27. Targeted by Ms. Zhang

The next morning, Sophia woke up to the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains. She instinctively reached out beside her but found the bed empty. Lucas had already left for work. It wasn't unusual; as the chairman, he often had to start his day early, overseeing important matters, signing off on documents, and leading meetings. Still, she missed waking up next to him.

She sighed softly, shaking off the feeling of loneliness as she got out of bed. After a quick shower, she took her time applying light makeup, choosing a simple yet elegant outfit for the day. Today, she would be heading to Lucas's company—where she had recently started working. Despite their relationship, she was determined to prove herself professionally, to show that she was more than just the chairman's girlfriend.

When she arrived at the office, the morning began smoothly enough. Sophia settled into her tasks, focused and efficient. But as the hours passed, the atmosphere in her department began to shift. The department head, Ms. Zhang, had always been cool and distant, but today, there was something more—something sharper in her tone whenever she spoke to Sophia.

Ms. Zhang had always admired Lucas from afar, harboring unspoken feelings for him. When she learned that he had personally called Sophia to his office the other day, jealousy flared within her. She had no choice but to mask her envy with professionalism, but now, with Sophia under her supervision, she saw an opportunity to express her displeasure.

"Sophia," Ms. Zhang called out as she reviewed a report Sophia had submitted. "This report is inadequate. The data analysis is sloppy, and the formatting is all wrong. I expect better from you."

Sophia's heart sank. She knew the report was thorough and well-prepared. She had double-checked everything before submitting it. "I'm sorry, Ms. Zhang. I'll make the necessary revisions right away," she replied, keeping her voice calm and respectful.

Ms. Zhang's eyes narrowed. "See that you do. And don't think I didn't notice the error in your last report as well. You'll need to stay late tonight to fix everything."

Sophia bit back her frustration. She wanted to defend herself, to point out that there had been no errors, but she knew it would only make things worse. Instead, she nodded and returned to her desk, trying to maintain her composure. She reminded herself that it was just one person's opinion, and she could handle it. But as the day dragged on, Ms. Zhang's criticisms became more frequent and more biting, finding fault in every little detail.

By the time the office began to empty out for the evening, Sophia was still at her desk, working late to make all the changes Ms. Zhang had demanded. The office was quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle of papers as she worked.

It was well past midnight when she finally finished. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, and her fingers ached from typing. She gathered her things and left the office, her mind numb from the long day. She dreaded the thought of facing another day like this.

When she arrived home, the house was dark and quiet. Lucas was sitting in the living room, waiting for her. He looked up as she walked in, concern etched on his face.

"Sophia," he said gently, getting up to meet her. "You're home late. What happened?"

Sophia forced a smile, not wanting to burden him with her troubles. "Oh, nothing serious. Just a sudden increase in workload. I had to stay late to get everything done."

Lucas studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers. He could tell something was off—he knew her too well to be fooled by her words. But he also knew that pushing her to talk wouldn't help. Instead, he reached out and took her hand, leading her to the couch.

"Sit down for a moment," he said softly. "You've had a long day."

Sophia hesitated but allowed herself to be led to the couch. She sat down, feeling the weight of the day finally catch up to her. Lucas sat beside her, his hand still holding hers.

"You know," he began, his voice calm and soothing, "it's okay to talk to me about anything that's bothering you. I'm here for you, Sophia."

She looked at him, her heart aching at the thought of burdening him with her work troubles. "I just… I don't want to bring my work stress home," she admitted. "I don't want you to worry about me."

Lucas's expression softened, and he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "You don't have to carry everything on your own," he said gently. "I'm your partner, Sophia. We're in this together, remember? If something at work is bothering you, I want to know. Not because I'm the chairman, but because I care about you."

Sophia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "It's just… Ms. Zhang," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's been giving me a hard time, finding fault with everything I do. I don't know why, but it feels like she's trying to make my life difficult."

Lucas's eyes darkened slightly at the mention of Ms. Zhang's name, but he kept his tone neutral. "I see. And this started recently?"

Sophia nodded. "Yes, after that day you called me to your office. I think… I think she might be jealous."

Lucas sighed, his mind already racing with thoughts of how to handle the situation. He didn't want to overstep his boundaries or make things worse for Sophia, but he also couldn't stand the thought of her being treated unfairly.

"Thank you for telling me," he said after a moment. "I'll handle it discreetly, but please know that you don't have to put up with this alone. You're doing an amazing job, and I won't let anyone make you feel otherwise."

Sophia leaned into him, feeling the warmth and comfort of his presence. "I'm just so tired," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't want to cause any trouble, but I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Lucas tightened his hold on her, his voice firm but gentle. "You won't have to," he promised. "We'll figure this out together."

They sat there in silence for a while, Sophia resting against him as he held her close. Despite the stress of the day, she felt a sense of relief knowing that Lucas was by her side, supporting her every step of the way.

After a few minutes, Lucas gently lifted her chin, making her look at him. "How about this? We'll deal with the work stuff tomorrow. But tonight, let's focus on relaxing. You've had a rough day, and you deserve to unwind."

Sophia smiled weakly, grateful for his understanding. "That sounds good," she agreed, leaning in to kiss him softly.

Lucas returned the kiss, his lips lingering on hers. When they pulled away, he stood up and offered her his hand. "Come on," he said with a soft smile. "Let's go upstairs, get comfortable, and watch something light. No work, no stress—just us."

Sophia took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. As they made their way upstairs, she felt a renewed sense of hope. With Lucas by her side, she knew she could face whatever challenges lay ahead. And for tonight, at least, she could forget about work and focus on the one person who made everything worth it.