I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 187

Garrett didn’t bother arguing with her. He and Sienna sat in the private dining room in suffocating silence for nearly twenty minutes before Hayden and Zoe finally walked in.

Sienna immediately waved Hayden over, desperate to reassert her dominance. Zoe, moving with practiced ease, quickly took the seat next to Garrett. Hayden watched her choose another man without a second's hesitation, a dark knot tightening in his chest. His jaw clenched as he sat down beside Sienna.

Once the four were seated, the pleasantries ended and business began. Garrett had brought the contracts. He and Zoe had already reviewed the terms thoroughly; Zoe believed Easton’s AI integration plan was solid and highly beneficial for Sterling Group. Garrett trusted Zoe implicitly—she was the expert.

But just as they reached the formal signing phase, Hayden paused.

“I have no issues with the partnership,” Hayden said smoothly. “However, I'd like to know when you have time, Mr. Stone. I want to set up a dinner with Professor Layne. He recently made an exception to take on a new student. I’m confident he wouldn't mind taking on one more.”

Garrett froze, his eyes instinctively darting to Zoe. Zoe caught on immediately. So that was why Hayden agreed to the deal. He had a secondary motive.

Garrett didn't outright refuse, skillfully deflecting the demand. “I don’t make decisions regarding Professor Layne’s apprenticeships. I can certainly help set up a dinner. But—” Garrett smiled warmly. “Director Lynd is actually the Professor's star pupil. If you really want a favor from him, you’d have much better luck asking her to broker the introduction.”

He smoothly passed the ball to Zoe, giving her the absolute power to decide.

Sienna’s perfectly manicured nails dug into her palms. She couldn't believe the notoriously arrogant Professor Layne had actually chosen a useless nobody like Zoe as his protégé. She glared at Garrett, the pieces clicking into place. He had defended Zoe in the elevator, and now he was handing her the leverage. He was clearly entirely on Zoe’s side.

Hayden took a slow sip of his tea, his dark eyes shifting to his wife. “Well, Director Lynd? What do you say?”

Zoe almost laughed out loud. Hayden was the CEO of a multinational empire, yet he was treating a multi-million-dollar tech contract like a toy, risking it all just to secure a vanity academic spot for his mistress. Who would even believe it?

Then again, she understood his psychotic level of devotion to Sienna. Few women ever experienced a man prioritizing them above his own empire.

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