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.”

didn’t have the

him, then back

kept their heads down, pretending

your thoughts? Brandon called out

wits, glanced at Kent and lobbed the question back at

pretending to take

it on Brandon

It was you who approved the

he added, barely

went

Brandon and caught a rare

to look at the design

him closely, ventured. “Mr. Crawley, you’ve seemed a bit off these past few days. Everything

neutral, “Sorry, my oversight. Redo the design proposal. Meeting

that, Brandon grabbed his phone

door closed, the

others gave

“Warrior.”

them on his fingers. After all the times I’ve had your backs, you just toss me

you who can handle Mr.

hard. We’ll treat you to dinner

back into comfort, but still puzzled “Is something

I noticed that too.

He’s never been like this. Did something happen at

again unanimously

Kent

for him to have off days and

bantering with the team, Kent

prompting everyone to straighten up, sit stiffly, and not make

playfully tapped a few heads with

bit afraid 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 it with his staff. He was a top-notch bass, but his presence alone,

the aura of authority, Kent thought, his eyes drifting through

chair, tossing his phone

had something to do with that “Sophia” he had accidentally

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 antics. She was polite and courteous with everyone, not

so yeah, he was clued in about the

11 42

Chapter 7

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

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