Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 62

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

**Chapter 62: What Do You Care About?**

Wasn’t that a form of love?

Finished.

Darcy’s lips twisted into a sardonic smile, a blend of amusement and disdain. “Zane, are you financially strapped? No, you’re not! You splurge on extravagant gifts and high-end items… Sure, they might hold some value for others, but for you, they’re merely a drop in the ocean. Handing me things that mean nothing to you is not a gesture of affection; it’s just a hollow act!”

“And your ability to resist temptation is admirable, I’ll give you that. But wasn’t I faced with the same challenges? I encountered my share of temptations as well. I never crossed the line; I’ve always kept my distance from men. That’s simply a matter of basic respect! It has nothing to do with whether you truly love me!”

Zane stood there, rendered speechless, the weight of her words settling heavily on his chest.

A surge of frustration bubbled within him, threatening to overflow.

He clenched his jaw and shot back, “What does love even mean in this context?”

Darcy laughed, a sound laced with scorn.

Forget it. They were like oil and water, fundamentally mismatched. Engaging in further conversation felt utterly futile.

With a swift turn, Darcy pivoted on her heel, striding away without so much as a glance over her shoulder.

Zane felt an urge to call after her, to pull her back, but she was already moving with purpose, vanishing into the entrance of the residential complex in mere moments.

In a fit of anger, he kicked the tire of his car, the sound echoing in the stillness around him.

He lit up two more cigarettes, letting the smoke curl into the night air as he simmered in his irritation, before finally deciding to drive away.

The vibrant, flashing neon lights from the roadside danced across his profile, casting him in a flickering interplay of light and shadow.

As he drove, Zane tried to soothe his own frayed nerves. It’s alright. She just quit her job, and she can maintain that tough facade for a while. Once her savings dry up, she’ll come back to me, needing my help.

The Easemark Ventures tender was set to open in just three days. Despite Darcy’s belief that their chances of winning were slim, she still urged Frank and the team to refine their product proposal one last time.

Frank ran a hand through his hair, a look of uncertainty clouding his features. “Ms. Gale, do we genuinely have a chance at the Easemark project? It feels like nothing has progressed since your POC demo.”

Darcy offered a candid response. “Our chances aren’t high, I admit. But the bid documents are already submitted. We’ve done everything within our power. Regardless of the outcome, we can hold our heads high, proud of the effort we put in.”

“If that’s the case, is further optimization really necessary?”

“Absolutely. On the day of the tender, we need to present our best foot forward. A well-optimized proposal leads to a more compelling presentation.”

“Oh, I see.”

Frank’s mindset was rooted in a programmer’s logic. He believed that a goal with such low odds of success should be abandoned in favor of focusing energy on more promising projects.

Yet, Darcy was the one in charge, so he had no choice but to follow her lead.

As he recalled the whispers circulating in their small group chat, Frank found himself pondering—Was Ms. Gale truly involved with Mr. Blackwood? Had she really climbed to the CEO position through questionable means?

Cindy had recently received a sales bonus for successfully renewing an old client contract, a feat made possible thanks to Darcy’s guidance.

She felt compelled to treat her to a celebratory meal.

Moreover, Cindy wanted to buy Darcy a gift as a token of appreciation.

They arranged to meet for dinner, followed by a shopping trip.

The restaurant they chose was upscale, its ambiance exuding elegance. Cindy, who was on a diet, barely touched her food, while Darcy ended up devouring most of the meal.

Cindy rested her chin on her hand, her eyes filled with envy. “Same woman, same stomach. How is it that you can eat so much and still look incredible? I feel like I’m withering away here.”

Darcy chuckled lightly, “I don’t stress too much about my figure. For me, being healthy is what truly matters.”

Taking a deep breath, she approached the sales associate. “How much are the scarves?”

The associate greeted her with a bright smile. “They range from two thousand to seven.”

“…I’ll take the two-thousand one.”

Finished.

In stark contrast to Darcy’s careful selections, Cindy went on a shopping spree. By the time they exited, both of them were burdened with large shopping bags.

Cindy had indulged so much that Darcy found herself carrying several of the bags.

As they stepped out of the store, Cindy let out a contented sigh, “I haven’t shopped so freely in ages. Shopping is undeniably more enjoyable with a friend.”

Cindy suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom. She handed her overflowing bags to Darcy. “Hold these for me, I’ll be right back.”

Darcy stood outside, waiting patiently.

As she looked up, she unexpectedly found herself face-to-face with two familiar figures.

Kaia and Zora were there, preparing to entertain a client later. Before their formal meeting, Zora had brought Kaia along to purchase a gift for the client.

186

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11:29 Wed, Dec 17 MRO

Everything Taken, I Left to Become CEO