Chapter 108
“No need to add, I guess,” Sophia said, “Just call me if you need anything. It’s not like we chat on WhatsApp anyway”
Brandon’s lips curled slightly, “Phone calls? You change your number so often you could give phone scammers a run for their money.”
Sophia fell silent.
Brandon had already put his phone away, “Forget it.”
He started the car and spoke in a casual tone, “You heading home or to the hospital?”
Sophia figured that going to the hospital would mean dealing with Laura’s thinly veiled insults again and disturbing Haley’s rest, so she softly suggested, “Let’s just go home.”
Brandon grunted in acknowledgment, not adding anything more.
He dropped her off at the base of the apartment building.
“You should get some rest back at home. There’s food in the fridge, you can whip something up or order takeout,” Brandon said. “We have a housekeeper who cooks, but I haven’t been eating at home lately, so I didn’t ask her to come by. I can give you her number if you want.”
“No need, I can handle it myself,” Sophia replied while unbuckling her seatbelt. After a moment’s thought, she felt she should give him a heads up, “I don’t think it’s very convenient staying here, I’m thinking of moving to a hotel.”
Brandon glanced at her, his aura dropping a few degrees, but he remained silent.
Sophia’s hand lingered on the seatbelt as she spoke softly, “You see, if I try to give you a heads up, you disagree. If I go ahead and do it, you get mad. Brandon, don’t you think this is getting old?”
She turned to face him, “Brandon, what’s with the back and forth? I’m not Yolanda, you figured that out two years ago. I don’t have anything else left. If it’s just about getting used to things, hasn’t it been long enough?”
Brandon chuckled, looking at her, “Indeed, what’s there about you that’s worth all this fuss.”
His smile faded as quickly as it had appeared, and with a press of his palm against the central lock, the sound of car locks disengaging filled the space.
“Go wherever you fancy. I’m the one intruding,” he said, not looking at Sophia.
Sophia pressed her lips together lightly.
“Thanks,” she whispered her thanks and stepped out of the car.
Brandon didn’t respond. The car drove off swiftly as soon as the door closed.
Sophia glanced at the receding car, a faint smile touching her lips as she turned and walked toward the elevator.
Brandon peeked in the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Sophia’s slender, upright figure walking away decisively without looking back.
He chuckled at himself, a hint of coldness in his eyes as he shifted his gaze back to the road ahead.
Kent could clearly sense that something was off with Brandon,
Since his return to the company, there was a stormy undertone in his otherwise brisk stride.
Kent knew this version of Brandon all too well. It had started showing up now and then since his divorce two years ago..
Although it seemed like he was back to normal these past two years, he had a major setback right after his trip to Wye City.
was relapsing, and each time it had something to do with Sophia.
In Kent’s eyes, it was as if Brandon.
It was like this when they divorced two years ago, whenever he bumped into Sophia, when she went abroad, after his trip from Wye City, and now again.
Kent remembered Sophia was still in Wye City, and Brandon’s schedule for the next few days didn’t include any trips abroad, except for that visit to Sophia’s father at the hospital.
Visiting Sophia’s father.
A thought struck Kent, and he couldn’t help but glance at Brandon, who had just entered his office.
Brandon had pulled out his chair and settled in front of his computer, then called out, “Kent.”
“Right here,” Kent replied loudly, hurrying over, “Mr. Crawley, what can I do for you?”
Brandon asked, “How’s the preparation for Don’s domestic branch coming along?”
“The new company has passed the business registration and is already applying for a corporate bank account, which should be finalized in a couple of days. We’ve allocated the 17th floor of the headquarters for the new company’s office space, which has been refurbished and cleaned, ready for move-in.”
Kent reported dutifully, fully aware of how much Brandon, being close to Don, cared about this new venture, having personally instructed him to supervise it.
The new company, a joint venture between the Starlight Group and Dempsey Architects, was simply named “Star Dempsey Architects, seemingly lending Starlight’s clout to Dempsey’s firm.
The Starlight Group had a vast portfolio, including hotels and real estate, with its own brand and construction team, as well as a reputable architectural design team. However, it fell short of the top-tier standard that Brandon sought.
Since taking over the company, Brandon had plans to push the architectural design business to the pinnacle of the industry. Yet, the core team, left from his grandfather’s era, tended to be conservative. Despite their solid reputation and capabilities, innovation lagged, leading to an awkward standing in the industry- a safe bet for clients seeking reliability but not the first choice for those with specific design requirements.
Though keen on reform, Brandon faced resistance from the old guard in his core team. Newcomers either lacked the boldness to challenge their seniors or the talent to back up their ideas. Consequently, after several years, the design team had seen stable development but no breakthroughs.
Kent had always suspected that Brandon’s support for Don had an ulterior motive.
Don’s team comprised talented young designers with fresh ideas, exactly what the company’s design team needed.
Now, with the establishment of their joint venture, operating independently from the main company, Kent saw it as a signal that Brandon might be considering setting the architectural design department on a new path.
The Starlight Group needed a seasoned team with a solid rep like the original design crew, but they were also on the lookout for a fresh squad that’ll knock their socks off, maybe even come out of left field and wow everyone.
After hearing Kent’s report, Brandon gave a small nod and followed up, “How’s the team shaping up?”
Kent replied, “We’ve pretty much got the team assembled. HR, admin, finance, and the account execs are all on board. As for the designers, Mr. Dempsey’s mostly sticking with the old hands from Ephemora’s main office – folks who’ve been in the trenches with him for a few years and are willing to trek back home with him. They’re set to clock in officially in a few days. Plus, we’ve scouted a few new designers, heard some of them are hotshots from top-notch international schools. The only piece of the puzzle left is the head designer position. Not sure if you wanna bring in new blood or pull someone from headquarters.”
“Whoa, Kent, don’t throw me under the bus here.”
Kent didn’t get to finish his sentence when Don’s youthful, buoyant voice cut in. As the sound faded, Don’s arm was already slung over Kent’s shoulder, “Come on, Brandon’s already given my peeps the cold shoulder. If you toss out any more bad ideas and the one I chose get the boot, watch your back I’ll come knocking for payback.”
Brandon looked at him, “Still holding a torch for that girl?”
“You bet,” Don admitted without missing a beat, “As long as she’s not off the market, there’s always a chance.”
“I’m with you on that,” Kent chimed in swiftly, “It’s like a girl getting hitched. As long as she’s not married off, anything could happen.”
After saying that, Kent threw a meaningful glance at Brandon.
