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The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 199
Brandon’s POV
The next morning, the underground parking garage echoed with my footsteps as James kept pace behind me.
“Mr. Stark, James began, ‘Sophie has already started at Stark Entertainment, working under Victoria.
I paused mid–stride, a flicker of satisfaction passing through me.
“And what does Sophie have to say for herself?” I asked.
“She seems rather impatient, sir. Quite eager to get her revenge on Victoria immediately.”
I accepted the tablet he offered, quickly scanning the emails. “Did she ever question why you were helping her?
“Not explicitly, sir. She appears too focused on her agenda to question our motives.”
James hesitated, then added carefully, “There’s something else. It appears Miss Lyanna has gone to Mexico.”
I felt his eyes studying my face when he mentioned Lyanna. I kept my expression deliberately neutral.
“We don’t know her exact purpose there,” James continued. “Would you like me to have someone keep an eye on her?”
“That won’t be necessary,” I replied dismissively.
James nodded, then cleared his throat. “One more thing, Mr. Stark. Monica called earlier about… Miss Elle.”
I stopped abruptly at the elevator doors.
“She arrived this morning, accompanied by your father. It seems your father has arranged for her to be your new secretary.”
I said nothing, but the cold fury radiating from me was answer enough.
The elevator doors opened on the twenty–seventh floor, revealing Elle Sinclair waiting by reception. Her face lit up instantly, eyes traveling appreciatively over my tailored suit. She stepped forward eagerly, reaching for my arm before my glacial stare stopped her
mid–motion.
“Brandon! Good morning!” she exclaimed.
“Who sent you here?” I asked coldly. “I thought I made myself clear yesterday.”
Elle’s smile faltered. “You did say no non–Stark employees were allowed, but I am a Stark employee now. Look!” She proudly displayed an ID badge. “Uncle Robert gave this to me. Starting today, I’m your new secretary. Isn’t that great? We’ll get to spend so much time together!”
She hurried to keep pace as I walked toward my office, her voice grating on my nerves.
“Brandon, I understand you’re busy with work. But now that I’m here, we can see each other every day. Aren’t you happy about that?”
I turned sharply, my gaze cutting into her. “Are you really that stupid that you can’t understand anything I told you?”
Elle’s expression crumpled. “Brandon! How can you say that? I came all the way from Washington just to be with you!*
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Tapler Tyy
“I’ll say it one more time: I will not marry you. Stop wasting your time unless you want things to get unpleasant.” I replied without
emotion.
I slammed my office door shut with enough force to make the walls vibrate. Surveying my office with growing irritation, I noticed someone had completely rearranged it—new decorative items cluttered my desk, unfamiliar framed photos hung on the walls, and vases of flowers were scattered everywhere.
I pressed the intercom button. “Monica, come in here. Now.”
Monica appeared moments later, her face pale. “Yes, Mr. Stark?”
“From now on, no one enters my office without my permission, I stated sharply. “And get rid of all this trash. If I find my office altered again, there will be consequences.”
As Monica hurried out with the bin full of decorations, Elle burst through the door, her composure shattered.
“Brandon, how could you?” she cried. “Those things weren’t trash! They were gifts from me! I sacrificed my beauty sleep to make your office nicer. How could you just throw everything away?”
My patience snapped. “Say one more unnecessary word and you’ll join those items in the trash.”
I fixed her with a stare that had made Wall Street veterans crumble. Let me be clear. I don’t know what delusion you’ve fed my parents, but it stops now. If you overstep again, I won’t care what anyone has to say about it. Now get out.”
Brandon!” Elle pleaded.
“OUT!” I roared.
With a dramatic sob, Elle fled the office.
I immediately reached for my phone, only to hear a knock as Robert Stark entered, his expression resigned.
“Brandon,” he began with a sigh, “I know this situation is uncomfortable, but you need to accept it. Your mother rarely asks me for anything, and when she does, it’s for Elle. I’m asking you–please, just let your mother try.”
I leaned back in my chair. “Father, whatever happened between you and Mother is your business. I’m not a child anymore. You can’t
dictate my decisions.”
“I know,” he replied simply.
I gave a short laugh, twirling a pen between my fingers. “Whatever’s going on between you two, resolve it yourselves. Don’t force me
to step in.”
Robert’s face tensed, then relaxed into an awkward smile. “I’ve failed as a father, haven’t I? Sarah blames me, you blames e…” He exhaled heavily. “Brandon, I’ve let you all down.”
blame
me,
Ellie
‘I don’t care about that,” I replied, the pen suddenly still in my hand. “The person you’ve wronged is Ellie and her mother. When I opposed Ellie returning to the Stark family, it wasn’t because I disliked her. It was because she’s a good person who shouldn’t pay for the mistakes of the previous generation. She’s too innocent for the Stark family.”
Robert froze, genuine shock spreading across his face.
“Brandon, do you… mean that?” he asked, disbelief evident.
I have no reason to lie. Ellie doesn’t belong in this family–that’s why I opposed her return.”
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Chapter 199
I paused. “Elle can stay at Stark Group, but how I handle the situation is not up for discussion.”
“Fair enough,” Robert agreed, visibly relieved. “I only promised your hother, that Elle could join Stark Group, not what position she d
hold.
He hesitated, then added, “Brandon, are you still thinking about Lyanna?”
“You’re overthinking things, Father,” I cut him off. “What happened between Lyanna and me wasn’t what you assumed. Focus on your own relationship with Mother.”
Robert sighed. “Fine. Handle it however you see fit.” He paused. “By the way, Joe Watson mentioned you resolved a recent scandal. What’s your connection to this Sophie girl?”
“Sophie?” I frowned slightly. “There is none.”
“Brandon, don’t try to fool me. I’m not opposed to you dating, but a girl like that…
“Do you really think my standards are that low?” I asked, my tone casual but eyes sharp.
Robert blinked, then laughed, relief flashing in his eyes. “I suppose I was worried for nothing.”
After he left, I called Monica back. “Send Elle to the secretarial pool, I instructed. “Assign her some basic task–nothing that involves confidential information, and keep her far away from me.”
It was the most accommodation I was willing to offer. “Just do your jobs as usual and ignore her presence.”
“Yes, Mr. Stark,” Monica replied, clearly relieved to have direction on handling Elle.
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