His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 17

**Winds Carry Lost Promises** by Asa Holt Vale
**Chapter 17**

Daron reached out, his hand deftly taking the phone from Marina’s grasp. His fingers, long and elegantly tapered, brushed against her palm, sending an unexpected shiver coursing through her. The brief contact felt electric, stirring a mix of confusion and excitement within her.

He quickly withdrew his hand, adopting a cool, indifferent expression as his eyes flicked down to the screen. With a swift tap, he selected [confirm] beneath the word “defeat,” closing the game with a decisive gesture.

Marina bit her lip, a nervous habit that betrayed her thoughts. She paused, gathering her courage before she spoke in a voice that was barely above a whisper, “If you’re interested, I could carry you in the game.”

Daron raised an eyebrow in skepticism. “Carry me?”

His tone dripped with doubt, and his deep-set eyes narrowed as they locked onto hers, unblinking, as if he were scrutinizing her very soul for any sign of weakness.

That intense gaze ignited a competitive spark within her, and without a moment’s hesitation, she pulled out her own phone. “I’m a beast at jungling; I’ve got national recognition on tons of heroes.”

With determination, she unlocked her screen and began scrolling through her apps, her heart racing with the thrill of proving herself to him. But as she swiped through her home screen, panic set in when she realized the game icon was nowhere to be found. A sinking feeling washed over her; she’d uninstalled the game ages ago.

His heated gaze remained fixed on her, and when he saw her search yield nothing, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

Though there was no outright mockery in his laughter, it still stung, igniting a flash of irritation within her.

Marina inhaled deeply, forcing herself to maintain composure as she opened the app store to download the game on the spot. “It’s just a game; redownloading won’t take long at all.”

She buried her embarrassment beneath a facade of nonchalance, striving to keep her tone light and breezy.

Daron’s brows furrowed slightly as he slipped his phone into his pocket. “If you’ve already stopped playing, don’t feel obligated to reinstall it. I know Ms. Finley has never been one to push herself.”

His words struck her like a cold wind, and she froze for a moment, ready to argue that it was no hassle at all. But Daron had already averted his gaze, turning away from her. He grabbed a cigarette from the pack resting on the table, standing up and making his way toward the balcony.

Marina pressed her lips together, suddenly reminded of the real reason she had come here today.

Watching him walk away, she hesitated before speaking up, her voice tentative. “Mr. Zamora, I heard you’re looking to acquire shares in Ross Group. That’s why I’m here. I’d like to sell you the ones I own.”

She cut straight to the chase, and Daron halted in his tracks, turning to face her again. “Heard?”

Marina nodded, feeling a surge of determination. “Yes. I hold 51% of Ross Group’s shares, and I’m willing to sell them all to you. I just need you to agree to one condition.”

He pinched the unlit cigarette between his fingers, a wry half-smile curling at the corners of his mouth. “Given our history, what makes you think I’d even consider doing business with you, Ms. Finley?”

Sicester was just beginning to ease into the warmth of early summer. Even at midday, the sun cast a gentle glow, but Daron stood at a distance that felt insurmountable, his standoffish demeanor unmistakable.

Her chest tightened as the implications of his earlier words sank in, bringing with them a wave of anxiety.

Back then, when she had stubbornly anchored herself in Sicester, cutting ties with the Finley family and insisting on being with Lavern, she had vowed never to force herself into anything again.

Daron had been groomed to be the Zamora family heir from the very beginning, living a life filled with luxury and constant admiration. The rejection by a fiancée he had never even met was likely the first significant blow to his ego.

Marina recalled how, right after the engagement between the Finley and Zamora families was dissolved, Elnora had warned her that she had caused the Zamora family to lose face, leading them to sever all ties with the Finleys.

With such baggage between them, discussing business felt like a precarious balancing act.

She dropped her gaze, mentally scolding herself for her rashness today.

She should have verified whether Daron was genuinely interested in acquiring Ross Group before showing up, or better yet, she should have let Elnora handle the share sale.

That would have smoothed things over significantly. After all, the two of them had been classmates back in high school.

Marina was adept at crafting plans and proposals, but sitting across from Daron at a negotiation table? That was an entirely different beast.

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