Getting into an argument with him would just lead to a never-ending cycle of questions.Anyway, she did not owe him any answers.Dodging the issue, Zara said, "Mr. Moore's on it, so Mr. Sate and Mr. Kingsley should be good. I'm taking my leave."She sounded detached, as if she were talking to someone she barely knew.Yosef gave her an icy stare. It was not until she was a couple of steps away that he said, "A whole week's gone by and you still haven't gotten past it?"Zara stopped in her tracks, and realization dawned on her. He thought she was still upset about being falsely accused at the hospital and that she had lost her cool in the heat of the moment. He thought that by now, she should have calmed down.As she looked back, she realized she had been too emotional by letting out all her pent-up frustration on him. She probably looked like a total clown in his eyes that day.Zara had nothing to say. She had quit her job, and their paths had diverged. She did not need to worry

Zara grabbed the glasses and knocked back the shots one after another—three in quick succession. She then flipped her last glass over.She grinned. "Done. May good vibes follow you wherever you go, Mr. Sate. Sorry, but I've got something urgent today and can't stick around."Yosef watched her with an inscrutable look as Zara spun on her heel and bolted.She did everything fast—drinking, talking, leaving. The crowd barely had time to process her exit, and no one thought to stop her. It was only after she was gone that someone grumbled, "What a drag." Zara was never one to stick around for the dull parts.She was left with no choice. Without taking a drink, she would not be able to leave the room. Just three glasses stood between her and her freedom to find Cecil. Why not just drink them?It would have been noble to stand her ground, but when it was just for show, it did not solve anything. It only gave the people another reason to laugh at her.Zara did not want to dwell on why

The contract had been signed. Zara clutched it in one hand and steadied Cecil, who could barely walk, with the other. They followed James out of the lounge.Peering down the hallway, James did not spot Yosef. He scratched his head and looked back at Zara. "You guys okay?""Yeah, we're good. Thanks, Mr. Sate," Zara said with heartfelt gratitude. She could have handled those last two drinks, but it would have been rough. James had truly saved her.For the first time, James was on the receiving end of Zara's earnest gaze, and it made him a little sheepish. He flashed her a grin, one of his pointy canines showing. "Don't mention it. Just think about taking that job offer, okay?"Zara promised she would consider it.She turned down James' offer to get a ride for them, and with Cecil leaning on her, Zara headed out first.Feeling the warm glow of being thanked for a good deed, James strolled back to his own private room. There was a spring in his step.Yosef was just lounging there wh

The driver, well aware of Yosef's preferences, silently rolled up the window. That cut off any chance for the pair in the back seat to listen in.Zara pulled her hand back, putting up a wall between them. "I wouldn't want to trouble you, Mr. Webb."Yosef was just as cold. "Like you haven't been a bother before?"Zara could not recall a single time she'd been a nuisance to him, but she was too drained to argue. "Whatever it was, our thing... is over now."Yosef's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Our thing? What exactly is 'our thing'?"Right then, Zara was beyond tired. Beatrice did not want her anywhere near Yosef, and the feeling was mutual.His presence alone made her feel like she was suffocating."Mr. Webb, I'm still feeling sick to my stomach. I can't stand the thought of being in a car right now. We're close enough to my home, so I'll walk. Could you just drop Cecil off at the front of the neighborhood?"Yosef, never one to coddle or have much patience, cut to the chase. "Are

After Zara’s IV was finished, the nurse took out the needle. Zara grabbed her phone to answer Cecil's text asking how she was.Cecil was at work. For someone with a normal job, getting time off was not easy.Zara texted back that she was all good and heading home, though she really felt like sleeping more. The nurse was not hurrying her, so she let her eyes fall shut.She woke up around noon to her phone ringing. "Who's this?"The caller sounded annoyed. "Zara, it's me. Why do you always ask who's calling? Don't you have my number saved?""Mr. Sate?""That's right!""Sorry about that, Mr. Sate. I just haven't saved it yet.""Ah, don't sweat it! I'm not one to fuss. Just add it when you can." James seemed really keen on Zara. "We can chat whenever you're bored."Zara replied, "Sure. Was there something you needed, Mr. Sate?""Hey, just checking in on you. You had quite a few drinks last night. Are you feeling okay?""I'm good, really. Thanks for thinking of me, Mr. Sate.""G