judgement will be questioned too. So, you have to win this battle," Kathy warned Amber, her voice serious.
"After the embarrassment yesterday, I'm definitely going to get my revenge," Amber declared, her eyes filled with determination.
With her recent surge in popularity, Amber was brimming with confidence.
Tomorrow, she and Sophie would face off in a battle that felt like life or death.