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.”

the guts

then back at

kept their heads down, pretending to be deep

Darcy, what’s your thoughts? Brandon called out

and lobbed the question back at him. “Kent’s

colleagues who were all busy pretending to take notes, then hesitantly met Brandon’s eyes, on the verge

it on

It was

added, barely

went

at Brandon and caught a rare glimpse of bewilderment on that

turned to look at the

seemed a

expression was back to neutral, “Sorry, my oversight. Redo

grabbed his phone from the table

door

others gave

“Warrior.”

had your backs, you just toss me to the wolves when it counts. Not a single one of you has a

only have you who

worked hard. We’ll treat you

comfort, but still puzzled “Is something up with Mr. Crawley? He’s been

noticed that too. He’s

never been like this. Did something happen

gazes once again

Mr. Crawley? Kent smoothly diverted the topic, “With his

off days

with the team, Kent

other assistants. They were all casually discussing work until Brandon walked by, prompting everyone to straighten up, sit

chuckled and playfully tapped a few heads

was a bit afraid of Brandon, Kent

bad temper. On 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

authority, Kent thought, his eyes drifting through the office space

his phone onto the desk corner, clearly in a

figured it had something to do with that “Sophia” he had accidentally glimpsed on Brandon’s

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 antics. She was polite and courteous with everyone, not pulling any of that high and mighty actake Patricia, who strutted

lawyer handing mandori’s divorce was hooked up by him, so yeah,

11 42

Chapter 7

to why they’re calling it

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