His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 43

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 43**

A profound stillness enveloped the room, as if the very air had thickened with tension.

All eyes in the vicinity seemed to converge upon Marina and Yesenia, their gazes heavy with curiosity and unspoken questions.

Marina felt an icy shiver race down her spine, a visceral reaction to the palpable scrutiny.

*This can’t be mere coincidence,* she thought, her mind racing with possibilities.

The unvoiced connection between her and Yesenia was immediate; they exchanged a knowing glance, a silent acknowledgment of the weight of the moment.

Yesenia’s eyes met Marina’s with an intensity that spoke volumes, a mixture of concern and solidarity.

In unison, they turned to see Daron standing there, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit that seemed to clash with the casual atmosphere. He looked like a king among commoners, his commanding presence making everyone else feel like mere shadows in his light.

“What a coincidence, Mr. Zamora,” Yesenia broke the thick silence, her voice ringing out like a bell.

Daron’s gaze shifted to Marina, who felt a blush creep up her cheeks, an embarrassing heat that made her wish for invisibility.

“It truly is a coincidence,” he replied, his tone cool and collected, yet there was an undercurrent of something deeper.

“I just happened to walk by and overheard someone speaking ill of me,” he added, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Marina wished fervently that the ground would open up and swallow her whole, her embarrassment palpable.

Yesenia, sensing the awkwardness, forced a laugh that felt strained.

“Mr. Zamora, you must have misunderstood. Ms. Finley was actually showering you with compliments just moments ago…” Yesenia attempted to smooth over the situation, her voice bright but shaky.

“It’s just that her compliments are… rather unique,” she added, a hint of mischief in her tone.

Daron raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Then I suppose I should extend my gratitude to Ms. Finley for the kind words,” he said, his expression unreadable.

Marina averted her gaze, her heart racing as she avoided the intensity of Daron’s piercing stare, her smile sheepish and uncertain.

“Don’t mention it,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just then, Garret arrived, parking his car and strolling toward them, having overheard the tail end of the conversation.

Without hesitation, he plopped down across from Marina and Yesenia, a grin plastered on his face.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony,” he declared, his tone light-hearted, but the atmosphere remained heavy with unspoken tension.

Once Garret settled in, he noticed Daron still standing. With a friendly nudge, he pulled out the chair beside him, gesturing for Daron to join them.

“Daron, come on, sit down! I’m starving over here!” Garret exclaimed, his enthusiasm uncontainable.

Daron complied, taking a seat next to Garret, his expression neutral, as if he were an observer in a world that felt foreign to him.

The boss soon arrived, bringing with him the grilled skewers that Yesenia and Marina had ordered earlier, their enticing aroma filling the air.

Garret wasted no time; he eagerly grabbed a skewer and began to feast, his appetite insatiable.

Daron, however, remained still, his eyes fixed on the table, seemingly uninterested in the food before him.

Yesenia, snapping out of her momentary daze, switched to hostess mode with practiced ease.

“Mr. Zamora, would you care to try one? The grilled skewers here are quite renowned,” she offered, extending a skewer toward him with a hopeful smile.

Daron merely frowned, his gaze unwavering and unyielding, not reaching for the skewer.

With a resigned sigh, Yesenia passed the skewer to Marina instead, who picked it up, ready to take a bite. But before she could, Yesenia nudged her gently with her elbow, urging her to offer it to Daron instead.

With a reluctant sigh, Marina extended the untouched skewer across the table.

“Would you like to try it, Mr. Zamora?” she asked, her voice tentative.

She couldn’t help but wonder if someone like Daron, who had been accustomed to luxury all his life, had ever indulged in the simple pleasure of street food.

He probably had a diet filled with gourmet meals, crafted from the finest ingredients.

“It’s not going to kill you,” Daron remarked dryly, his tone laced with a hint of challenge.

In the worst-case scenario, if it didn’t agree with him, he could always make a dash for the restroom.

Marina, trying to shake off her nerves, casually grabbed another skewer and took a bite, the flavors bursting in her mouth.

To her surprise, Daron reached out and took the skewer from her hand, sampling it as if he were at a high-end tasting event, his expression contemplative.

While Daron was still savoring his first skewer, Garret had already polished off five, his hunger seemingly boundless.

Yesenia, eager to keep the mood light, waved the boss over and ordered a case of beer along with more skewers, her voice brightening the atmosphere.

But Marina’s spirits were low; she sat quietly, sipping her drink and absentmindedly picking at her skewers, responding to Garret’s inquiries with short, distracted answers.

Garret, picking up on her disinterest, turned his attention to Yesenia, engaging her in conversation instead.

Yesenia, however, was careful not to be as casual with Garret as Marina was. After all, Garret was Daron’s favorite, and they were family, so she made sure to answer every question he posed with utmost seriousness.

As Marina finished another drink, Daron finally broke the silence, his voice low and steady, cutting through the chatter.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify