Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 63

**Chapter 63: I Know Her Temper Best**

By an unexpected twist of fate, they stumbled upon Darcy.

Kaia’s heart raced as she spotted her, initially feeling a rush of anxiety. But then, a realization dawned upon her: Darcy was currently without a job, while she herself had just been elevated to the role of Zora’s assistant. Why should she feel embarrassed? If anyone had something to hide, it was undoubtedly the unemployed Darcy!

With newfound confidence, Kaia met Darcy’s gaze head-on, refusing to back down.

Zora, however, approached the situation with her usual grace and composure. “Hello, Ms. Gale. It seems fate has brought us together once again.”

Kaia’s mind whirled. Again? So, Zora and Darcy had crossed paths before. This revelation eased her tension even further.

“I’ve resigned from SummitCore,” Darcy replied, her voice devoid of warmth, leaving no room for niceties. “There’s no need for pleasantries between us.”

Kaia felt a flicker of irritation at Darcy’s frosty demeanor. She stepped forward, her voice firm. “Dr. Moss extending her greetings is a significant courtesy. You shouldn’t be so ungrateful.”

After all, it was a privilege for someone of Zora’s stature to acknowledge Darcy, yet here was Darcy, appearing thoroughly unimpressed. How dreadfully rude!

Darcy’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. She had long since lost hope in Kaia, but witnessing her defend someone like Darcy stung more than she cared to admit.

With a sneer, Darcy retorted, “Courtesy is wasted here. From now on, let’s just pretend we don’t see each other. No greetings, no small talk—nothing at all.”

“How dare you speak to me like that?” Kaia exclaimed, her foot stamping in indignation.

“Kaia,” Zora interjected, her voice calm and authoritative. “If Ms. Gale isn’t interested in conversing, let’s not disturb her any further.”

Turning her attention to Darcy, Zora added, “Ms. Gale, goodbye.”

As they prepared to leave, Zora’s eyes subtly swept over the shopping bags that dangled from Darcy’s arms. The unmistakable Hermès logo caught her attention.

An eyebrow arched in curiosity. Darcy’s salary had never been impressive; how was she able to afford such luxuries? Had she truly managed to ensnare Jethro?

No, that couldn’t be! Everyone knew Jethro was notoriously aloof.

He hadn’t been seen with a woman in all these years.

While Darcy was undeniably attractive, the thought of her sharing a bed with Jethro was hard to fathom. Zora herself had failed in that pursuit long ago.

In fact, Zora had initially harbored feelings for Jethro, but after discreet inquiries by her family, she discovered he was already involved with someone else. That was when she pivoted to an engagement with his cousin instead.

A man who had shown no interest in her—how could he suddenly find Darcy appealing?

Unless…

The unsettling thought crossed her mind: what if Darcy was involved with someone else entirely?

She recalled the men she had encountered in that private room. Aside from Jethro, the rest had been… less than impressive.

A faint, almost amused smile played on Zora’s lips.

As they walked away, Zora glanced at Kaia with a hint of concern. “You were a bit harsh with Ms. Gale just now. Do you think she’ll be upset with you?”

Her smile, however, wasn’t aimed at Bex. In comparison to Hugo, Bex paled significantly, hardly deserving a second glance.

No, her smile was born from the realization that Zora had referred to her as her “best friend.”

In that moment, Kaia felt a surge of warmth, understanding her unique position in Zora’s life.

Zora had numerous assistants, yet she consistently chose Kaia to accompany her to client meetings. Hearing the term “bestie” spill from Zora’s lips solidified Kaia’s belief—Zora truly regarded her as her closest friend.

They settled into their seats, and the waiter appeared, handing them menus. After they placed their orders, the waiter retreated, leaving them to their conversation.

Zora poured drinks for Bex, then cast a meaningful glance at Kaia, as if silently urging her to take the next step.

“Mr. Stone, a small token of appreciation. Please accept this,” Kaia said, presenting a beautifully wrapped gift box to Bex.

Bex glanced at the logo on the box, his expression shifting as he hesitated.

He pressed his lips together, clearly uncomfortable. “Company policies are quite strict. I can’t accept gifts.”

Kaia felt a wave of confusion wash over her.

Why was he so resistant? He wasn’t a government official. What was the big deal about receiving a simple gift?

“The compliance department conducts thorough audits. If it were discovered that I accepted this, it could jeopardize my position,” Bex elaborated, concern evident in his voice, as if he feared they wouldn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.