Chapter 153


    Sophia was just chilling at the top of the stairs, one hand on her knee, the other patting her chest,


    huffing and puffing like she’d run a marathon. Her face was all flushed, her hair a bit of a mess, and


    you could see ayer of fine sweat beading on her forehead.


    She caught Brandon’s eye and felt a bit embarrassed.


    “Today’s the grand opening of the newpany, and everyone’s buzzing with excitement. Why don’t


    youe and celebrate with us?” she said awkwardly. “Honestly, people love it when the boss lets


    loose and hangs with the crew. Makes you feel less like the big man upstairs, you know?”


    Brandon nced at her still-thumping chest, then at her damp, rosy cheeks, before his gaze settled


    into her eyes. “Did you specificallye looking for me?”


    The word “specifically” hung in the air between Sophia and Brandon, loaded with unspoken meaning,


    given theirplicated rtionship.


    –


    She hadn’t thought it through his solitary silhouette had just popped into her head, and on a whim,


    she’d dashed up to find him. “Not really,” Sophia replied, her cheeks coloring. “It’s just everyone’s


    heading out to party, and it seemed like a bummer for the big boss to be missing out.”


    She nced at the now-deserted office, then back at him. “You’re here burning the midnight oil all by


    yourself. If work’s not screaming for attention, why not take a break? Don’t push yourself too hard.”


    Kent looked over at Sophia, a tad surprised.


    Her casual concern for Brandon was kind of sweet and unexpected.


    Brandon threw him a nce.


    Kent, taking the hint, quickly made his exit. “I’ll leave you two to chat. Mr. Dempsey’s waiting for me to


    join the celebration. I’ll head over so no one’s kept waiting.”


    With that, he bolted.


    Brandon’s eyes lingered on the sweat on Sophia’s forehead, and he casually grabbed some tissues


    from a nearby desk, walking over to her.


    Standing in front of her, he reached out with the tissue towards her forehead. “Did you take the stairs?”


    “Yeah, the elevator was out of service,” Sophia replied, taking the tissue from him with an awkward


    smile. “I’ve got it.”


    He gave


    her a look but didn’t fight her for it, handing over the tissue.


    After drying off, Sophia turned to him again. “So, youing?”


    He nodded. “Sure, why not?”


    A smile flickered across her face, and a hint of one appeared in his eyes too.


    “Let’s go,” he said, and they headed down together.


    Don had texted Sophia the details for the get-together.


    He’d booked a rooftop farm with its own BBQ and bonfire setup.


    By the time Sophia and Brandon arrived, everyone was already in full swing some prepping the food,


    others manning the grills, chatting andughing in little clusters.


    Brandon’s entrance caused a momentary freeze, everyone suddenly self-conscious.


    Sophia, all smiles and warmth, called out/”Keep the fun rolling. Don’t mind us!”


    Her gentle demeanor and innocent charm quickly eased the tension, and the party vibe bounced back.


    She grabbed some skewers for Brandon. “Want to grill some?”


    He looked at her and nodded, standing side by side with her at the grill.


    Don and Kent were also by the BBQ, skewers in hand. Seeing Sophia and Brandon together, Don


    couldn’t hide his surprise.


    “Are you actually up for this kind of thing?”


    “Is there a problem?” Brandon asked, skillfullyying the skewers Sophia handed him on the grill.


    08:125


    “Nope, no problem at all, Don replied, thrilled. “Just saying, it’s good to rx every now and then, take


    a breather.” Brandon ignored him, focusing on grilling the meat for Sophia.


    Cindy, out of breath, set down a te of oysters and called Sophia over to help clean them..


    Brandon gave her a passing nce.


    Cindy straightened up, “I’ll get back to it,” quickly dismissing the idea of Sophia joining her..


    Sophia nced over at the busy oyster crew, then back at Brandon. “I’m gonna go help out over there.”


    He looked at the pile of oysters and nodded. “Go ahead.”


    –


    else.


    As Sophia walked away, he paused his grilling, clearly more interested in something or someone Don,


    aware Brandon wasn’t into these gatherings, nudged him. “Why force yourself if you’re not into it?”


    Brandon shot him a look. “It’s not about liking or not. It’s just a way to pass the time.”


    He nced towards Sophia again.


    She had settled next to Cindy, awkwardly scrubbing oysters out of a foam cooler. Among the chattering


    girls, Sophia’s serene presence stood out; not aloof or antisocial, just content to listen and smile


    without diving into the hubbub.


    Brandon didn’t intrude, nor did he show much interest in BBQ. Social gatherings weren’t his thing.


    Luckily, a work call came through on his phone.


