Chapter 87


    Sylvia had a chance to peep Sophia’s resume, so even though they were ssmates, she was now


    ying second fiddle to Sophia at thepany. But she was not the least bit green with envy actually,


    she was all admiration.


    Back when they were in the same ss, Sylvia didn’t pay much attention to Sophia.


    To her, Sophia was just this gentle and quiet Zenithan babe – all clean vibes, not much of a chatterbox,


    always front row in ss, super focused, not the type to mingle much with ssmates. Sylvia’s jaw


    dropped when Sophia’s design homework was paraded by the teacher as a prime example. Later on,


    after joining Dempsey Architects, Sylvia caught a glimpse of Sophia’s portfolio through Don, and that’s


    when she started to really look up to her, hanging around Sophia more and more during sses and


    work.


    Sophia was fond of this overly enthusiastic foreign ssmate, but she’s a bit of a cool cucumber, not


    big on social butterflies, so she couldn’t match Sylvia’s warmth with the same fire.


    She swung by today for apany meeting.


    Dempsey Architects recentlynded a big fish from back home- amercial project. That was why


    they called Sophia in specially.


    Don was clearly putting a lot of stock in this project.


    At the meeting, Don made a big deal about it – a huge traditional–style resort with an ancient vibe,


    hoping to mash up entertainment, leisure, hotels, food, tourism, and ssic culture all into one, aiming


    for an immersive experience


    Sophia’s design style leaned towards the traditional aesthetic, so as soon as Don wrapped up the intro,


    his gaze slid over to Sophia. “Sophia, think you can give it a whirl?”


    Sophia was definitely tempted by the project – she’s got a soft spot for that traditional style but never


    had the chance to dive into this genre. The catch was that the work location was in Zion City, known for


    its ancient city brand, not too far from the West district, and she wasn’t keen on heading back that way.


    Sophia furrowed her brows, looking at Don, “Can I just handle the online coordination? I can whip up


    the design ns and maybe pop over to the site asionally to check on construction, but I’m not


    down for a permanent stay in Zion City. Is that cool?”


    Sophia exined gently, thinking Don might be in a pickle, but to her surprise, Don nodded without


    missing a beat. “Of course. We’re mainly after the design. I’ll have someone else on the team keep an


    eye on the construction.”


    This had be the norm in the year of coboration between him and Sophia.


    Don totally got where Sophia wasing from – she still had her studies and sses, unlike a full–


    time working Joe like him.


    Sophia’s graduation ceremony was just a couple of days away, and she’d officially be done with school,


    free to follow up on the project. But Don didn’t want to press her scared stiff of sending her packing.


    –


    For him, holding onto talent was priority number one, and besides, this resort project was a favor from


    an old buddy easier to negotiate.


    Don agreed so breezily, and Sophia was just as quick to take the plunge. “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”


    The Starlight Group


    Kent followed Brandon out of the meeting room post–huddle,


    had a frosty expression, and the chill vibes around him had the rest of the office fealing the frostbite


    fore he got close everyone burled in theirputere, pretending to be deep in work.


    Chummiw with Kant threw him e Whats the sopop


    fist, signaling to zip it. Brandon suddenly turned his head, his eyes sweeping over Kent and the nosy


    colleague, both stiffening up, thetter quickly snapping his gaze back to his desk, pretending to study


    the ns. Kent straightened up, keeping his face a cool, collected kind of serious.


    Brandon didn’t bother with the small talk, mming the documents on his desk as he spun around to


    face him. “Who greenlit Patricia’s traditional resort project?”


    “The chairman approved it personally,” Kent replied cautiously, sneaking a nce at the documents


    Brandon had tossed down.


    The chairman, Brandon’s dad, still carried the title but had pretty much no real power in thepany.


    Back in the day, Brandon’s grandpa didn’t pass the reins to him but handed them directly to Brandon,


    fresh out of college.


    Over the years, although Daniel had the chairman’s title, the real shot–caller at thepany was


    Brandon.


    “When did he approve it?” Brandon asked, eyes on Kent.


    “It’s been a while.” Kent answered carefully, “The chairman set up a travel and resortpany for his


    wife at the start of the year and kicked off this traditional resort project for her. All the approvals went


    through, and he assigned the project to Don, asking them to chip in with the design.”


    The project was part of the group’s ns for the year, still under evaluation. But Daniel, recently


    charmed by whatever sweet nothings Patricia had poured into his ear, handed over the project to her


    without a peep, keeping Brandon in the dark, nning to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.


    Brandon only caught wind of it during today’s meeting, and although he didn’t blow his top right there, it


    was clear he was none too pleased


    –


    Don didn’t quite grasp why Brandon was miffed after all, the project was on track, and it was Daniel’s


    baby. Now, even though it was nominally under Patricia’s wing, it was clear to anyone with half a brain


    that it was just Daniel’s way of ying nice with his wife, keeping the real control in his own hands. It


    was just a title for Patricia, nothing more.


    “Patricia can’t be meddling inpany affairs, Brandon stated, looking at him.


    Kent was taken aback.


    Brandon already had his orders. “Keep an eye on this project, and report any issues ASAP. It might not


    be apany gship, but the oue affects our reputation.”


    the spot. “Got it.”


    Kent nodded on the spot. “Got it.”


    *Go ahead and step out,” Brandon said, swiveling around, pausing ever so slightly when his gaze


    swept over the calendar on the desk.


    Kent, puzzled, looked at Brandon and noticed his eyes lingering on the calendar, seemingly zoning out.


    This had be the new norm for Brandon over the past couple of years.


    He was grinding at work harder than before, practically living at the office around the clock, but he had


    also be more reclusive and silent. Work had pretty much consumed his life, but in the rare


    moments of downtime, Kent noticed that Brandon was zoning out more often and for longer periods,


    just like now, his inadvertently freezing on something before getting lost in a vacant daze.


    Kent had a hunch about what the issue might be, but he didn’t dare bring it up or ask.


    Now seeing Brandon staring nkly at the date circled in red on the calendar, June 30th, Kent was


    momentarily baffled and couldn’t help but nce over at Brandon. “Mr. Crawley, what’s up?”


    Brandon’s gaze snapped back it’s nothing.


    Go ahead. Til sit this one out, Brandon said, settling down at his desk,


    nodded, and as he closed the door behind him, he couldn’t help but cast another worded nce at.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    gaze


    Brandon’s eyes were once again fixed on the June 30th circled on the calendar, motionless.


    June 30th was the day Sophia graduated.