The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 100

Elara carefully dissected Zane's words.

Who was Zane Whitaker?

He was the apex predator, the billionaire about to acquire Vance Properties.

Elara wasn't delusional enough to take his poetic offers literally.

He was here for an acquisition, not to play white knight and clean up her family's disastrous messes.

Elara smiled. "I'm not going to blindly ram my head into a brick wall, Zane. A leader needs the courage to burn the boats, but they also need to know when to listen. If both you and Dominic think the risk is catastrophic, then the only right move is to cut my losses and walk away."

Zane sighed internally. Does she have a single romantic bone in her body?

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes soft. "The breeze is perfect out here, Elara. Lie down. You rowed all the way out here; we should at least enjoy it for a while before heading back."

"Sitting up so straight makes me feel like you're trying to rush me out."

Elara finally lay back against the cushions of her daybed.

Perhaps she and Zane could eventually become genuine friends, but not today. Right now, he was the guy with the checkbook.

She had to read the room and accommodate his whims.

As she stared up, she realized there was no moon in the sky, which meant there couldn't possibly be a moon reflected in the water.

His alcohol tolerance is really getting worse, she thought dryly.

-

When they finally climbed back into the boat to return, Elara's worst nightmare came true.

Still reciting poetry about returning in the moonlight, Zane completely missed his footing on the edge of the transparent hull. The tiny boat violently lost its balance. Reflexively, Zane lunged to protect Elara, and their combined momentum sent them plunging straight into the lake.

Zane instantly grabbed Elara's waist, hauling her upward so she wouldn't swallow water.

Elara reacted instantly, coughing. "Don't worry about me! Grab the boat!"

Zane wiped the water from his eyes and turned around. The transparent boat had already flooded, and because it was completely clear and the water was pitch black, it vanished into the depths instantly.

Elara gritted her teeth and shot him a look that could kill. Zane was entirely certain that if he wasn't her primary investor, she would have drowned him herself.

Their bodies were plastered together in the water, Zane's arm still locked tightly around her waist. Even furious, she's gorgeous, he thought.

"Zane, are you alright?!" Elara snapped, her tone dripping with forced restraint.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify