Chapter 186

Chapter 186:
“Brandon!”
From across the room, a lively woman in a butter-yellow dress bounced over, barely past twenty-five, full of energy. Offering Millie a quick nod, she flashed Brandon a grin. “It’s been ages, Brandon!”
A pair of dimples deepened her smile, lending her a playful charm. Babette Watson—Brandon’s young cousin—had only just returned after years at an Ivy League university overseas.
“Good to see you again, Babette,” Brandon replied, keeping his tone light.
A server appeared, balancing a tray of drinks with practiced ease. Millie reached for a champagne flute, nodded at Babette, and then moved to blend into the background, intent on finding a quiet spot to eat while waiting for Derek.
Before she could make it far, Babette called out, halting her in her tracks. “Millie, wait up! There’s something I’ve been dying to ask you.”
The situation struck Millie as strange. Babette, who had always kept her distance and acted superior before jetting off to Flesta, was suddenly eager to chat? The change made no sense.
Millie paused, then asked, “What is it, Babette?”
A sly glance at Brandon, then Babette’s expression turned almost conspiratorial. “I heard something interesting back at Flesta. For years, a powerhouse there held an iron grip on advanced tech—a barrier nobody else could crack. Then, out of nowhere, the Watson Group managed to shatter it, changing the entire industry landscape. Now, our firm and that conglomerate split the market between them, at home and overseas. Everyone says Brandon traveled to Flesta himself to close the deal. But…”
Admiration danced in Babette’s eyes as she looked at Brandon, but the glance she gave Millie carried something different—something sharper, more curious.
“Here’s what really made waves,” Babette continued, stepping closer. “The wildest story wasn’t about the…”
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Business deal itself. Rumor had it that Egbert Perez, the infamous head of that conglomerate, had a reputation for trickery—walking away from contracts, toying with his business partners. But with the Watson Group, it was different. Supposedly, the only reason he honored the contract was because he lost a bet. And the person who beat him? According to what I heard, that was you, Millie.”
Brandon’s brow knit in concern, and in a protective move, he positioned himself between Millie and Babette.
“That’s enough, Babette,” Brandon said, his voice sharp and unyielding.
A carefree laugh tumbled from Babette’s lips. “Relax, Brandon, we’re just chatting,” she teased. “You wouldn’t believe how often people cornered me about this story back in Flesta. Now that I finally get to meet Millie, I have to hear her side of it.”
Her focus shifted to Millie, her smile sly. “So, Millie, what’s your take? Everyone knows Watson Group cracked the code first and only then approached Mr. Perez. Why does the rumor mill spin such wild tales? Are my classmates simply gullible?”
She chuckled and added with a playful tilt of her head, “Perez might be good-looking, but he’s got the reputation of a shark. When he first hit the scene in Flesta, people said he was absolutely ruthless. How could he be tamed by something as trivial as losing a simple bet? There’s even talk that losing to you changed him—that he went from a notorious troublemaker to the surprise contender who beat out his competition and took over the conglomerate.”
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