His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 41

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

**Chapter 41**

Marina stepped into Daron’s office, guided by the receptionist’s polite nod.

She had anticipated finding him still in a sleepy haze, perhaps still in his pajamas, but to her surprise, he was already clad in a sharp, tailored suit, seated at his desk, completely engrossed in the intricacies of his work. The sight of him, so composed and focused, sent a flutter of nerves through her.

As she entered, Daron lifted his gaze, his eyelids rising slowly as if he were awakening from a deep slumber.

“You’re here?” he remarked, his voice a blend of surprise and acknowledgment.

Marina offered a nod, her heart racing slightly. “Good morning, Mr. Zamora.”

Daron acknowledged her with a subtle nod of his head, his eyes flicking toward the chair opposite him. He placed the papers he had been studying down on the desk, creating a small space for their meeting.

“Have a seat,” he invited, his tone steady.

Marina moved forward, pulling out the chair with a sense of determination and settling into it without a moment’s hesitation.

Daron reached for a pre-prepared contract, sliding it across the desk toward her with an air of professionalism.

“Take a look,” he instructed, his demeanor businesslike yet approachable.

With both hands, Marina picked up the document, her fingers gently flipping through the pages, absorbing the terms laid out before her.

“If you don’t have any objections, we can send you a digital copy of the contract if that suits you better,” Daron added, his eyes studying her reaction.

A spark of excitement lit up Marina’s face. “That sounds perfect! Let’s go ahead and sign the digital version. I can always come back for the physical copy later.”

Her mind briefly drifted to Lavern, who was waiting downstairs, undoubtedly eager to see the contents of the contract. The thought of how to handle his questions had been weighing on her, but with Daron’s suggestion, a wave of relief washed over her.

“Alright,” Daron replied, his voice calm and assuring.

Marina skimmed through the contract, ensuring that all the figures were accurate, and nodded in readiness to sign. She felt a burden lift; from this moment onward, whatever transpired with the Ross Group would no longer be her concern. Daron’s decisions regarding it were his alone to make.

Daron instructed his legal team to send over the digital contract, and once he confirmed that the digital version matched the paper one, Marina felt a sense of finality wash over her.

Before she affixed her signature, she hesitated for a brief moment, looking up at Daron.

“Could you hold off on sending your team to the Ross Group for six days? I need to sort a few things out, and I’ll require about that long,” she requested, her voice steady.

Daron nodded, his agreement immediate and without hesitation.

“Sure,” he responded, understanding the weight of her request.

Six days wouldn’t pose any significant issue for Zamora Group, and Marina felt a wave of gratitude wash over her.

She signed the contract, feeling a sense of liberation envelop her.

Just as she was about to finalize her signature, Daron’s voice resonated in the room, deep and unwavering.

“Once you sign, there’s no turning back,” he cautioned, a serious undertone in his words.

Marina didn’t falter; with a firm and decisive stroke, she signed her name and hit confirm.

“Regret has never crossed my mind since I approached you about the acquisition,” she replied, her tone confident.

Daron raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on his lips as he took the signed contract from her hands.

Without further ado, he summoned the finance team, instructing them to transfer the agreed amount to her account right there in her presence.

As the payment processed, a smile broke across Marina’s face, a mix of relief and triumph.

“Thank you, Mr. Zamora,” she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

With all the business matters settled, Marina’s thoughts shifted to the upcoming wedding, a whirlwind of preparations awaiting her in the next few days.

“If you truly want to thank me, then put on a good show for me at the wedding,” Daron teased, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race.

“Of course,” Marina replied, her tone light yet sincere.

She had always been straightforward with Daron, never one to play games.

“Just promise you won’t laugh at me when the time comes, okay?” she added, a playful smile gracing her lips.

Daron’s expression turned teasing, his tone light as he responded, “No promises. What if it’s just too funny?”

Marina could only stare at him, momentarily speechless, a mixture of amusement and exasperation swirling within her.

‘So he really is just here to watch me stumble and fall. And there’s nothing I can do about it,’ she thought, resigned yet amused.

Noticing the flicker of embarrassment cross her features, Daron dropped the playful banter and returned to his files, the atmosphere shifting back to a more professional tone.

Marina stood up quietly, her voice soft yet firm.

Marina watched him fume, her expression icy and detached, her heart racing with a mixture of anger and amusement.

Lavern took a moment, realizing he had crossed a line. His chest heaved as he inhaled deeply, attempting to regain his composure.

“Sorry, Marina. I got too invested in this, and now I can’t handle the thought of losing,” he muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

“Hyman’s already spread the word… I was just trying to save face for the Ross Group,” he admitted, sounding somewhat defeated.

Marina scoffed, crossing her arms. “So you let your so-called best friend run his mouth about a deal that wasn’t even finalized yet? Lavern, maybe you’ve grown too accustomed to the hype from your friends over the years.”

“That’s just how Hyman is…” Lavern replied, sounding helpless.

“The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Hope you’re ready for that kind of pain,” Marina shot back coldly, her words dripping with disdain.

Lavern closed his eyes for a moment, a wave of realization washing over him. “Don’t be upset, okay? I’ll steer clear of him from now on.”

“I don’t care,” Marina said coolly, opening her car door and sliding inside.

She started the engine and drove away, leaving Lavern standing there, his protests falling on deaf ears.

As she navigated the road, Marina noticed Lavern’s car trailing her, a persistent shadow in her rearview mirror.

Rolling her eyes, she pressed down on the accelerator, speeding toward her townhouse.

The moment she stepped inside, she slammed the door shut and locked it tightly, ensuring Lavern had no chance of following her in.

Outside, Lavern stood fuming, completely shut out from her world.

“Marina, we’re getting married in just a few days, and there’s still so much we haven’t sorted out. Can’t we just sit down and go over everything together?” he called out, desperation creeping into his voice.

Marina, standing just inside the door, replied coolly, her voice distant.

“I’ll handle all the wedding arrangements with the wedding company. All you need to do is show up on time,” she stated firmly.

“Marina, are you really going to keep giving me the silent treatment like this?” Lavern pressed, frustration evident in his tone.

Marina didn’t respond; she simply walked further inside, leaving him standing there in silence.

Lavern clenched his jaw, listening to her footsteps fade away, a surge of frustration boiling within him.

‘Maybe I should actually consider Hyman’s idea. I’ve been far too generous with her, and now she thinks she can walk all over me,’ he thought, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface.