Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 14

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks**
**Chapter 14: Do You Have a Driver’s License?**

Frank lifted his hand eagerly, his curiosity evident. “Ms. Gale, were you a programmer before stepping into your current role?”

Darcy shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Not exactly. I majored in Financial Engineering during my college years. The curriculum had a heavy emphasis on computer science, though.”

Frank’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, wow! I’ve heard of that program. It’s incredibly competitive! Which university did you attend, Ms. Gale?”

“Brimwood University,” she replied, her pride subtly shining through.

“No way! The Brimwood Financial Engineering program? That’s on par with Quest University! It’s one of the best in Aethelburg! The acceptance scores are through the roof—almost impossible to get into!”

Frank’s admiration was palpable, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “No wonder you became a CEO at such a young age! That’s truly impressive!”

“Not really. Just a stroke of luck,” Darcy said, her smile widening.

Deep down, she felt a wave of humility wash over her. She wasn’t trying to downplay her achievements; she genuinely believed that luck had played a significant role in her journey.

If she hadn’t embarked on that venture with Zane all those years ago, she wouldn’t have ventured into business development, which ultimately shaped her broad perspective today. It felt like a blessing in disguise, a twist of fate that had led her to where she was now.

In a way, she owed Zane a debt of gratitude.

The two young men in the room felt increasingly uncomfortable under the weight of their boss’s impressive credentials. They wished they could simply vanish into thin air. Their code was a chaotic jumble, riddled with inefficiencies.

However, Darcy chose not to criticize them. “If it works, it’s perfectly fine for now. At this stage, speed is more vital than elegance,” she reassured them, her tone encouraging.

After wrapping up her own tasks and guiding the two juniors through a significant bug fix, Darcy decided it was time to call it a day.

As fate would have it, she found herself sharing the elevator with Jethro once more.

She couldn’t help but notice that Jethro, the head of the Blackwood Group, seemed to leave the office relatively early. It was a recurring theme; every time she spotted him exiting, it was always before 8 PM.

As the elevator doors slid shut, Jethro caught her eye and raised an eyebrow. “Something on your mind?” he inquired, his voice smooth and inviting.

A wave of embarrassment washed over Darcy, and she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to adjust her hair. “Um, I was just curious… you seem to leave work quite early, Mr. Blackwood.”

Jethro appeared momentarily surprised, then glanced at his watch, chuckling lightly. “It’s not early. You’re the one who’s leaving late.”

His tone was gentle, almost fatherly. “Make sure you get some proper rest over the weekend.”

“Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr. Blackwood,” she replied, her voice slightly more formal than necessary.

Jethro couldn’t help but notice her formality. She always maintained that professional distance with him, which intrigued him.

As the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, Darcy stepped out, momentarily startled to see Jethro following her.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Bl?” she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Jethro offered a faint smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I had a business lunch this afternoon and had a drink. I can’t drive right now. My assistant is on his way to pick me up.”

As they walked toward the exit, he casually asked, “Need a ride?”

Alistair fell silent, realizing he had crossed a line.

Who would have imagined that the esteemed, unapproachable expert revered by the world could be so henpecked at home, scolded like a child?

“Ahem. Uncle. Aunt.” Jethro cleared his throat as he stepped inside, his timing impeccable, saving Alistair from further scolding.

Alistair’s face lit up at the sight of his nephew. “Jethro! You’re here!”

Seeing him, Seren immediately softened, her expression transforming into a warm smile as she urged him to take a seat.

Without missing a beat, she hurried to the kitchen to wash some fruit and pour juice, casting a warning glance at Alistair.

The message was unmistakable. We’ll continue this discussion later.

Alistair pretended to ignore her look and turned his attention to Jethro.

“Uncle, your birthday is tomorrow. My mother has reserved a restaurant for the celebration. I’ll pick you up at noon,” Jethro announced, his tone cheerful.

Alistair frowned, his brows furrowing in disapproval. “I said we shouldn’t make a fuss. I’m too old for birthdays.”

“You’re not old at all, Uncle. You’re a natural! Anyone would think you’re just in your early thirties. A real heartthrob,” Jethro teased, his grin infectious.

Alistair shot him a glare, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. “You’re 27 this year and still so flippant. How is the company? Stable?”

Jethro chuckled, the warmth of family enveloping them as they shared a moment of laughter amidst the chaos.