    When Brandon returned from his call, everyone had dropped their tasks and was now dancing around


    the bonfire, the music andughter creating a lively atmosphere.


    He scanned the crowd for Sophia but didn’t spot her.


    Looking to the outskirts, he found her still with the oysters, absentmindedly grilling skewers,


    asionally ncing at the lively crowd with a smile, but with no intention of joining in.


    He approached her and stood by her side, picking up a skewer from the te.


    “Why not join them?” he asked, cing the skewer on the grill.


    Her surprise at his sudden appearance melted into ease as she turned to face him..


    “Are you done with your call?” she asked, having spotted Brandon on the phone just moments before,


    obviously tangled up in work stuff again.


    “Yeah,” Brandon nodded lightly.


    As she watched the beef skewers sizzle over the charcoal, she finally turned to Sophia, “Why aren’t


    you mingling with the crowd?”


    “I’m not really into that scene,” Sophia admitted, too embarrassed to say she didn’t want to leave


    Brandon hanging by himself after his call.


    She had talked him intoing; it wouldn’t be cool to just ditch him and let him waste his time alone.


    Brandon, true to his nature, would be thest person to jump into a sing-and-dance kind of crowd.


    Catching a nce from him, then looking over at theughing and joking group, he turned to her,


    “Wanna go check it out?”


    Sophia was a bit surprised but nodded, “Sure, why not?”


    When the two of them joined in, everyone did a double-take before Don let go of Cindy’s hand to make


    way for them to step in.


    Sophia and Brandon joined the hand-holding dance.


    It wasn’t anyplex dance, just a bunch of folks holding hands, hopping on one foot to the catchy


    music now and then.


    Sophia felt a bit self-conscious at first but soon got swept up in the festive vibe,ughing along with


    everyone else.


    In the midst of the fun, she couldn’t help but sneak a peek at Brandon.


    His handsome face was calm, but there was a slight smile at the corners of his mouth. He wasn’t


    laughing uproariously like the others, but his eyes and expression were clearly rxed and enjoying


    the moment.


    Compared to his usual serious and aloof demeanor, he seemed to have a bit more youthful vigor under


    his coolposure.


    And just then, Brandon turned to look at her.


    Sophia shed him a light smile.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    08:42


    He smiled back.


    As they stepped away from the group, the revelry was still in full swing, shifting from the campfire


    dance to a boisterous mix of karaoke and freestyle dancing.


    Don and Kent, the life of the party, had already grabbed mics and were belting out tunes that were way


    off-key, filling the farm air with their howls, but not dampening the spirits of the crowd one bit.


    Sophia and Brandon sat down by the barbecue grill.


    Brandon warmed up some skewers he had grilled earlier and handed one to Sophia.


    “Thanks,” she said, taking it and watching Kent belt out a song with all his heart, “Who knew Kent could


    let loose like this?”


    “That’s just how he is,” Brandon remarked, “He tones it down when he’s around me.”


    Sophia nced at Brandon.


    He definitely had a knack for making people feel like they couldn’t cut loose around him.


    “What’s up?” he asked.


    “Nothing.” Sophia chuckled, “Just feels like everyone tightens up around you.”


    “Including you?” Brandon inquired.


    She nodded honestly, “Yeah.”


    “Looks like I’ve got some reflection to do.”


    “No need for that,” Sophia replied, “Some people just have a natural regal aura.”


    “Is that apliment?” he asked.


    “1


    guess so.”


    Sophiaughed shyly after her reply.


    Brandon also chuckled, his gaze drifting back to the carefree crowd.


    Sophia couldn’t help but look at him, feeling that coaxing Brandon out had been the right call.


    “Have you ever been to something like this before?” she asked.


    “Nope,” Brandon replied, looking at her.


    “It seems like, for you, nothing but work matters in life,” Sophia said with a smile, a question she’d been


    curious about for a long time but had never discussed with Brandon when they were more uncertain in


    their rtionship.


    He looked at her intently and nodded lightly, “Seems so.”


    “That’s cool,” Sophia grinned.


    “What’s cool?”


    “Loving your work,” she said.


    “People who naturally love their work see it as a challenge, so they don’t feel tired or annoyed,” she


    added with augh, “It’s what many people dream of, to be as thrilled about work as they are about


    eating.”


    Brandon just smiled, not saying anything, and looked down at the skewers on his te, taking a bite.


    “How’s it taste?” Sophia asked.


    “Not bad,” he nodded.


    Sophiaughed, “I grilled it.”


    “Pretty good skills then.”


    “I think so too,” Sophia replied with a smile, and then, unable to resist, she looked back at Brandon’s


    good-looking face, softly saying, “Brandon, look, we could be friends, right?”


    Brandon paused, turning to look at her.