Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Chapter 18

She stood to leave, but Hannah stopped her, “Wait”

Susan turned. “Something else?”

“Just thought you’d beg a little, given how much effort went into your proposal,” Hannah commented, eyeing the

documents in her hand.

Susan forced a grin. “So, is this personal for you?”

‘Not really Hannah replied bluntly “I’m just not sold on your business district. I don’t see it pulling in crowds. The country’s littered with these so-called ‘new areas, but how many actually take off?”

Susan sized her up. “With that vision of yours, I’m surprised you’re not some corporate spy sent to tank Brandon’s

company

“I’m not that capable, Hannah shrugged

Susan found some humor in the situation. “Guess not. But seriously, how’d you land a job at the Starlight Group? I heard it’s tough to get in.

Hannah gave her a look “Guess I’m just that good.”

Susan cracked a wry smile. “I thought with your business acumen, you must’ve gotten in through the back door.”

Hannah’s gaze sharpened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Susan laid it out. You’re not here thanks to Brandon?

“What’s it to you?”

“Plenty, Susan said, her smile fading as she locked eyes with Hannah. “It affects the happiness of a good friend of

mine. So, does it matter?”

Hannah frowned. “Sophia?”

“Yeah, Susan nodded. “Didn’t you know? They’ve been married for two years.

She saw Hannah’s momentary shock.

Susan couldn’t tell if Hannah’s surprise was simply because Brandon and Sophia were married, or that they’d been married for two years, or maybe, just maybe, that Brandon had been playing her?

She couldn’t guess, and Hannah wasn’t giving anything away.

“What’s it got to do with me?” Hannah replied coldly.

Susan observed her reaction and chuckled lightly. “Nothing, really. But they just got divorced.”

The surprise in Hannah’s eyes seemed genuine.

Susan still couldn’t tell if her shock included any hint of involvement in Sophia and Brandon’s marital woes.

“Is it any of your business?” Susan never beat around the bush in all the years she dealt with Hannah. She was always straight to the point, so, without mincing words, she asked her directly this time too.

But Hannah, just like before, didn’t give her a straight answer “What gives you the right to grill me? What’s it to you?”

“Forget it.” Susan wasn’t in the mood to play cat and mouse. “Hopefully, it’s got nothing to do with me. Otherwise, it just shows Brandon’s a total jerk and paints Sophia as having lousy taste in men. Better to keep some wishful thinking

alive.”

I’m out.” She waved at Hannah breezily, turned on her heel, and left without a second glance.

Hannah didn’t call out to stop her, just stood there, unmoving

As Susan reached the staircase and glanced back at the meeting room, she noticed Hannah’s stunningly beautiful face looking lost in thought

Susen: had no clue what was running through her mind, nor did she care. Sophia had chosen to cut ties with Brandon, so

om then on, who he married was none of her business.

Chapter 18

That was the thought, but Susan still felt a twinge of resentment towards Brandon. She couldn’t fathom how he could let go so easily. If he didn’t love her, why did he bother starting something in the first place?

That irritation quickened Susan’s steps, her anger pounding through her feet, not paying attention to her surroundings. She turned around too quickly and bumped into someone, papers flying everywhere with a “smack”.

“Sorry.” Susan quickly apologized, looking up as she did. When she saw Brandon’s familiar handsome face, her apology abruptly got stuck in her throat.

Kent, who was following behind Brandon, couldn’t help but scold Susan. “Hey, watch where you’re going? The hallway’s wide enough, how did you manage to barrel right into us?”

Susan was already peeved at Brandon and shot back. “Isn’t this wide hallway where you guys ran into me too?”

“We were keeping to the right. Were you?”

Susan was speechless.

Kent wasn’t done. “Didn’t you see we were in the middle of a discussion? And on a call? With our backs turned, who would expect someone to come charging from behind?”

Susan fell silent.

Brandon, who had finished his call, put away his phone and glanced at Kent. “Kent!”

Kent immediately shut it.

Only then did Brandon turn to Susan.

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Susan wasn’t one for making a scene, and at the sound of Brandon’s deep, polite apology, she felt a bit embarrassed.

“No harm done, it was my fault.

Muttering that, she bent down to pick up her papers.

Brandon beat her to it, picked them up without a glance, and handed them back to her. “Sorry.”

Taking them back, Susan looked at him. “Come on, we’re all old classmates, no need to be so formal, right?”

Brandon gave a half-smile as a response, not taking her bait, still wearing that distant, cold demeanor he was known

for.

Susan chuckled, “You really treat everyone the same, huh? Don’t tell me you’re like this with Sophia too.”

As soon as she said it, she could sense Brandon’s aura turn a shade colder.

Kent behind him was blinking furiously at Susan, signaling her to drop the subject of Sophia.

Confused, Susan glanced at him and then remembered the proposal in her hand. She’d already bumped into them, might as well seize the opportunity. “Oh, right, I’m the Market Development Manager at Celestial Synergy. We’re sincerely inviting your hotel brand to join our shopping district. Mr. Crawley, take a look, will you? Our place is really well-suited for a hotel.”

This project isn’t my responsibility, Brandon cut her off, pushing the proposal back at her, “You should try our Market Development Department. They’ll weigh it.”

After a brief apologetic nod, he stepped past her and walked away.

Susan pursed her lips, exhaled deeply, and mumbled to herself, “Sophia really called it.”

Brandon paused mid-step, a moment of silence hanging. He turned back to look at her. “What did she say?”

Susan looked at Brandon in surprise.

Brandon stood still, waiting for her answer.

Susan snapped back to reality. “Oh, she said you hate backdoor dealings and nepotism, so going directly to you would be pointless.”

Brandon gave her a look, his eyes slowly dropping to the proposal in her hands, then extended his hand towards her.

Give it to me

Susan was stunned