Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 103

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 103**
**Chapter 103 An Uninvited Lunch Guest**

Lena Lynn was the sole administrative staff member at the company, fulfilling the dual roles of both administrator and receptionist. Her responsibilities encompassed the meticulous management of incoming and outgoing mail and packages, a task she approached with diligence and care.

As the conversation shifted, Lena felt a rush of urgency. She quickly pulled up the delivery log, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Each delivery was recorded with precision in her computer spreadsheet, a testament to her organizational skills.

With a few clicks, she opened the Excel file, her eyes scanning for Darcy’s name. A frown creased her brow as she announced, “Ms. Gale, there’s no record of any delivery.”

Darcy’s expression darkened, confusion mingling with frustration. “What about the packages?” she pressed, her tone edged with impatience.

Lena’s fingers danced over the keyboard once more, but after a moment, she shook her head. “Nothing there either,” she replied, her voice tinged with concern.

Darcy’s gaze swept across the reception area, landing on the security camera mounted above. An idea sparked in her mind. “Can you pull up the surveillance footage from the past week?” she requested, her voice steady despite the growing unease within her.

“It’s all on this computer, Ms. Gale. Just a moment,” Lena responded, accessing the dedicated monitoring system with practiced ease.

Darcy watched intently as Lena clicked through the videos, her heart racing. The footage displayed a flurry of mail and packages being delivered and collected, yet none of it distinctly showcased anything addressed to her. Just as she was about to abandon her search, something caught her eye—a fleeting glimpse of Jax’s figure appearing in one of the frames.

Her breath hitched, and her eyes widened. A thought struck her like lightning. She quickly rewound the segment, replaying it over and over, but it was just that single, elusive moment. He didn’t appear before or after that fleeting glimpse.

A wave of suspicion washed over her. Darcy couldn’t shake the feeling that Jax had taken the letter and disposed of it, but without concrete evidence, confronting him seemed perilous. She needed to tread carefully, her mind racing with possibilities.

Once back in her office, she forced herself to concentrate on her work, even as her thoughts spiraled. The larger players in this game needed to make mistakes before they could be caught in the net she was weaving.

Saturday arrived, and as was her routine, Darcy made her way to the library to immerse herself in her studies.

“Darcy! Long time no see!” Gwen’s voice rang out cheerfully as soon as she settled into a chair. The enthusiasm radiating from her cousin was palpable as she hurried over, pulling out the chair opposite with a bright smile.

Despite the fact that Gwen was Hugo’s cousin, Darcy found herself genuinely liking her. There was something endearing about Gwen’s sweet, bubbly personality—a refreshing honesty that was hard to resist.

However, Darcy couldn’t ignore the underlying tension of their familial connection. Hugo was a close friend of Zane and Zora, and Darcy was gearing up to face him in a legal showdown. It was inevitable that she and Hugo would find themselves on opposing sides.

Throughout the morning, Gwen’s eagerness to chat was evident, but Darcy remained focused, diligently working through her practice problems, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her.

Finally, Gwen seized her moment. As Darcy returned from the restroom, she found herself cornered at the library entrance.

“Darcy, you’ve been studying so hard! You must be worn out! Let me give you a little massage to help you unwind!” Gwen exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.

Caught off guard, Darcy’s initial reaction was one of disbelief. No way, that’s a hard pass.

But before she could voice her refusal, Gwen was already guiding her toward a plush armchair by the entrance, her hands starting to knead Darcy’s shoulders with surprising gentleness, like a playful kitten.

“Is that comfortable, Darcy?” Gwen asked cheerfully, her voice bright as she continued her ministrations.

Gwen, having grown up in high society, was no fool. She could read Darcy’s expression and understood that the whole “Thanksgiving plans” story was likely a fabrication.

“Okay, Darcy,” Gwen said, linking her arm with Darcy’s. “Let’s have lunch together later. Please?”

Darcy found herself unable to resist her cousin’s pleading gaze. With a resigned sigh, she relented. “Alright.”

When lunchtime arrived, the two made their way to the cafeteria. Gwen insisted on something a bit more upscale, so they headed to the top floor.

The canteen at Quest University had a vibrant atmosphere, almost resembling a fancy restaurant at first glance.

Just as they placed their orders, Gwen’s phone buzzed on the table, interrupting the moment.

“Hello? Hey, Hugo?” she answered, her tone shifting to one of excitement.

Darcy froze, a sense of foreboding creeping in. Hugo was here? Already?

Gwen leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “My cousin’s here. He hasn’t had lunch yet. Would it be alright if he joined us?”

Darcy’s heart sank at the prospect. She could already envision the awkwardness that would surely ensue.