Chapter 12

Joseph gave Brandon a nod, motioning for him to leave the conference room together. Although they had been at each other’s throats moments ago, now they had a mutual respect for one another’s capabilities. James leaned back in his chair, looking like he had it all figured out. His tone was calm but confident. "Ms. Lewis, I can make Daniel famous." He never liked lowering his head, but this was his way of making up to her. Daniel had those intense brows and sharp eyes, a naturally handsome face that somehow carried a hint of vulnerability. It shouldn't have worked, but it did — that contrast actually made him stand out more. In short, he totally fit the ‘tragically hot guy’ vibe — perfect for going viral. Maria hesitated, brows knitting slightly. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was really after. "Still thinking?" James raised an eyebrow. "I just see potential in your brother. Don’t forget — I’m a capitalist, after all." Now that sounded more like him. Maria stopped second-guessing and simply looked at him like, “well duh.” James, on the other hand, frowned a bit — so that’s how she saw him? "I don’t know if he even wants to be a celebrity. I’ll talk to him," Maria said calmly. Daniel was the kind of guy who kept everything bottled up. She honestly had no idea what was going on in his head. James stood, brushing off his sleeves as he walked away. "Don’t forget, you're starting work at the company tomorrow." As he turned his back, his usual cool expression softened just a little — not that Maria noticed. She had already started adjusting to her new role — no surprise, since this was a direct order from Shadowglint. Walking out, she caught a glimpse of Brandon ahead. She bit her lip for a second, then quickly chased after him. "Ms. Lewis," Brandon greeted her with a polite nod. "Mr. Smith, I wanted to ask you something." He gave her his full attention. "Go ahead." Maria smiled lightly. "What do you think of Bennett Group? Would you consider joining them?" James had actually hit the nail on the head earlier — Brandon was competent and sharp. He deserved more opportunities. And Bennett Group was full of those. After the debate they just had, she could tell James thought highly of Brandon. If she set her feelings about James aside, the company really wasn’t a bad place to be. Brandon paused, surprised. "Seriously?" When he and Joseph had gone to meet James’s assistant, Joseph had encouraged him to join Bennett Group, talking about the salary and growth it offered. People went where the prospects were. Brandon knew that. But he’d turned them down out of concern for Maria’s opinion of James. Now, hearing her endorsement, his eyes lit up. Maria caught the flicker of excitement in his gaze and smiled, feeling like she’d done something right. She nodded earnestly. "Absolutely. I think you’d thrive there. Since James and Mr. Garcia are probably still around, this is the perfect time to talk to them." Brandon shot her a grateful glance. “Ms. Lewis, thank you. If you ever need anything, just let me know. I’ll do my best to help.” “Alright,” Maria replied with a smile. Watching Brandon walk back into Bennett Corp with a lighter step, Maria felt an odd sense of relief. She drove home and gave Daniel a call on the way, asking him to come back right away. By the time she got home, the living room was spotless, Ethan was grinning at cartoons on TV, and the smell of food wafted from the kitchen. When Maria first met Isabella, the woman couldn’t cook to save her life—even Scrambling eggs was a disaster. But then, wanting to impress the kids, she decided to learn. She said that if you’re taking care of kids, ordering food all the time just won’t cut it. Over the years, she got really good at it. Now she could whip up a feast like it was nothing, and the dishes could rival any restaurant. “You’re back! Come help me prep these veggies,” Isabella called from the kitchen. “Coming,” Maria answered, walking over. She got to work quietly, but Isabella could tell something was bothering her. “What’s on your mind?” Maria had never kept things from Isabella, and today was no exception. “I agreed to be James’s assistant. He said he could help Daniel become famous, and he wants me as his stylist. It seemed like a good opportunity.” “And what’s the hesitation? Scared Richard and his wife might see him on TV?” “That’s not it. If anything, that’s their problem. Daniel doesn’t owe them anything and doesn’t need to hide.” “Then you’re worried Daniel won’t go for it?” Maria sighed, emotions all tangled up. “He holds a lot of resentment toward them, yeah. But more than anything, I just want to see him happy. I thought maybe giving him something else to focus on would help. I’m not afraid he’ll say no—I’m afraid he’ll say yes just because of me.” Sometimes, she wished her little brother would act like a regular teen—argue with her, push back, not be so damn mature all the time. It broke her heart. “Maria,” Isabella said while trimming the veggies, “Don’t you think maybe you’re trying to control too much? That’s Daniel’s life. If he wants to live cautiously, let him. You’re not in charge of every part of him.” That snapped Maria out of it. She was right—it's his life. She needed to respect that. “Grab the meat from the fridge. I’ll make one of Daniel’s favorites,” Isabella added. Maria took a deep breath, focused on helping her in the kitchen, and let the rest be. When dinner was ready, Daniel came home. He sat at the table with a child on each knee, playing with them. The kids had already eaten a bunch earlier, so they only picked at the food before running off to play again, leaving just the three of them at the table. Maria brought up James’s offer and waited for Daniel’s response, her eyes full of hope. After a long pause, lost in thought, Daniel finally said, “Alright. I’ll go. Besides, I can help you out at Bennett Corp too.” Maria gave a wry smile. She figured he’d agree for her sake. Still, she didn’t push it further. Isabella’s words stuck with her—this time, she was really starting to get it.