“Goodness gracious! What do we do now? Was Ms. Sophie arrested, too?”
Given that those people were from the Department of Justice, one would really be put behind bars if there was a problem.
“With Mr. White taken away and no one at the helm, what should we do?” The executives were thrown into utter desperation.
“Enough! Everyone, stay calm. We don't know much about it yet, so there's very little point in worrying. We should get back to our posts and do what we're supposed to do.”
At that point, they could only go with the flow.
“Why don't we contact Mr. Yale? After all, he's Ms. Sophie's dad!” someone suggested.
That would make sense, for Yale would probably have some inside scoop on the matter.
“Yale? Forget it. We all know how tactless he has always been. Having him around will bring us nothing but trouble.”
Upon hearing that remark, the person perished the thought.
Besides, Sophie was more than capable to tackle anything thrown her way, so there should not be a problem.
Meanwhile, Sophie was brought to the Department of Justice. The officer who dealt with her, however, was not very cordial.
Witnessing Sophie's nonchalant mien even when she had been apprehended, the officer was livid.
“Since you're already sitting here, you ought to be cooperative with the investigation. Or else—”
At long last, Sophie looked up at the officer.
“Are you threatening me right now? How am I not cooperative? Just question me about anything you want to know. You need not resort to threats.”
She had always disliked being threatened.
Having to deal with those legal professionals, she was anything but afraid of them.
“We've received a report asserting that Tanner Group has been evading taxes, and it has amounted to five hundred million. To top it off, this only came about after you inherited the company. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Aren't you the one working for the legal authorities?”
“What do you mean?” Why's she keeping up this kind of attitude? Doesn't she have any fear at all? “You do know you're at the Department of Justice, right? How could you still be so arrogant?”
“Me? Arrogant? Technically speaking, we, the taxpayers, are the ones who've been paying you your salary. Now that someone has reported us for tax evasion, you guys should back up the claim with evidence. Are you expecting me to dig into my own company files and hand over the proof myself?”
How laughable!
“Hah! Of course, we have incriminating evidence against you, which was why we even brought you here in the first place. Continue putting on a tough front all you want! I've seen more than enough people like you!”
Never had anyone been willing to admit their crimes right at the start when they were detained at the Department of Justice.
Each one of them had acted all high and mighty.
Even so, they were still done for at the end of the day.
Such is the natural law of this world. More often than not, it was only fair for sinful men to be punished.
“Oh, really? Then show me the evidence you've got. I'll definitely cooperate with you,” said Sophie indifferently.
She figured that someone must be trying to frame Tanner Group.
In order to do that, the perpetrator must have orchestrated a grand scheme. In that case, Sophie had to put on a show just as well.
I shouldn't disappoint them now, should I?
During the interim, Victor had also been taken to the Department of Justice, but he was confined to another interrogation room.
Knowing that Sophie had also been brought there for questioning, Victor could not help but worry about that woman. As a grown man, he did not mind going through a tribulation like that.
Still, he reckoned that a lady like Sophie must not have experienced such events before.
She must feel all alone and helpless right now.
After the questioning had been on for some time, Victor put forward a request to meet Sophie.
“I want to see the chairwoman of Tanner Group. I believe this isn't too much to ask for. Besides, since she's already here, I'll need to see her.”
“You're here to assist in the investigation, Mr. White, so you'd better not push your luck.”
Considering that Tanner Group had been put under investigation, there was no way the officer would allow Victor to have contact with Sophie.
“Push my luck? I'm making a valid request here,” insisted Victor. He was a worldly man, after all.
In the entirety of Jipsdale, the vast majority of the people would show Victor some respect. Yet, the officer had been nothing less than discourteous toward him.
Toleration was no longer an option for him at that point.
“You—”
“That's enough! He's Victor White. Don't you know sort of man he is? If that's his wish, we'll do him a favor.”
No one in the Department of Justice could afford to step on the toes of people like Victor.
Someone had to be opposing Tanner Group to have called them out like that. As for the reason behind it, the officers had yet to figure it out.
At a time like that, it went without saying that they would never choose to go against these prominent individuals.
Soon after, Victor was led to meet up with Sophie. Upon seeing the latter as calm as ever despite having to step into a place like that, Victor felt relieved and proud.
After all, Sophie was not even twenty years old. She had to deal with so much at such a young age, yet she could remain composed and unperturbed.
“I didn't know you were also brought here. Are you okay?” Sophie showered Victor with concern the second she saw him.
The man sat opposite her.
“I'm fine. It seems that someone's deliberately setting us up, and they must've come prepared. Fear not, because I'll take care of it!”
Not only was Victor concerned about Sophie, but he was also confident that he could handle the matter perfectly.
A smile spread across Sophie's face on that note.
That smile of hers was utterly dazzling. Nothing could seem to render her any less beautiful than how she already looked, even in such a dire situation.
No matter where she was, her confidence never faltered.
“I think I know who the culprit might be! Since that woman is dying to shoot herself in the foot, we should give her a hand, don't you think? When this is over, we'll put an end to Whitley Group's era in Jipsdale once and for all!”
The legal authorities were beside the duo the whole time.
Having been working in the Department of Justice for so many years, they had encountered people from all walks of life. Even so, never had they heard of anyone declaring to wipe out an entire corporation that casually.
This daughter of the Tanner family is indeed no ordinary woman!
“Right! Since they have a death wish, we'll show them no mercy!” agreed Victor. Nevertheless, this incident alone would definitely have an impact on Tanner Group.
It was a good thing, though, for it only made Sophie bring forward her plan.
Truth be told, Whitley Group was the one that had been evading taxes.
If anything, they were only digging their own graves.
“What now? I suppose we won't be let out tonight. How should we inform Mr. Tristan?” Victor assumed that Tristan had likely not gotten wind of the situation yet.
Otherwise, that man could not possibly still not show up.
Although Victor was not that well-acquainted with Tristan, he knew the latter cared about Sophie very much.
“He must still be in the dark,” uttered Sophie.
I guess only Simon and Sandra know about this at the moment. Those two dummies... I bet they must be worried to death by now!
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Changing Only For Her novel (Sophie and Tristan)