Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 84

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks**
**Chapter 84: The Hidden Contracts**

“You don’t want me in here? Too bad. I’m coming in anyway. What are you gonna do about it?” Kaia declared defiantly, her voice echoing through the room as she made her entrance.

After lounging around for what felt like an eternity, she finally sprang to her feet, her energy bubbling over. With a playful hop, she made her way to Darcy’s desk, her curiosity piqued.

The desk was a chaotic sea of postgraduate exam prep books, their spines cracked from endless nights of study, interspersed with a variety of thick textbooks on finance and computer science.

“All the gear, no idea,” Kaia muttered under her breath, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She flipped open one of Darcy’s study notes, the pages dense with text that seemed to mock her. Each word was clear, yet the overall message eluded her.

Annoyed, she slammed the notebook shut with a loud clap, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room.

“So boring,” she thought bitterly.

It was no wonder Zane had little interest in Darcy; who could possibly be attracted to such a dull, ordinary woman?

Just as she was about to turn on her heel and leave, something caught her eye—a document stubbornly wedged between the books on the shelf.

With a swift motion, Kaia yanked it out, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and dread.

It was an employment contract.

The employer? Stratagem Tech. The employee? Darcy.

As she opened the document, her breath hitched when her gaze landed on the “Job Title” field. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Chief Executive Officer? CEO?

Darcy wasn’t just any salesperson at Stratagem; she was the CEO?!

Kaia felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her.

How could Jethro possibly hand over a Group subsidiary to someone with a mere five years of work experience?

He must be blind!

She continued to flip through the pages, each line revealing more than the last. When her eyes landed on Darcy’s annual salary and stock option package, a wave of violent jealousy crashed over her.

Why?

Why does everything good seem to fall into Darcy’s lap?

What does she possess that I lack?

Family background? Surely, Kaia was better off than Darcy in that regard.

Yet, the guys she had dated during college couldn’t hold a candle to Zane. And her job? She had started as an administrative assistant right after graduation.

Kaia couldn’t reconcile it.

Thud!

In a fit of rage, she hurled the contract onto the floor. Her uninjured foot came down upon it repeatedly, stomping wildly as she vented her frustration.

Only when the fire of her anger began to cool did she stop, panting slightly.

Realizing she needed to avoid detection, she bent down, picked up the contract, brushed off the dust, and prepared to return it to its hiding place.

But then, her eyes fell upon two more documents tucked away in the bookcase.

With a sense of urgency, she pulled them out.

They were agreements.

Once again, between Stratagem Tech and Darcy.

But…

Ever since Viktor had brought Zane and his mother into the Vance Manor, Zane’s grandfather had spent most of his time away, rarely making an appearance.

Everyone knew he disapproved of Zane and his mother, but this time, he had allowed Olena to accompany him to fetch him. It signified a shift, a tentative acceptance.

Susan’s expression softened. It seems our bet is paying off.

Soon, it was time for the meal, and Susan personally brought out the lobster, handing the largest one to Zane.

“Thank you,” he said, his gratitude genuine.

She then passed one to her daughter, Zora.

John, who had been waiting with his plate extended, felt the sting of neglect as his wife completely ignored him. Embarrassed, he put his plate down and served himself quietly.

Zane observed the exchange at the table, momentarily taken aback.

He had always assumed that Susan loved John deeply, but today suggested otherwise.

Old money families were messier than he had anticipated. Zane glanced away, his thoughts swirling.

After lunch, Zane and Zora engaged in light conversation with Susan. However, less than half an hour in, Susan noticed her daughter staring distractedly at her phone, a frown creasing her brow.

She smiled at Zora, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Just talking can be a bit dull. Why don’t you take Zane out for a walk around the grounds? The scenery is lovely.”

Zora looked up from her phone, her interest piqued. “The area around here is nice. Shall we?”

“Of course,” Zane replied, rising to his feet. Together, they stepped out of the house, the promise of fresh air beckoning them.

Once they were out of earshot, Susan let out a long, relieved breath.

Turning, she ascended the staircase to the study, John following closely behind.

Inside the study, he closed the door behind him and settled into a chair across from his wife, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words.