The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Even though he was trying to keep a lid on it, he couldn't help but let slip a hint of suspicion.

This wasn't Sophia's first rodeo with this kind of doubt.

Young women who notch up accomplishments in the workplace were often suspected of having sbackdoor way to the top,

especially the ones with a bit of a looker.

So she just nodded coolly, "Mhm."

As she spoke, she took a seat across from him, unfolded her notebook, and then looked at him, "Mr. Frost, got any concerns?"

Her poised confidence made Martin glance her way and crack a small smile, "Nope."

He too took a seat at the table.

On the sidelines, Don chuckled as he filled Sophia in.

"Sophia trained under the well-known domestic architecture guru, Zachary Gardner. She's his star pupil. She's been involved in

project design since freshman year, flew solo on projects by senior year, and later snagged a spot in the grad program at the

renowned School of Architecture. While still hitting the books, she joined the company and independently worked on several

project designs that have been all the rage. Hand your project to her and you can sleep like a baby."

Martin gave a smile and then turned to Sophia, "Sorry, Ms. Yearwood. | didn't mean to cast doubt on your abilities."

Sophia just smiled back, "No worries. So, Mr. Frost, you here for sproject help today?"

Martin repeated his earlier request to Sophia, and along with it, he handed her an album of old photos of his grandparents.

"These are ssnapshots from their youth and places they've been," Martin said, "My grandpa wants to recreate those cherished

spots in the park."

Sophia flipped through the album casually, her gaze suddenly stalling, that familiar yet baffling feeling invading her yet again.

The photos were vintage black and white, with a young, dapper Louis in military garb standing by the sea, and Martin's slender and

pretty grandma tiptoeing to wrap her arms around Louis's neck, grinning up at him, her eyes brimming with girlish whimsy and an

unmistakable joy.

Louis was gazing down at her, eyes filled with adoration.

Despite the decades separating them, the happiness and sweetness between them could still be felt through the photos.

Sophia couldn't pinpoint where this sense of confusion and familiarity cfrom, but with each page she turned, it deepened, her

touch on the album almost nostalgic.

Martin noticed Sophia's distraction and called out to her, "Ms. Yearwood?"

Sophia snapped back to reality, gave an embarrassed smile, glanced again at the album in her hands, and without much thought,

perhaps moved by the sweetness in the couple's eyes that saw only each other, she blurted out, "I'll take on this project."

Martin beamed, "Thank you, Ms. Yearwood."

But his face seemed hesitant, as if weighing his next words.

Sophia prompted him, "Spill it, Mr. Frost."

Martin nodded, looking somewhat apologetic, "I do have an awkward favor to ask."

"Go ahead," Sophia said.

Martin looked at her, "I'd like to put Marian’s non this project, present it as a gift to my grandpa in her name. It would mean

more to him."

"No way!" Sophia pushed the album back at him without a second thought, "I'm nobody's ghostwriter."

Don was just as stunned by Martin's request, giving him an incredulous look.

Martin's demeanor had settled back into his usual businesslike cool, "Ms. Yearwood, we won't strip you of your credit. You'll still be

the lead. | just hope to add Marian’s name. Nyour price. Money is no issue."

"I'm not short on cash," Sophia retorted as she stood up, "Sorry, but | won't take this project. You'll have to find someone else."

And with that, she was out the door.

Martin tried to persuade her, but Don quickly stopped him.

"Martin, what are you thinking? If you really want to pamper your sis, let her do the work."

Martin looked at him, "Don’t clients have the right to choose their designers? What if | insist on Ms. Yearwood as the lead designer

and Marian as the assistant? Doesn't she deserve the credit then?"

"Don't even dream of it," Don cut to the chase, "Look, Martin, I'm laying it out for you. They were classmates, and Marian has been

green with envy about Sophia being her boss ever since she joined the company. I've been deliberately keeping their projects

separate to prevent any blow-ups. You're just stirring the pot."

"Plus, your sister ain't the naive Yolanda of yesteryear, all about selflessness. She's got her own big ideas now. She doesn't even

listen to me, her boss, so what makes you think she'll listen to Sophia?"

Don added, "Don't make a mess. Either give it to Sophia or your sister, but don't even think about pairing them up. Having Sophia

design and throwing Marian’s non top is even more out of the question. If Brandon got wind of that, you can kiss your

friendship goodbye."

Martin glanced at him but said nothing.

Don was baffled, "What's going through your head, man? This kind of outlandish request isn't like you."

Martin kept his reasons to himself, "I have my considerations."

Don dropped it, "Think it over. If you really want Sophia, ditch the sour ideas. You realize that's an insult, right?"

Martin pursed his lips, staying silent.

Don gave up, patted his shoulder, and walked out.

Back in the office, he couldn't help but glance at Sophia, who was tidying her desk, her pretty face tense, eyes a bit frosty.

Don had never seen her like this and approached her with concern.

"Martin was just running his mouth. Don't take it to heart," Don said with a smile, "Even if you agreed, | wouldn't have it."

Sophia glanced at him, simply acknowledging with a "Hmm," without much else to say.

After packing up, she finally spoke to him, "Mr. Dempsey, I'm clocking out."

Don glanced at the clock, just one minute shy of six.

He didn't dare to say "nope," just nodded and said, "Alrighty, be safe out there."

"Thanks, Mr. Dempsey."

After Sophia said that, she had already grabbed her bag and was out the door.

Don felt a twinge of guilt as he saw her out, watching her step into the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, he let out a long sigh

of relief. Just as he was about to head back to his office, he caught a glimpse of Martin coming out of the conference room and

asked with a smile, "You haven't taken off yet?"

"Yep," Martin replied briefly, approaching him, "I can take care of the project for Sophia, no need to put anyone's non it."

Don shook his head with a chuckle, "I can't call the shots on that one."

He wanted to offer, but Sophia might not take it.

Right then, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

Brandon's tall figure emerged from the lift.

Both Don and Martin looked up in surprise.

Brandon just gave them a cursory glance, no hellos, and made a beeline for Sophia's office.

Don instinctively looked after him, noticing his gaze drifting to Sophia's office, then his brows furrowed, and he got the picture.

"Oh, Sophia clocked out."

He said.

Brandon turned to look at him, "When did she leave?"

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMwWLHIOfiflO&1

MMMWWLIIOAIfO&L

mmMyWL11I01F1081

mMMwWLIIOfiflO&1