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.

for new tenants for the East

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

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

was their hotel business.

elite, a brainchild of Brandon himself, focusing on quality over quantity. It was a hot ticket for many shopping districts looking for hotel

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

were tied to the company’s brand and image, and since it was Brandon’s

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

The Market Development Department.

Hannah in Brandon’s office the day she went to see him. The badge Hannah wore seemed

the project needed

a moment then shot Susan a text [Are you talking about getting Starlight Hotel on board? If so, you might have to go through Hannah She just joined the company at the start of the year, still pretty green and trying to find her 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 I don’t think Hannah would dare to take a gamble and send it up the chain. Your company might get axed right

and her heart skipped a beat. She immediately video called Sophia back Is 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

came off as a bit too cool for school, looking down on everyone Maybe she was just born with a chill vibe and wasn’t keen on getting too

from Hannah to Sophia. Susan took a shine to Sophia’s down to earth personality and since Sophia turned out

Hannah, and being the new kid, she had loads of questions about the new digs and its rules: 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,

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

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

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

When I called, they told me to ask for Ms. Abbott. With so many

place is set to become the new urban CBD, no doubt about it. If you can get the

eyes lit

is 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 same cloth

the

a junkie for the fresh brews at the coffee shop downstairs. 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. You

sure know a lot about Brandon’s routines, even

Sophia fell silent.