Chapter 187

Sophie's POV The sharp crack of my hand against her cheek silenced the room—but only for a moment. She recovered quickly, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking hard. The office erupted into chaos, coworkers rushing to separate us while others took the opportunity to land their own blows when no one was looking. When it finally ended, I was a complete mess. My carefully styled hair hung in tangled clumps, my designer dress was torn at the side, my cheek throbbed painfully, and blood trickled from my nose. In this humiliating battle, I'd clearly lost on all fronts. "Enough! Stop this nonsense! Anyone not employed here needs to leave immediately!" someone from management shouted. I glanced at my ransacked workspace, wiped the blood from my nose with the back of my hand, and headed for the elevator. Perhaps I could use this pathetic state to my advantage—make Ryan feel guilty enough to reconsider. As I plotted my next move, the elevator doors opened, and I found myself face-to-face wit