"Mr. Crawley," as soon as Brandon hit the office doorstep, Kent was there with sdocuments, flagging him down.
Brandon glanced his way.
"President Poe wants you to speak at the centennial celebration as an outstanding student rep, and he's also itching to have a
face-to-face about the science museum design," Kent said.
"Set up a meeting with him at the school in an hour," Brandon replied.
"Huh?" Kent was caught off guard, "You're heading over to the school now?"
"Yep," with a nonchalant response, Brandon was already out the door. He needed to check out the layout inside the campus
restaurant, and President Poe was the guy to show him around.
Plus, since he was the one who pitched the cultural gallery idea, it only made sense to give President Poe a heads-up.
Kent hurried after him. "I'll get in touch with President Poe right away."
As they reached the elevator, Brandon stopped him, "No need to tag along. I'm good on my own."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
Kent shot him a puzzled look. No escort needed meant this was personal time.
"Got it," Kent smoothly nodded, spun on his heel, and called President Poe to arrange the meeting at the school an hour later.
President Poe was pretty surprised to hear Brandon wanted toe to the campus in person to talk science museum business, but
he quickly set it up.
Brandon was met with quite the weingmittee at the school gates. Not just the principal himself, but a whole squad of
school bigwigs were there waiting, eyes frequently darting to the passing cars.
Brandon couldn't help but frown, but he still popped out of the car.
President Poe, with his eagle eyes, spotted Brandon stepping out and quickly approached with a smile. Although he hadn't been
Brandon's teacher back in the day, President Poe definitely knew of the business tycoon who had emerged from West District High.
The rest of the crowd followed suit, most of them unfamiliar faces since they hadn't taught Brandon back in his school days.
The faculty at West District High was always top-shelf, and a decade later, most of Brandon and Sophia's former teachers had
retired.
With such short notice on Brandon's visit, President Poe hadn't had the chance to rustle up any old teachers for a trip down
memory lane and a chance to cozy up.
So despite the large turnout, the absence of a real student-teacher bond with Brandon meant instead of feeling close and relaxed
when facing with other students, everyone was a bit too formal and on edge in face of this man with mighty charisma.
Sophia cthere by bus. It wasn't about penny-pinching; ever since the world had be a stranger to her, without the rush to
hustle for life, her pace had naturally slowed.
She loved taking in the city up close from the bus, enjoying a sense of ease that she hadn't felt in ages. These were the moments
when her creative juices flowed best.
The reality of her lost memories didn't scare her; it often felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders, except for those fleeting
moments of feeling like she'd misplaced something precious.
As the bus stopped at the station closest to the school, Sophia got off.
It was a quiet path, a stark contrast to the bustling mall across from the school's entrance, with walls draped in greenery, exuding
a hermit-like tranquility.
Sophia couldn't help but picture the cultural gallery as she walked, lost in her design world, oblivious to her surroundings, just
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmfollowing her instincts until she rounded a corner and President Poe's voice, brimming with cheer, reached her, "Didn't expect you
to swing by today on such short notice. Didn't have the chance to inform the principal. He's always kept you in his thoughts;
mentioned you a few times to me. Guess today's the day he finally gets to see you."
Sophia instinctively looked up towards the school gates, and from a distance, she saw a tall figure surrounded by President Poe and
others. Her steps faltered.
The man stood with his back to her, his frimposing in a sharp black suit, his silhouettemanding. The setting sun's light
accentuated his detached aura, creating a stark contrast with the warmth around him, yet he had an untouchable air about him.
Sophia paused, her chest a mix of familiarity, a tinge of heartache, and satisfaction as she looked at his cold, distant back.
Caught in her trance, she ot she was standing in the middle of the road; within the distance not so far, her gaze was just fixed
on the tall figure amidst the crowd.
Brandon, mid-handshake with President Poe, as if sensed something, his movement halting, a crease forming between his brows.
"What's up?" President Poe asked, puzzled.
Brandon shook his head slightly, "Nothing."
His handshake with President Poe was brief, his movements now hesitant, confusion etched on his face.
"Brandon?" President Poe called his name, confused.
Brandon barely acknowledged him with a glance before slowly turning around.