Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 46

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 46**
**Chapter 46: Bar Talk**

Olena had always kept Zane under her watchful eye, enforcing strict rules throughout his upbringing—no smoking, no drinking, and certainly no reckless behavior. It was a mantra she repeated like a protective chant, ensuring he stayed on the straight and narrow.

His childhood friends, Hugo and Ines, were well aware of the house rules, having grown up alongside Zane. They never dared to tempt him with cigarettes or pass him a drink, respecting the boundaries set by Olena.

On this particular evening, Zane appeared utterly exhausted as he sank into the couch, his shoulders slumping under the weight of unspoken burdens. He reached for a glass resting on the table, tilting it back and swallowing its contents in a single, desperate gulp.

Hugo and Ines exchanged a concerned glance, their expressions a mix of surprise and worry.

“Whoa, take it easy there,” Hugo interjected, quickly snatching the glass away just as Zane’s hand reached out for a refill.

Ines shifted from his spot on the opposite sofa, leaning in closer. “What’s going on? Did your grandpa give you a hard time again?”

Zane’s grandfather had never been accepting of him or his mother, making their lives a constant uphill battle.

“No,” Zane replied, shaking his head slowly, as if trying to shake off the weight of the conversation.

“Then what?” Ines pressed, scratching his head in confusion. “Did you and Zora have a fight?”

“Also no,” Zane muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Then what the hell is it?” Ines demanded, frustration creeping into his tone.

Zane leaned back against the couch, his entire posture radiating defeat. He took a deep, shaky breath before finally letting the words escape his lips. “Darcy wants to break up. She resigned from the company today.”

An oppressive silence enveloped the room, the weight of Zane’s revelation hanging heavily in the air.

“Holy shit! No way!” Ines exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief, nearly spilling his drink in the process. He had witnessed firsthand the depth of Darcy’s affection for Zane, and this news felt like a punch to the gut.

Hugo paused mid-sip, the glass hovering uncertainly between his lips. Unlike Ines, he was more composed, but his brow furrowed with concern. “Why? Why did she break up?” he asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.

“She found out about Zora joining the company,” Zane explained, his voice heavy with resignation. “And she knows Zora and I grew up together…”

“Well, no wonder!” Ines declared, adopting the tone of a self-proclaimed relationship expert. “She’s jealous!”

Zane rubbed his temples, frustration etched across his face. “I know. But she’s taking it too far. I never thought she would actually resign without even talking to me first.”

“Hey, it’s normal. The more a woman loves you, the more she’ll make a scene. If she’s not making a fuss, it means she doesn’t love you anymore,” Ines replied, his tone lightening a bit as he tried to reassure his friend.

“So how do I make it up to her?” Zane asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Ines shrugged nonchalantly. “Don’t make it up to her. Some women don’t need to be placated. Just ignore her for a bit, and she’ll come crawling back on her own!”

“Will she? She seemed really mad,” Zane replied, uncertainty creeping into his voice.

“Trust me. I don’t know about other women, but Darcy? For sure!” Ines insisted, his confidence unwavering.

“Mr. Kerr? What can I do for you?” Darcy asked, her curiosity piqued. The last time he’d come down, it was to hand her car keys. What could it be this time?

Rowan quickly handed her a stack of documents, including a contract. “Mr. Blackwood mentioned you completed your resignation formalities yesterday. He specifically asked me to bring you the Stratagem Tech contract.”

Darcy had indeed informed Jethro of her resignation immediately after finalizing the paperwork, intending merely to let him know that her time at Summit Core had officially come to an end. She hadn’t anticipated him being so considerate, preparing the contract ahead of time.

“Alright, thank you, Mr. Kerr. I’ll sign these and get them back to you,” she said, taking the documents with a grateful nod.

Rowan smiled, assuring her it was no trouble at all before he turned to leave.

As Darcy unlocked her office door, she glanced inside, noting how several colleagues quickly averted their gazes, pretending to be engrossed in their work.

They were eavesdropping, she realized with a frown, but she chose not to dwell on it. Most of her relationships with her subordinates were still somewhat distant, so their curiosity was hardly surprising.

Once her door clicked shut, the sound of frantic typing erupted from the main office area, followed by a flurry of chatter in their private group chat.

“Holy crap! Mr. Blackwood’s personal assistant delivered documents! If you say she’s not sleeping with him, who’d believe that?”

“Seriously! I used to think spreading rumors about women was disgusting. Now I just feel like an idiot! What’s wrong with a woman climbing the ladder using her connections?”

“Did you hear about her discussing coding and iterating products with the new guy? I wonder if it’s true. If so, she’s got some serious skills.”

The gossip swirled around the office, a whirlwind of speculation and judgment, but Darcy was too focused on her own thoughts to pay them any mind.