The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Chapter 17

Susan said, “Back in school, everyone was buzzing about them being an item. And now, what a coincidence they end up at the same company, with Brandon giving her such a high-profile gig. I’m not buying it for a second that Brandon doesn’t have a thing for Hannah.”

“From what you’re saying, it looks like I might have been the third wheel, Sophia said quietly, instantly putting a lid on Susan’s grumbling.

“That’s different,” Susan shot back. “Whatever might or might not have happened between them back then, when you and Brandon crossed paths, you were both single and ready to mingle.”

Seeing Susan getting all worked up on her behalf warmed Sophia’s heart.

“Don’t sweat it, Brandon’s not that kind of guy, Sophia reassured her. “If he agreed to split, it’s just because we weren’t a good fit, and that’s the end of it

“Alright then, Susan said, not wanting to stir the pot. “Sorry for bringing up a sore subject.”

Sophia chuckled, “No biggie, I’m not made of glass, and for the record, I was the one who dumped Brandon, okay?”

“Fair enough. He should be the one crying a river for letting a catch like you slip through his fingers. He’ll regret it big time, Susan said with a laugh. “Don’t worry, I’ll get our revenge. Once I take over the Starlight Group, I’ll hop on the next flight to come hang with you and my goddaughter.”

Sophia laughed, I’m holding you to that. Can’t wait to hear the good news.”

“You got it, Susan said cheerfully, finally getting back to business. “But seriously, think long and hard about whether you want to keep the kid. I’m all bark and no bite when it comes to this stuff, but at the end of the day, you’re the one who’s pregnant, your life’s the one getting turned upside down, and you’re the one who’s gonna be responsible for the baby’s future. I can only tell you this much. Whatever decision you make, I’ve got your back one hundred percent. Susan added. “If you decide to keep the baby, I’ll be right there with you. I’ve got my nutritionist cert; taking care of a pregnant lady and a baby should be a walk in the park. And don’t worry about my career. Our company has branches over there, too. I can request a lateral move overseas anytime as long as I pass the assessment, and if I want to come back later, I just apply for a transfer.”

Sophia nodded. “Got it.”

“Take your time thinking it over. There’s no rush. You still have time, Susan glanced at her watch. “You better hit the hay. I’ve got to head to work.”

Sophia nodded, hung up the phone, turned off the light, and was about to get some sleep when she remembered the project Susan had mentioned.

Sophia and Susan didn’t talk shop too often, but she had heard Susan vent about work stuff now and then.

recently hustling for new tenants

through seven dedicated to retail, like any other mall, divided into various sections: a large supermarket, fashion area, kids zone, food court, sports section, and an entertainment lounge. They had pretty much filled the commercial space, except for the floors above the mall. The company’s plan was to attract a hotel, aiming for a high-end shopping district feel, surrounded by a posh CBD area, part of the new urban center in the West district planning, so naturally, they had high standards for

pies architectural design, real estate construction, resorts, hotels, entertainment, and more. But the

was their hotel business.

business hotel brand tailored for the elite, a brainchild of Brandon himself, focusing on quality over quantity. It was a hot ticket for many shopping districts looking for hotel partnerships. The hotel’s branding was

its challenges, being a new district in the making. Whether they could successfully land the deal was still up in the air, a real test

brand and image, and since it

it was unlikely he’d be involved from the get-go. The project probably started

The Market Development Department.

in Brandon’s office the day she went to see

the project needed

footing I bet she’s playing it safe right now, picking sure bets to prove her chops. Your project’s got a long ROI horizon and is high-nsk

prep when she saw the message and her heart skipped a beat. She immediately video

Hannah was the one handling it, setting aside investment returns and risks, Susan figured Hannah would toss out their proposal without a second glance, especially since she had royally ticked off Hannah back

on everyone Maybe she was just born with a chill vibe and wasn’t keen on getting too chummy with folks. But Susan, young and feisty as she was didnt take too kindly to Hannah’s nose-in-the-air attitude and

to Sophia.

Hannah would act all aloof, barely giving her the time of day, answering with a half-hearted glance and a frosty word here and there Susan fiercely protective, couldn’t stand seeing Sophia treated like that and got even more sarcastic with Hannah, totally dissing her,

Susan expect that her high school shenanigans would come back to bite her. As fate would have it, she was about to cross paths with Hannah once

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

whole Susan versus Hannah saga and could hear Susan sounding like she hit rock bottom over the phone. She quickly tried to cheer her up. “She’s probably in the Market Development Department, but I might be wrong, and even if she is there, it doesn’t mean

“I bet my bottom dollar it’s her. When I called, they told me to ask for Ms. Abbott. With so many Abbotts in the world, I never imagined

even if it is her, trust me, Sophia reassured her. Tve scoped out your business district and kept tabs on the local policies and investment opportunities. That place is set to become the new urban CBD, no doubt about it. If you can get the project to Brandon, you’ve got it in the bag. The guy’s

lit

getting the project in front of Brandon. He’s not one for backdoor deals, so he might not even look at it if you just hand it over But his company’s pretty clear-cut about who does what, and it’s tough to jump the chain of command. So if your contact turns out to be Hannah and she shoots you down, my advice is to hit up Kent. He’s technically Brandon’s assistant, but he’s basically the second in command. The guy’s got major clout and he’s cut from

the name, no

The mant never skips his midday caffeine fix, doesn’t even pause for a break. Kent usually heads down to grab his coffee around noon.

a lot

Sophia fell silent.