Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 56

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 56**

**Chapter 56 My Right-Hand Woman**

Zane cast a quick glance towards the woman bustling in the kitchen, her movements a blend of grace and purpose. He then made his way to the bedroom, gently closing the door behind him before he responded to the call.

“Ms. Gale, how have you been?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “I apologize for not visiting; work has kept me swamped.”

Ione, on the other end of the line, was not the least bit perturbed by his absence. She understood all too well the relentless demands of his career.

“It’s alright, Zane. I’m doing well,” she replied, her tone steady. After a brief pause, she dove straight into the matter at hand. “Darcy mentioned that you two have broken up?”

Zane sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “It’s Darcy who’s been adamant about the breakup.”

Ione let out a soft sigh of her own. “That girl can be quite stubborn, can’t she? A bit too rigid for her own good. I don’t believe she truly wants to end things. Once she has a moment to cool off, she’ll come to her senses. I’ll have a word with her.”

In that instant, Zane grasped Ione’s intentions. She was here to provide him with reassurance, to remind him that he was not alone in this tumultuous situation.

It was clear that Ione, too, believed that Darcy’s heart wasn’t truly set on ending their relationship.

As the irritation that had been festering in his chest dissipated, a cold smirk crept into Zane’s heart.

Everyone could see that Darcy was being unreasonable.

It seemed her return to him was merely a matter of time.

So, why should he waste energy being upset over the fact that she had deleted his contact?

Deleting him was a simple act, but getting back into her good graces would be the real challenge.

Next time, he thought with a mischievous glint in his eye, he would make her beg for his attention!

Grateful for Ione’s comforting words, Zane thanked her profusely before hanging up the call.

Just then, he heard Zora calling his name from the living room, her voice bright and inviting.

He opened the door and stepped out, a sheepish smile playing on his lips. “I felt a bit chilly, so I decided to put on a sweater.”

“Oh? You’re not coming down with something, are you?” Zora asked, her brow furrowing with concern as she stood on her tiptoes to press her forehead against his, checking for a fever.

Her hand brushed against his cheek, and he felt a warmth spread through him.

“Seems normal,” she declared, but then her gaze sharpened. “But… why is your face so red?”

Zane instinctively turned his face away, a light cough escaping him. “Maybe it’s just a bit stuffy in here. I’ll open a window.”

Zora watched him dart away, a playful smile curving her lips as she noted his flustered retreat.

As he stood by the window, inhaling the crisp air, Zane felt his heartbeat quicken, each thump echoing in his ears.

There was something about being near Zora that drew him in like a moth to a flame.

At her mother’s birthday celebration, the unspoken intentions of the Moss family had been glaringly obvious.

Though neither side had explicitly stated it, they had both tacitly acknowledged the connection between him and Zora.

Zane tilted his head back to gaze at the sky, letting the cool breeze wash over him, clearing the clutter in his mind.

Jethro caught sight of her warm, gentle smile, and it felt like the sun breaking through a cold winter’s day.

Before long, they arrived at the venue for the forum.

After parking the car, Darcy followed closely behind Jethro as they approached the building.

They presented their invitations, passed through verification, and entered the bustling space one after the other.

However, Jethro’s reputation preceded him. The Blackwood Group was the most esteemed conglomerate in Aethelburg, and the moment people spotted him, a throng of admirers gathered, eager to shake his hand and exchange pleasantries.

With a humble demeanor, Jethro addressed the crowd. “As you all know, Blackwood’s core businesses are in finance and internet services. We’re still newcomers in the fintech realm, and we’re here to learn from all of you.”

He continued, “Yes, we’ve established a fintech subsidiary, but our scaled products are still modest. I’m here to gain insights and knowledge.”

“By the way, let me introduce someone special. This is…”

Jethro turned, intending to present Darcy to the crowd, knowing her position as the CEO of Stratagem Tech would allow her to network effectively in the industry.

With his support, her ascent in the field would be swift and assured.

But as he looked around, he realized Darcy was no longer by his side.

She had likely been swept away by the throng of eager men surrounding him.

Jethro shook his head with a bemused smile. “It seems my right-hand woman has vanished. I’ll introduce her to you all a bit later.”

Darcy had been just a step behind him, but the overwhelming crowd had engulfed him, leaving her standing alone, watching from a distance, a sigh escaping her lips as she felt the weight of the moment.