Chapter 14 Unforgivable
Magnus stiffened.
The faint confusion on his face deepened into something sharper.
“This is the first time we’ve met,” he muttered. “What personal grudge could you possibly have against me?”
Sophia remained silent for a few seconds. Her posture stayed straight, her chin slightly lifted. She didn’t even give him a full look.
“It’s not something I want to reveal, Mr. Graves,” she said calmly. “I’m sure it’s not of any importance to you either. Let’s focus on getting the job done. I’ll be out of your hair soon.”
Without waiting for his response, she turned her head dismissively and looked out the window, clearly shutting him out.
Magnus felt something tighten in his chest.
He inhaled deeply, but the breath did not soften his eyes. His jaw tightened slightly as he turned to look out the window on his side.
Yet he couldn’t stay still.
His gaze kept drifting back to her.
To the curve of her cheek.
To the calm indifference on her face.
To the fact that she didn’t even seem affected by his presence.
It irritated him.
Unsettled him.
‘Why does she act like I’ve done something unforgivable?’
The car finally slowed.
Brent pulled into the entrance of the Empire Auction Hall, the grand building glowing under golden exterior lights. At the last moment, the car came to a smooth stop.
Magnus stepped out first, adjusting his suit jacket as soon as his shoes touched the ground. His expression returned to cold professionalism.
Sophia stepped out from the other side. The cool air brushed against her skin.
Brent drove off to park the car.
Without exchanging words, Magnus and Sophia entered the Empire Auction Hall together. Their footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor as staff members greeted Magnus with respectful nods.
Magnus guided her through the main area and down a corridor toward a private room beside the grand hall.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Sophia followed.
But they weren’t alone.
Across the room, seated at a table with her legs elegantly crossed, was Isabel.
The moment Isabel saw Magnus enter, her face lit up.
She stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor, and hurried toward him in quick, eager steps.
“Magnus!”
Her voice was bright, almost musical.
Before he could react, she reached him and immediately wrapped both her hands around his arm, clinging to him.
“You’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you for so long,” she said brightly, her voice filled with excitement. “I was at work, but when I heard you were personally attending this auction, I came right away.”
She tilted her head slightly, smiling sweetly.
“It’s been so long since we met properly. Aren’t you happy to see me?”
She giggled softly.
Behind Magnus, Sophia stopped walking. Her eyes moved from Isabel’s hands wrapped around his arm to Magnus’s face and then back to Isabel.
There was familiarity there. Comfort. Something more than superficial.
Isabel, still smiling, finally noticed Sophia standing behind him.
Her smile froze and her expression darkened instantly.
Her gaze sharpened as it traveled from Sophia’s face down to her posture, her outfit, the way she stood beside Magnus.
‘What is she doing here?’ The jealousy was immediate. ‘This woman has already slept with countless men to get where she is. And now she’s trying to cling to Magnus too?’
Her grip around Magnus’s arm tightened unconsciously.
‘I won’t let that happen.’
Her face hardened as she looked at Magnus.
“What is she doing here?” Isabel asked sharply.
Magnus calmly pulled his arm free from Isabel’s grip and took a small step away, creating space between them.
“She’s our auctioneer for today,” he answered evenly.
The moment the words left his mouth, Isabel’s expression changed completely.
Her eyes widened in disbelief before aggression flashed openly across her face.
“What?” she snapped, her voice rising. “How can you hire this woman for the Empire Group’s auction?”
She pointed toward Sophia without even looking at her properly.
“Don’t you know what kind of woman she is? She only knows how to sleep around! Why would you hire someone like her?”
Magnus’s expression darkened instantly when he heard Isabel’s words. His jaw tightened, and a dangerous calm settled over his face.
“Isabel! Watch your mouth,” he said in a controlled but clearly angry voice. “Do not cross the line.”
Isabel blinked at him, shocked — but her pride flared instantly.
“Why are you asking me to stay in line?” she shot back, her voice rising. Her eyes flickered between Sophia and Magnus, jealousy burning openly now. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”
She stepped closer to him again, her voice rising.
“I’m telling you she’s not useful. She won’t be useful to you. Why would you hire her?” Her finger pointed toward Sophia again. “It’s a waste of your time and money.”
Her gaze slid toward Sophia, sharp and insulting.
