Chapter 7

Brandon was in the middle of a meeting with his phone lying next to him. When he heard the ping of a notification, he glanced over and caught a glimpse of a text from Patricia, pausing for a beat.

Kent, who was presenting at the time, was pretty sharp at reading the room. He paused mid-sentence, his eyes couldn’t help but sneak a peek at Brandon’s phone, only catching the name “Sophia” before Brandon smoothly flipped the phone face down on the table and looked up at him.

Kent got the jitters, thinking Brandon was about to chew him out, but all he got was a cool, detached glance, “Carry on!”

Kent hesitated, then nodded and tried to wrap up the design presentation, but as soon as he finished, Brandon’s face scrunched up in displeasure.

“Who greenlit this trashy proposal?” he asked, his voice was calm but it cranked up the tension in the already tight meeting room to eleven.

Kent was caught like a deer in headlights, glancing at Brandon and biting back his words.

Brandon’s gaze swept over the others in the room.

One by one, they all bowed their heads, feigning deep thought, scared stiff of locking eyes with Brandon and getting called out.

“Nobody has an answer? Brandon probed.

Silence Everyone clammed up.

Help-me looks were sneakily cast towards Kent.

Kent, Brandon’s right-hand man and the company’s VP, was always the one to take the heat, especially lately.

Even the slowest folks had picked up on Brandon’s off vibes. He wasn’t snappy or nitpicky, just inexplicably brought a chill to the room, with a laser focus on work that could freeze them.

And the kicker? He seemed to be on another planet half the time, like he was hit with a bout of amnesia.

With all eyes on him, Kent felt the heat. He could normally handle the blowback, but this time, could he really?

Kent tried to make himself small, hoping to slide under Brandon’s radar, but no dice. Brandon’s gaze followed the crowd’s and landed on him.

“Since everyone’s looking at you, why don’t you speak for the team, Kent? Brandon said, glancing at the Ephemoran architecture design on the big screen behind him, Who greenlit this trash?”

Kent was speechless.

Man, they were all throwing him under the bus

Brandon’s gaze held on Kent. “Kent?”

Kent, taking a deep breath, looked back at Brandon I, I don’t know.”

just didn’t have the

him, then

their heads down, pretending to be deep in

your thoughts? Brandon

Darcy, scared out of his wits, glanced at Kent and lobbed the question back at him. “Kent’s in charge of this project Brandon’s eyes shifted back to Kent

pretending to take notes, then hesitantly

it on

bit the bullet. “Mr. Crawley, It was you who approved

added, barely above

room went dead

caught a rare glimpse

look at the design on the screen behind

you’ve seemed a bit off

neutral, “Sorry, my oversight. Redo the

his phone

meeting room door closed, the tension

gave

“Warrior.”

times I’ve had your backs, you just toss me to the wolves

who

worked hard. We’ll treat you to dinner

and responded, easing back into comfort, but still puzzled “Is something

I noticed that too. He’s

feel the same. He’s never been like this. Did something

once again unanimously

Mr. Crawley? Kent smoothly

off days and zone out once

meeting and bantering with the team, Kent

walked by, prompting everyone to straighten up,

a few heads with

of Brandon, Kent

the contrary, he was known for keeping his cool. He was a workaholic but didn’t expect the same from his employees. He was considerate, offered better compensation than competitors, and never lost

of authority, Kent thought, his eyes drifting

phone

figured it had something to do with that “Sophia” he had

was easy on the eyes, with sweet and innocent vibe, all quiet and no-fuss. She talked in this soft, slow voice that was just soothing to the ears no rush, no drama queen

up by him, so yeah, he was clued in about the

11 42

Chapter 7

why they’re calling it quits, that’s still a mystery

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