The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 114

Patricia gave it some thought and was a bit wary of making a hasty decision. She nodded, "Sounds good. Let's hash it out and we'll hit you up once we've made up our minds."

Don couldn't be happier, "Cool beans."

He added, "Hit me up anytime if you've got some ideas."

Patricia nodded, "Will do."

After stepping out of Daniel and Patricia's office, Don couldn't resist texting Sophia, [Just showed our architectural proposal to the clients and they're over the moon.]

Sophia was curled up in a hanging chair, lost in a book.

She had thought about taking a stroll outside. It had been two years since she was last in town, and she harbored a bit of nostalgia for the city. But after burning the midnight oil on the proposal, she was beat and opted to stay in.

The hotel room came with a nest-like double hanging chair, situated right in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. The view outside was a serpentine river and a ribbon of greenway—super cozy to either read or just soak in the view from the chair.

Having just submitted her resort design, the weight was off her shoulders and she instantly felt more chill.

She was surprised to see Don's message, [You sent it over already?]

[Strike while the iron's hot,] Don texted back.

He had his own reasons.

He was really digging Sophia's design and was even more keen on keeping her around.

But he didn't have the gift of the gab to persuade Sophia, so the plan was to show the proposal to Brandon while she was still in the country. If Brandon was on board, they could set up a meet and have him try to charm Sophia into staying.

Don had faith in Brandon's ability to make people stay; there wasn't a soul Brandon couldn't keep around.

So, the second he got Sophia's design, he hustled it over to Brandon's office. Unfortunately, Brandon was tied up in a meeting and they couldn't get into the nitty-gritty.

Sophia was oblivious to Don's scheming but was cool with the quick decision-making, nodding, "Alright, keep me in the loop about any updates."

"You got it. Take it easy for now," Don said, already heading toward Brandon's office, recalling Daniel's concern, "Oh, and the client mentioned a worry. They dig the proposal but are anxious about the execution matching the design, so they're hoping the designer can oversee the whole shebang on-site."

Sophia was a tad troubled, "Mr. Dempsey, we've been over this before."

Truth be told, she wouldn't mind being on-site if it weren't for the project being in Zion City, near the West district. She wasn't keen on setting up shop there for a year or two.

"Can't I just swing by every now and then?" she asked, "Construction's a long haul; can't be there all the time, right?"

"I'm on it," Don reassured, "It's just that they feel it'd be a bummer if they fall head over heels for the design and then the lead designer bails on the company."

Steering the conversation back, Don pressed, "So, about that head designer gig, you sure you won't reconsider?"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Dempsey," Sophia smiled in thanks, "but I'm really not cut out for such a big role. But don't sweat it, Mr. Dempsey. If they go for this design, whether I'm still with the company or not, I'll see my project through to the end," she added, "So no fears about me running off or anything. Wherever I am, if there's a need for me on-site, I'll be there till everything's wrapped up and passes muster."