Everything Taken I Left to Become CEO (Darcy and Zane) novel Chapter 94

**TITLE: Pain Refines the Soul — Jason Brooks 94**
**Chapter 94 I Never Look Back**

“You go first,” Zane said, his tone as cold as ice, a chill running through the air.

Darcy responded with a subtle nod, her heart racing as she projected her proposal onto the screen.

The room was filled with anticipation, the air thick with unspoken tension.

This meeting was merely a preliminary exploration of the client’s interests, so the proposal lacked intricate details. Yet, Brandon listened intently, his expression shifting to one of satisfaction. “Excellent work. Your capabilities are indeed impressive,” he remarked, his voice warm with approval.

Then he turned his attention to Zora. “Dr. Moss, it’s your turn to present.”

Zora pressed her lips together, a wave of anxiety washing over her.

Initially, she had believed their proposal was well-prepared, a culmination of hard work and careful thought. However, after hearing Darcy’s confident presentation, a sense of dread settled in her stomach. It became painfully clear that SummitCore had completely misread the client’s fundamental needs.

While Zora was aware that her professional skills were not on par with the top-tier talent in the industry, she was not oblivious. She quickly recognized that the essence of Stratagem’s proposal diverged significantly from what they had crafted.

Brandon’s praise for Darcy was a clear signal; he favored Stratagem’s approach over SummitCore’s.

If she were to present SummitCore’s proposal now, it would only serve to highlight their shortcomings, making them look utterly foolish.

With a heavy heart, Zora closed her laptop, the decision weighing on her like a leaden weight.

“Mr. Cole, I apologize. It seems there’s a technical issue with my laptop. The proposal won’t open. I’ll rectify this tonight and present it to you separately tomorrow,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Brandon’s disappointment was palpable. “Is that so?” he replied, his brow furrowing slightly.

But there was nothing they could do; technical glitches were part of the game, and they would just have to wait until the next day.

Cindy, however, felt a nagging suspicion. What a convenient coincidence that the laptop malfunctioned right after hearing their proposal.

She raised a delicate eyebrow, her voice laced with skepticism. “We can sit in on tomorrow’s presentation as well, right?”

Zora understood the underlying implication in Cindy’s words.

Darcy had presented today in the presence of Zane and Zora. For the sake of fairness, Cindy and Darcy should also be present for SummitCore’s presentation the following day. On the surface, it seemed to be about equity; beneath that, it was a calculated move to prevent them from pilfering ideas from Stratagem’s proposal.

Zora forced a smile, masking her unease. “Of course.”

Brandon, ever the optimist, interjected cheerfully, “Let’s continue this tomorrow. It’s getting late, and I’ve had my assistant arrange dinner. Please, join me at the restaurant next door.”

As they made their way into the private dining room one after the other, Brandon had yet to arrive, leaving the four of them in an awkward silence, none daring to start eating.

Cindy, feeling the weight of the tension, avoided eye contact with Zane or Zora, opting instead to bury herself in her phone, scrolling aimlessly.

Darcy excused herself, needing a moment to breathe and collect her thoughts. She slipped away to the restroom, but as she reached an intersection in the corridor, an unexpected force yanked her into a corner.

Instinctively, she screamed, her heart racing, but Zane quickly covered her mouth.

“It’s me,” he whispered urgently, his eyes scanning the hallway for any prying eyes.

“Let go of me!” Darcy protested, and when she recognized him, she slapped his hand away in disgust, her pulse still racing from the shock.

Seeing her revulsion, Zane’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening.

He gripped her chin firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze. “So resistant to my touch now? Afraid Jethro will misunderstand?”

Darcy inhaled deeply, steadying herself. “Don’t you dare sling mud. You were the one who cheated, yet you try to pin the blame on me? Zane, you truly disgust me.”

She attempted to turn away, but Zane caught her wrist again, his grip unyielding.

He held her in his heart; wasn’t that enough?

Darcy had never used to care about these things. She used to be soft, compliant, but now she was like a hedgehog, bristling with spines, ready to defend herself against any threat.

Zane truly couldn’t understand this transformation.

Back in the private room, Brandon and his secretary had arrived, and the ordered dishes and drinks were being served, the clinking of glasses punctuating the air.

Brandon was admirable in many respects, but he had a penchant for drink. Not only that, he relished encouraging others to join him in toasting.

“Come on, Ms. Gale! We must have a drink!” he exclaimed, standing up to personally pour Darcy a generous glass of wine.

A bead of sweat trickled down Darcy’s forehead; she felt cornered but couldn’t refuse a client’s invitation.

“Of course. To our potential future cooperation, Mr. Cole,” she said, tilting her head back and draining the glass in one swift motion.

“Excellent!” Brandon clapped his hands together, a broad smile lighting up his face. “Truly a decisive person!”

Cindy, not one to be outdone, also downed a glass without hesitation.

“Bravo! The women of Stratagem are formidable!”

Then, with a jovial grin, Brandon turned to Zora. “Dr. Moss, you can drink, right?”

His words were framed as a question, but his hands were already pouring more wine, the liquid swirling enticingly in the glass.

“Mr. Cole, Dr. Moss doesn’t handle alcohol well. I’ll drink for her,” Zane interjected, taking the glass from Brandon’s hand with a sense of urgency.

He felt the weight of the evening pressing down on him, the stakes higher than ever.