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Villain Ch 217. Near Yet Far
Sophia stepped into the elevator, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nerves. She pressed the button for the lobby, eagerly waiting for the doors to close. As the elevator descended, it made its usual stops on various floors, allowing passengers to embark and disembark. Each halt felt like an eternity, prolonging Sophia's anticipation.
Finally, the elevator reached the desired floor, and the doors slid open. Sophia wasted no time, her determination propelling her forward as she hurriedly exited the elevator. With a swift stride, she made her way toward the lobby, passing by the perplexed gazes of onlookers.
People turned their heads, their curiosity piqued by Sophia's hurried demeanor. Some whispered among themselves, wondering what had spurred her sudden rush. But Sophia was too focused on her objective to pay much attention to the whispers and stares. She was on a mission to reach Allen, to express her thoughts and feelings before it was too late.
Sophia's eyes darted around the lively lobby, scanning the sea of faces in search of Allen. Her gaze moved from one group to another, her heart sinking with every passing moment as she failed to spot him among the crowd.
She first looked at the group of staff members, they were on their way out to enjoy a lunch break. Next, her gaze fell upon the models who had just finished their photo shoot. They stood together, their glamorous outfits and radiant smiles capturing the attention of passersby. Sophia's eyes lingered on each face, desperately hoping to see Allen's familiar expression among them. Yet, disappointment washed over her as she failed to find any trace of him.
Sophia's frustration grew as her search for Allen yielded no results. She hurriedly made her way to the entrance, hoping against hope that he might be waiting for Vivian there. But, to her dismay, there was no sign of him either.
Confusion clouded Sophia's mind as she tried to make sense of the situation. How could he have vanished without a trace? She replayed the events in her head, desperately searching for any clues or hints that might shed light on his sudden disappearance. Vivian couldn't have met Allen before her, as she would have had to pass Sophia in the elevator. It just didn't make sense.
Feeling a surge of determination, Sophia approached the receptionist's desk. The receptionist, a young woman with a friendly smile, looked up from her computer as Sophia approached. Sophia tried to maintain a composed demeanor, though her inner turmoil was evident in her voice.
"Good afternoon! How can I assist you?" the receptionist asked, her tone pleasant and professional.
Sophia took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Hi, I wanted to ask if a guest has left or if he's still here," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of anticipation.
The receptionist nodded understandingly. "Sure, I can help you with that. Could you please provide me with the guest's name?"
Sophia's eyes widened slightly, realizing that she had neglected to ask Allen's last name. She hesitated for a moment before answering, "His name is Allen."
The receptionist's fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard as she searched for any information related to the name "Allen."
Sophia anxiously watched the screen, her eyes scanning the lines of text and hoping to see a positive result.
After a few moments, the receptionist stopped typing and furrowed her brows in confusion. She glanced at Sophia and then back at the computer screen, her expression perplexed. Finally, she turned to Sophia with a sympathetic look.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't find any guest by the name of Allen in our records," the receptionist said, her tone apologetic. "It's possible that he was never checked in or has already checked out."
"Thank you..." Sophia muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment. She couldn't understand why Allen had disappeared so suddenly, without waiting for Vivian as they had planned. Thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to make sense of the situation. Should she follow Vivian? It seemed like the only option she had left.
As she pondered her next move, her phone chimed, breaking her train of thought. Sophia quickly retrieved her phone from her purse and unlocked the screen to read the incoming message. The text displayed a familiar sender's name, reminding her of the pressing assignment she had to complete.
"Oh no..." Sophia muttered under her breath, realizing the time-sensitive task that awaited her attention. It was from Mr. Bell.
Client: I am already in my office. If you are calmer now, come here immediately. I have a meeting in 10 minutes.
Sophia quickly replied.
Sophia: I'll be there in a minute.
Sophia hurriedly stepped into the elevator, the doors closing behind her with a soft whoosh. She pressed the button for the 5th floor, the floor where Mr. Bell's office was located. The elevator began its ascent, and Sophia impatiently tapped her foot, hoping to reach her destination quickly.
As the elevator doors slid open on the 5th floor, Sophia was greeted by the bustling crowd. She swiftly maneuvered through the crowd, her eyes focused on reaching her office as quickly as possible. However, amidst the flurry of activity, something caught her attention.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia caught a glimpse of Vivian entering the next elevator, surrounded by a sea of people.
Sophia's heart raced as she stood at the entrance of the crowded elevator, her eyes fixed on Vivian's figure. It was as if fate was taunting her, placing Vivian so close yet so far away. The desire to confront her, to demand answers, burned within Sophia, but the reality of her pressing client meeting weighed heavily on her mind.
Sophia's heart pounded in her chest as she turned her attention to the elevator where Vivian stood among the crowd. The doors were about to close, and Vivian stood in the second row.
The elevator doors began to slide shut, a slow and deliberate motion that seemed to taunt Sophia. Time seemed to stretch as the gap between the doors narrowed, creating a final barrier between her and Vivian. Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment, a silent exchange that spoke volumes.
In that brief moment, Sophia saw the sly smile that curved Vivian's lips, a knowing smirk that danced with mischief. Vivian's lips moved ever so slightly, forming the words 'Bye-bye' without a sound escaping. It was a calculated move, a final twist of the knife that left Sophia speechless.
Sophia's disappointment lingered as she reluctantly turned away from the elevator. She knew deep down that chasing after Vivian would lead to a dead-end. Besides, her professionalism demanded her attention elsewhere. With a sigh, she pushed aside her personal turmoil and focused on the task at hand.
She made her way to Mr. Bell's office, her steps purposeful yet burdened with the weight of unanswered questions.
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