Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Business Dinner

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Chapter 34

~Zara’s POV~

Dressed in an elegant peach gown with my hair neatly styled and packed, leaving a few strands to fall at the side of my right eye, I stepped out of the car beside Snow, the flash of cameras surrounding us as we entered the event.

Snow’s hand rested lightly on the small of my back, giving a silent signal that we were a united front, at least for the public eye. But underneath that, the discord between us was still simmering.

Immediately we got in, the grand ballroom was filled with important figures—business tycoons, investors, and influential players.

I spotted Marcus almost immediately, standing by the bar, his gaze sweeping the room like a predator surveying his prey.

Good, my time to catch my prey had begun.

Snow’s grip on my back tightened ever so slightly as we made our way over to him while exchanging pleasantries along the way.

"Zara," Snow murmured in my ear when we greeted the one of the guests that had walked up to us. "Marcus is crucial. Just... be yourself. He likes women who are direct."

I nodded even though my heart raced, I held on as though nothing bothered me.

I’d done this for years for my father, counting two lifetime experiences to the list, I was pretty much confident or I should have been but something about this night, Marcus and Snow made me edgy.

I knew what Snow was asking of me. He needed me to charm Marcus, to secure the deal. And I would, even if I was still angry with him.

We approached Marcus, and I put on my most confident smile, introducing myself with a firm handshake.

"Mr Deveraeux, I believe we haven’t properly met yet."

"Outside of the conference room, no. Glad a beauty such as yourself could make it."

He returned my smile and shake, extending his lips to the back of my palm.

I felt Snow tense at that exchange, his shoulders rigid as did his hold on the small of my back.

Marcus must have sensed it. He turned his attention to Snow. "Forgive me, Mr. Zephyr, I just couldn’t resist the allure of a beautiful woman. Good evening."

Snow took his shake and gave a small smile. "Well, we can both agree to one thing, Zara is charming."

My heart skipped a beat at that compliment. My cheeks betrayed me instantly, flushing like a teen as I held back the choke of breath about to happen.

Marcus sensed it, raising a brow as I managed to smile and compose myself.

"Sorry, swallowed wrongly," I apologized before turning to Snow. His eyes held mine for a minute and I felt Astrid smirk within.

It wasn’t Snow she was smirking at. It was Glacier.

Just the thought worsened my situation. I shook my head, breaking our contact as I averted my gaze elsewhere.

"So, how’s the party so far?"

Marcus followed my line of sight, nodding as he took in the patrons again. "Well, so far so good, it’s okay."

"Just okay?" I asked, tilting my head to the side a bit.