His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 79

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt**

**Chapter 79**

Jake’s father was a man notorious for his hair-trigger temper, a reputation that preceded him everywhere he went.

He had been entrenched in his current position for four long years, and this year marked the beginning of his fifth. If he didn’t receive a promotion now, it would mean a lifetime of stagnation, a fate he dreaded more than anything else.

This pivotal moment was crucial for him; he needed to win the favor of those in power. Time and again, he had arrived at the grand, aging mansion of the Zamora family, arms laden with gifts, only to be met with the cold, unyielding slam of the door by Harris. Each rejection felt like a dagger to his ambitions, a reminder of his place in the unforgiving hierarchy.

The thought of being dragged home by his father after this evening filled him with dread. He could almost feel the sting of his father’s hand against his skin, the inevitable punishment awaiting him.

“Mr. Zamora, I had no idea you and Marina were…” Jake stuttered, the words tumbling out of his mouth like marbles spilled from a jar.

But before he could finish, Daron interrupted him, an arm casually draped over Marina’s shoulders as he turned away, leaving Jake standing there, speechless.

Jake swallowed hard, panic rising in his throat as he registered the man trailing behind Daron—his father’s superior. The man cast a quick, assessing glance in Jake’s direction before pulling out his phone and dialing his father’s number.

A bead of sweat trickled down Jake’s forehead, and he clenched his jaw, a wave of resentment boiling within him.

As they turned the corner, Daron released Marina, his movements precise and courteous. Despite the intimacy of his earlier gesture, Marina felt no offense; instead, she sensed an underlying confidence in him that was hard to ignore.

“Thank you,” she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daron, however, offered no reply, continuing his path deeper into the private rooms, the entourage behind him trailing like shadows.

Marina glanced back at the group, recognizing several faces that often graced the headlines.

As one of the guests passed by, their scrutinizing gaze made her heart race. She quickly lowered her head, unwilling to meet their eyes again.

Only when the crowd had dissipated did she dare to lift her gaze once more.

There stood Daron, enveloped by a throng of admirers, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he spoke with an elegance that commanded attention.

A slender cigarette dangled between his fingers, the ember glowing brightly in the dim corridor, flickering like a heartbeat against the shadows that danced around them.

Though it was merely a hallway, it felt like a chasm, a place she could never quite reach.

Marina pressed her lips together, an unexpected warmth creeping through her shoulders, and she averted her gaze, feeling a sudden rush of self-consciousness.

Eventually, she spotted Kara, who was deep in conversation with the staff at Snowy House.

Mallory had completely lost her composure, shattering several items in the private room and causing a ruckus that disturbed the distinguished guests next door.

When the staff confronted her, a heated exchange erupted, the tension palpable in the air.

Anyone who managed to gain entry to Snowy House was likely connected to someone influential in Vrufield, and neither side was willing to yield, resulting in a spectacle of chaos.

Kara had called the Gill family to pick up Mallory, and in the course of that conversation, she learned that Mallory had been struggling with anxiety lately.

Mallory’s older sister was a paragon of success, excelling in every conceivable way. Mallory, too, had always aimed high, but the pressures of expectation had begun to weigh heavily on her mind.

Once Kara had settled the turmoil with Mallory, she moved to the adjacent room to smooth over the situation with the guests.

In the midst of all this, time slipped away from her grasp.

When she finally spotted Marina, she rushed over, ready to vent her frustrations.

“Mallory is just too much to handle. I shouldn’t have agreed to bring her today,” Kara lamented, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

Marina smiled gently and handed Kara her bag and phone.

“Finn called you earlier,” she informed, her tone light.

Finn was Kara’s older brother, and his reputation for being overprotective was well-known.

Kara frowned, scratching her head in annoyance.

“He probably heard about the mess and called to interrogate me. He’s such a pain,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes.

Marina chuckled softly. “Maybe he’s just worried about you. You should give him a call back.”

Kara nodded, taking her phone, but suddenly froze, her eyes fixed on the cracked screen.

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