Chapter 9 Ansel’s Younger Brother
Not long after I posted the evidence on Instagram, Clarence called.
“Janelle, what the hell is your deal? Did you think this would make me regret divorcing you?” he snapped.
For a second, I was thrown. Was that what he got from my post?
I couldn’t help it and burst out laughing. But that only made him angrier. “What are you laughing at? Don’t think too highly of yourself. I only have eyes for Ivana.”
“And?”
“You can stop with these desperate stunts to win me back!” he barked. “Just like you said, I only ever liked you because you were useful.”
“Well, thanks for the compliment. Goodbye.”
That was the moment I realized talking to Clarence was beneath me.
After that incident, he and Ivana didn’t even bother being discreet.
On the day we collected the divorce decree, Ivana showed up too. It was as if she wanted to prove their love was the real deal.
The papers had barely touched our hands before the two of them marched straight to City Hall to register their marriage. And of course, they posted about it.
I never saw it since I had blocked them both ages ago. Ansel was the one who sent me the screenshot.
Then, he wrote, “We’re going out tonight to celebrate your return to singlehood.”
“Deal,” I replied.
I thought a celebration was definitely due.
At the bar, Ansel drank more than I did. He looked like he was the one who had just gotten divorced.
We were about to head out when a young man approached me, saying, “Hello, Janelle. Do you remember me?”
I blinked, confused. He clearly recognized me, but I couldn’t place him.
I studied him carefully, but after a long moment, I still drew a blank. He must’ve noticed the confusion in my eyes, because he offered a handshake and introduced himself. “I’m Benson Reed. Ansel’s younger brother.”
“Benson?” I blurted, stunned.
The last time I saw him, he was just a kid. I couldn’t believe how much he had grown. He was a man now.
Benson was in college and currently on break, staying with Ansel. Apparently, he’d forgotten his keys, and the smart lock battery had died too. So, he came looking for Ansel.
After that, Benson and I helped Ansel home. We chatted the whole way.
Spending time with someone younger hit me hard. It felt like the world was moving on without me. No wonder Clarence had chosen Ivana so decisively. The newer generation just had an edge, after all.
Benson had a fresh and agile way of thinking. Ansel and I had been stuck on a financial problem for weeks. Yet, Benson just shrugged and said, “Honestly, is the economy really that complicated?
“The market’s a mess. If you inflate numbers, anyone with half a brain will see through it.”
And just like that, it clicked. We had been too deep in the weeds.
Ansel and I were so focused on winning the pitch that we ignored the fact that the project itself had flaws. No matter who presented, the issue would still be there. I couldn’t help but give Benson a thumbs–up.
After getting Ansel home, I stayed up late revising the whole proposal.
The next morning, we headed out to present it. Ansel hadn’t even seen the new draft yet.
Still, I wasn’t cocky enough to assume 1 had nailed it. On the way there, I told him, “made a few changes to the proposal. You might
want
to
take a look.
“No need. If you did it, I trust it,” Ansel sald.
Even so, I caught the panic in his eyes as I began the pitch. In truth, I wasn’t feeling too confident either. But at that point, there was no turning back.
Once I wrapped up, Ansel leaned in and muttered, “Ms. Sawyer, are you trying to take over my whole company?”
shot him a sharp look. If nothing else, his sense of humor held up under pressure.
