Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 101

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 101**
**CONTENT: Chapter 101 Burial of Sisterhood**

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**Finished**

As twilight descended, Brandon decided to host a lavish banquet at a local restaurant, an olive branch extended to both companies involved. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as he sought to mend the rift that had formed.

Darcy, however, felt a wave of unease wash over her and excused herself from the gathering, claiming she wasn’t feeling well. In her stead, Cindy donned an outfit designed to dazzle, ready to charm the guests in Darcy’s absence.

Once back at the hotel, Darcy indulged in a refreshing shower, letting the warm water wash away the day’s stresses. She settled at the desk in the study, determined to tackle her books and regain her focus.

Suddenly, a series of knocks echoed through the room.

Curiosity piqued, she rose to answer the door. Standing there was Jethro, a takeout bag in hand and a playful smile gracing his lips. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Cindy asked me to bring you some dinner,” he said, his tone light and teasing.

“Thank you,” Darcy replied, stepping aside to usher him in.

As she took her seat, she began to eat, while Jethro’s eyes roamed the suite, taking in the surroundings with a thoughtful expression.

His gaze landed on a math test sprawled across the study desk, and he raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Is this the problem Cindy mentioned you were struggling with?” he asked, his curiosity evident.

Darcy felt her cheeks heat up, a reminder of their earlier conversation during breakfast when he had readily agreed to help her.

Setting her fork down, she approached the desk, her finger hovering over the problem as she explained her thought process. “This is as far as I got. I’m completely stuck on how to proceed from here,” she admitted, frustration evident in her voice.

Her slight pout and furrowed brow were surprisingly endearing, a stark contrast to the fierce demeanor she often displayed during the day.

Jethro picked up a pen, his focus shifting to the problem at hand. “This type of problem should be approached like this…” he began, guiding her through the steps on a scrap of paper.

As he explained, the fog of confusion slowly lifted from Darcy’s mind.

She quickly flipped to another test paper, her heart racing as she applied his method. With newfound clarity, she solved the major problem that had previously eluded her.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “So that’s it! Thanks, Mr. Blackwood,” she exclaimed, a grin breaking across her face.

Jethro feigned surprise, pretending to clean his ear. “If I hear ‘thanks’ one more time, my ears will grow calluses,” he quipped, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement.

Darcy chuckled, her laughter ringing like music in the room. “Then I’ll work harder and repay you with results,” she promised, her determination shining through.

The following day marked Darcy’s final hours in Techwood.

In the morning, she and Cindy ventured out to meet two prospective clients. Unfortunately, their interest was tepid at best. One client was so dismissive that he abruptly stood up and walked away mid-presentation, leaving both women in disbelief.

Cindy huffed, visibly annoyed. “How rude. They didn’t show us any respect at all,” she fumed, her frustration palpable.

Darcy, however, remained unfazed. She calmly packed up her laptop and files, a practiced ease in her movements. “It’s normal, Cindy. We’re basically like those persistent telemarketers. Just think about how you feel when you get those calls,” she replied, her tone soothing.

“Mmph, fair point,” Cindy conceded, wrinkling her nose in a mix of annoyance and understanding.

After lunch, they checked out of the hotel and hopped into a cab bound for the airport.

Jethro, tied up in negotiations with a client, couldn’t accompany them, leaving Darcy and Cindy to navigate the journey alone.

To Darcy’s surprise, Zane and Zora were on the same flight, a twist of fate that felt almost too coincidental.

Cindy snorted, her voice laced with sarcasm. “If anyone says there’s no leak, I’ll eat my hat,” she declared, her eyes rolling.

Darcy averted her gaze, choosing to ignore the pair, focusing instead on the task at hand.

Zora leaned closer to Zane, her voice barely above a whisper. “When we were riding side-by-side yesterday, I tried again to persuade Ms. Gale to return. But she seems determined not to look back. She even… well, she wasn’t very receptive,” she confessed, her tone tinged with disappointment.

“I’ve just been busy with work, Mom. Has Kaia been treating you well?” Darcy deflected, her heart racing.

“Of course. Why do you ask?” Ione replied, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Darcy shook her head, dismissing the thought. “No reason. As long as she’s good to you,” she said, choosing her words carefully.

She didn’t want to put her mother in the difficult position of choosing between her daughters. As long as Kaia treated Ione with kindness, some of the deeper issues could be set aside for the moment.

After dinner, Darcy retreated to her bedroom, the weight of the day settling heavily on her shoulders.

Her first task was to check the footage from the hidden camera positioned in the corner. As she watched Kaia sneak out wearing her dress, a wave of disgust washed over her, so intense it made her stomach churn.

Without a second thought, she marched to the closet and retrieved that high-end dress. The faint, lingering scent of an unfamiliar perfume clung to the fabric, making her skin crawl.

Pinching her nose in revulsion, Darcy tossed the dress straight into the trash, a finality in her actions that sent a shiver down her spine.

Deep down, she knew that this time, she and Kaia had crossed a line that could not be uncrossed.

The sisterhood they once shared, like this dress, would be buried forever.

After three long days away, Darcy returned to the office, greeted by an overwhelming pile of work, all clamoring for her attention.

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