Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 12

**Chapter 12: You Can Code?**

Zora’s eyes widened slightly, and her voice took on a gentle, almost teasing lilt. “Well, first you need to let me know if you’re available. If you are, then I’ll spill the beans on what I have in mind.”

Zane, feeling a flicker of curiosity, replied, “I’m free.”

A shy smile crept onto Zora’s face, illuminating her features. “Really? You’re not just saying that to appease me, are you? I genuinely dislike it when you push yourself into things you’d rather avoid.”

Zane’s expression softened, his heart warming at her concern. “I promise, I’m not lying. Being with you is never a burden.”

“Great!” she exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “I found out through one of my contacts that Professor Alistair Reed’s birthday is coming up this Saturday. I would love for you to accompany me to his celebration.”

Zane took a moment to digest her words. “To celebrate? So you want to use this party as an opportunity to meet him and gauge his interest in selling the patent?”

“Exactly!” Zora replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The implications of her request settled in Zane’s mind. It made perfect sense for the company’s future, and he had no valid reason to decline. “Alright then. Just send me the time and address later. I’ll be there with you on Saturday.”

After Zora left, Zane sank back into his chair, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. The name “Alistair Reed” lingered in his thoughts, stirring something in the depths of his memory.

That name… it feels oddly familiar. Where have I heard it before?

He was convinced it wasn’t from the news, but he couldn’t quite place it.

Suddenly, a nagging discomfort returned to his stomach. With a resigned sigh, Zane rose from his seat and grabbed another packet of his stomach medicine.

As he rummaged through the first aid kit, his thoughts drifted back to Darcy.

And then, like a light bulb flicking on, it all clicked into place.

Five years ago, Darcy used to rave about Alistair constantly, her admiration for him palpable in every word.

So this Alistair must indeed be someone of great significance.

Over the years spent building the company, Zane had immersed himself so deeply in internal management and coding that he had neglected to keep up with market trends and industry developments. It was high time he rectified that oversight.

Darcy had been running herself ragged lately, flitting between home, the hospital, and the office. It was evident she had lost weight, the stress of juggling her responsibilities taking a toll on her health.

Ione’s condition had stabilized for the moment, but daily visits and ensuring the caregiver was attentive were all that occupied her time there.

It was her work, however, that proved to be the most demanding.

After sending the product iteration requirements document to Jax, she had hoped the hostility directed at her would ease. Unfortunately, it remained steadfast. Most of her colleagues still treated her with cold indifference, some even going out of their way to ignore her.

Darcy kept her feelings bottled up, but the urgency of finalizing the pre-sales proposal for Easemark Ventures weighed heavily on her. They were currently stalled on the demo, and time was slipping away.

Determined, she sought out Jax, her voice firm as she laid out her needs.

Darcy studied Jax intently, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed him.

She could see it clearly now. The man was as stubborn as a mule.

Of course, she could wield her authority to compel him to prioritize her project. But the outcome would likely be poor, only serving to deepen the rift between them.

As a new manager who hadn’t yet established her credibility, making an enemy out of the head of R&D right from the start—what would Jethro think of her?

Yet, there was one strategy she could employ to her advantage.

After a moment of contemplation, Darcy spoke slowly, choosing her words with care. “I understand. The R&D team is indeed short-handed. It’s tough for everyone.”

Jax’s mouth, which had been set in a frown, twitched upward in a barely concealed smirk.

But the next moment, his expression shifted to one of shock as he registered her next words.

Darcy continued, “In that case, I’ll arrange to transfer a few people from the Delivery department to assist. I spoke with the lead there yesterday, and he confirmed they currently have sufficient staff.”

“Most importantly,” she added, her confidence growing, “the senior members of the Delivery team are highly enthusiastic about development work and are already very familiar with the product. With their help, we can alleviate some of the pressure on our R&D colleagues.”

Jax’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, struggling to find a response.