“She’s in her twenties. How could she possibly have become such a big auctioneer if she really knew anything?
Obviously she climbed up by using men.” Her voice dripped with disdain.
“And you’re standing here scolding me instead of listening to me?
You can’t ignore me when I’m trying to warn you that hiring her is a bad idea! ”
Sophia had been standing quietly behind Magnus, hearing every word. Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides, but her face remained calm.
When Isabel finally finished, Sophia stepped forward with a small, polite smile on her lips.
“Mr. Graves,” she said in a confident yet casual voice, her posture straight and composed, “it’s fine if you don’t want me to host today’s auction. I can leave.”
She gave a slight nod, as if the matter did not concern her at all.
“Good luck.”
She turned to walk away, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.
“No.” Magnus’s voice cut through the air sharply.
Sophia paused mid-step and turned back.
Magnus shifted his gaze from her to Isabel, his jaw tightening. The vein on his temple became visible as his expression darkened.
“What is wrong with you?” he demanded coldly. “I am the one who personally invited Sylvia to host the auction. What kind of language are you using toward someone I personally hired?”
Isabel froze.
Magnus took a step forward, his presence heavy and intimidating.
“Sylvia is important for today’s auction,” he continued, his voice low but furious. “Apologize to her. Right now.”
Isabel looked as if someone had grabbed her voice and ripped it out of her throat. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
She stared at him in disbelief.
“But I told you— this woman is often—”
“I said,” Magnus growled again, his eyes blazing, “apologize!”
The anger on his face was clear and frightening. His tone left no room for argument.
Isabel swallowed the words stuck in her throat. Her nails dug into her palm as she turned stiffly toward Sophia.
“Sorry,” she forced out in a tight, angry voice.
The word sounded bitter.
Sophia did not even look at her.
Instead, she calmly lifted the tablet Magnus had given her and began scrolling through it, reviewing the auction items. Her face was expressionless, as if Isabel did not exist. Her silence was more insulting than any words.
Isabel’s fingers curled into fists. Humiliation burned across her face. She could barely contain her anger as she turned sharply and stormed out, her heels striking the floor aggressively.
Not long after, the auction began.
One by one, the items were introduced, described in detail, and sold. The auction continued for three hours straight.
Magnus stood near the corner of the stage, arms folded across his chest, watching everything unfold. Brent had quietly offered to handle the rest and suggested Magnus leave, but Magnus refused.
His eyes remained fixed on Sophia.
She stood under the lights, elegant and composed, her voice soft yet powerful as she presented each rare piece. Every movement of her hand was controlled. Every smile was perfectly timed.
When the auction finally ended, Sophia stepped down from the stage.
Magnus watched her the entire time, an impressed and thoughtful expression settling on his face.
When the auction finally ended, applause filled the hall. Sophia gave a polite nod and stepped down from the stage.
Isabel had been watching Magnus the entire time.
The way his eyes never left Sophia made jealousy burn hotter in her chest with every passing second. And when she saw Sophia stepping down — in Magnus’s direction — she reacted instantly.
She rushed forward and wrapped both hands tightly around Magnus’s arm, clinging to him.
Sophia’s eyes fell on Isabel’s hands gripping Magnus’s arm. Then she looked up at her overly sweet expression.
An icy look settled over her features.
‘No wonder he never had feelings for me,’ she thought bitterly. ‘This damn man is used to having women around him all the time. The moment I left, he already found someone new. Who knows how many there have been? Five? Six? Maybe I was just another name on the list.’
The thought irritated her, but she didn’t allow a single emotion to show on her face. Not a single crack appeared in her composure.
Watching Sophia step toward him, Magnus didn’t even notice the hands gripping his arm.
Isabel’s fingers were wrapped tightly around him, her manicured nails pressing into his sleeve, but Magnus remained completely unaware. His attention was locked entirely on Sophia.
His eyes held open admiration.
“Sylvia,” he said, his voice firm yet impressed, “that was a great auction.”
He took a small step forward.
“You did an exceptional job, especially considering you didn’t have much time to prepare. I wasn’t expecting it to go this smoothly.”
Sophia didn’t smile.
Her expression remained calm, almost distant.
“Thank you,” she replied evenly. “I was simply doing my job.”
Magnus kept staring at her, something unreadable moving behind his eyes.