The Indifferent Ex-Husband: Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate novel Chapter 143

Brandon popped into Ephemora because there was some trouble at the hotel here. He didn't want to stir the pot, but they didn't get into the nitty-gritty of the matter.

Sophia was clueless about whether Darcy was still with the Starlight Group or not.

He looked just like he did two years ago, short and portly, but without the pep in his step he used to have. He looked way more worn out and down in the dumps.

As Sophia craned her neck to get a better look at him, Darcy glanced down at her, noticed the tea he'd spilled but just peeped it and didn't even mutter an 'I'm sorry' before he breezed past her to greet the tall, skinny guy behind her with a warm double-handed wave, "Ms. Barlow."

Among Sophia's acquaintances, only Marian had it.

She couldn't help but take a second look at the lanky dude—it was the same guy she'd bumped into in the Starlight Hotel's underground parking lot two years ago.

Zachary caught Sophia peeking and glanced over at the pair before turning to her, "Do you know this guy?"

Sophia chuckled and shook her head, "Nope. Just thought that guy was kinda rude. Bumps into someone and can't even apologize."

"No point sweating the small stuff with that kind of person."

Sophia nodded with a smile, "Yeah."

But maybe because of the past episode where Brandon had deliberately avoided Darcy, even though Sophia kept her cool and kept eating, she couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation a bit.

The restaurant wasn't crowded, and Sophia's table was close to theirs, so if she listened carefully, she could make out their chat.

At first, the two just exchanged pleasantries, but then the skinny guy asked Darcy, "How are things on your end?" Sophia heard Darcy chuckle and say, "Oh, it's all good. You think Ms. Barlow needs to worry when I'm on the job?" followed by the so-called "Ms. Barlow" laughing heartily, replying, "Worrying about Mr. Darcy doing his thing? That's the last thing I'd do."

Darcy also let out a few hearty laughs before getting down to brass tacks, "I've already got the person in place at the company, rest easy."

The tall and skinny guy said, "Is the person reliable?"

Darcy said, "Absolutely. You know how tough it is to get into the Starlight Group. Solid HR, barely any turnover, hardly any external recruitment spots open each year. If they hadn't started this new subsidiary and needed fresh faces, who knows how long it would've been—till kingdom come, probably."

The mention of "the Starlight Group" made Sophia pause mid-sip. The skinny guy laughed and said, "Then I'll await the good news from Mr. Darcy."

Their conversation didn't seem to have any smoking guns.

But maybe because of Brandon's past covert investigation, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that their words had layers, like there was some scheme brewing.

Sophia wasn't sure if she was just being paranoid.

Later, when she got home, Sophia couldn't help but ask Susan, "Susan, do you know this Darcy guy? The head honcho at the Starlight Group's Ephemora branch."