23!You look like guilt!

ZARA

“Hi, how are you?”

“Hi, nice to meet you.”

“Hi, I'm Zara Taylor, nice to meet you,” those have been the only words I have said since I walked into this ballroom.

Today is the day everyone meets the candidates for the upcoming Governorship election. The states threw a party for them.

Mrs. Amelia Russo looks beautiful in her blue blazer, she emitted both confidence, and kindness. 

While Mr. Gregory Smith, looks just as pompous as his hugs figure. I wonder how his wife survives laying on their bed next to him.

I can see why Howard Dewitt wants Zenith Law Firm to support him. He looks like the kind of man that will do anything for you, as long as the right price of money or payment is made.

He is definitely not the kind of person I want ruling over my daughter, plus Hazel needs to know a woman can be just as powerful as a man.

“Having fun yet?” Vic asked me as she handed me a glass of champagne.

“By fun you mean smiling to everyone including people you don't know,” I said, smiling to someone else. “You're right, I'm having a blast,” I said, and we both laughed.

“Oh, there is Maria, and her man,” she said, waving to them as they walked towards us.

“Someone else is behind them,” I smiled at her. 

“He does look good in a suit,” she said, nonchalantly referring to Evans.

“Hi, boo,” I hugged Maria. “Glad you could make it,” I said to her.

“You know how I will do anything for you, sweetheart,” she said. “How are you darling,” she said, hugging Vic.

“Hey, Zara,” Daniel greeted me as we hugged slightly.

“How are you doing?” I asked.

“I'm good, except if you're still mad at me for being friends with Matthew,” he said, and I rolled my eyes.

“You said it, not me,” I raised my hands in defense.

“Speak of the devil,” Vic said, I looked towards the entrance, and there he was. In all his glory.

Speak of the devil.

I turned toward the entrance, and there he was—Matthew Russell.

In all his designer-suit glory.

He always knew how to dress for the room. Clean lines. Tailored jacket. Expensive shoes that probably cost more than someone’s monthly rent.

But that wasn’t what made everyone turn to look at him. It was his presence. He walked in like he owned the place.

Like he didn’t just sleep with Monica hours ago.

I took a slow sip of my champagne. Calm. Cool. Collected.

But my stomach twisted anyway.

He didn’t see me yet. He was shaking hands, smiling that charming smile that used to make my knees weak. Now it just made me feel sick.

“Want to leave?” Vic leaned toward me and whispered.

“No,” I said quickly. “I’m not the one who should be hiding.”

“Atta girl,” she grinned.

Maria gently squeezed my hand. “You don’t owe anyone your silence,” she said quietly.

“I know,” I said. But it still felt like I owed myself some peace.

Matthew’s eyes swept the room and then… they landed on me.

Our eyes locked.

For a second, everything around us faded. The music. The chatter. The clinking glasses.

Just me and him, frozen across the room.

And then he looked away.

Like I didn’t matter.

Like he hadn’t once promised me forever.

That was fine.

I turned back to Daniel. “So, how’s your company treating you?” I asked.

Daniel blinked. “Wow. Okay. You really don’t want to talk about him.”

I smiled. “Would you?”

He laughed and shook his head. “Fair.”

I was about to say something else when I felt someone behind me.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Zara,” Matthew’s voice was soft. Careful.

I turned around slowly. “Matthew.”

He looked tired. But not the kind of tired that came from work. The kind that comes from pretending.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

I blinked. “You look like guilt.”

Vic choked on her drink beside me, trying not to laugh.

Matthew sighed. “Can we talk?”

“No,” I said simply.

“Just a minute—”

“I said no, Matthew. I’ve said all I needed to say when I walked away from you.”

His jaw tightened. “You don’t understand—”

“You’re right. I don’t understand how someone who claimed to love me ended up tangled in another woman’s sheets.”

People were starting to notice the tension. I smiled brightly and stepped in a little closer, so it looked like a friendly conversation from afar.

“If you really cared, you wouldn’t have needed Vic to catch you with Monica to finally feel sorry.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “It wasn’t like that.”

“But it was, wasn’t it?” I tilted my head. “Did you enjoy it,” I whispered to him. “Did it feel exactly the same when we did it?”

I didn't let him answer, the candidates' speeches were about to start. I didn't think he was going to anyway. So I walked away with the girls. Leaving him with Daniel.

The speeches were about to begin, and the room slowly shifted. The lights dimmed just a little, and the host asked everyone to settle down.

I took a seat near the front with Vic and Maria. Daniel stayed back with Matthew. Good. I didn’t need him near me, especially not now.

As the host introduced the first candidate, my thoughts drifted. I wasn’t really listening. The words floated around me like background noise.

I should’ve known better. I should’ve known Matthew would show up tonight. This was a political event, not a private dinner. He was bound to be here.

But part of me had hoped… maybe he’d stay away. Maybe he’d know I didn’t want to see him.

Wishful thinking.

Mrs. Amelia Russo took the stage, and her voice brought me back to the moment. She spoke with calm strength, her words focused on change, growth, and opportunity.

I admired her.

Not just for her ideas, but for being a woman standing up there, commanding the room. She reminded me that I wasn’t small. That I wasn’t weak. That I could be powerful in my own way.

I glanced at Hazel’s photo on my phone screen, just for a second. My daughter deserved to grow up seeing women lead. Not watching them bend.

Next was Howard Dewitt.

He walked up with a fake charm dripping from his smile. His words were practiced. Polished. But it's cold. There was no warmth in his promises, just rehearsed lines made to impress the rich.

My fingers tightened around my glass.

He looked straight at me at one point, and I knew what that look meant.

It was time to place our support for the candidate of our choice, and as the newest shareholder of Zenith Law Firm, I had the pleasure.

Monica had drilled into earlier who I should pledge my support to. I didn't object, I just listened, because I knew who I was going for.

I took one more look at Howard, Monica, and then at Matthew. 

I took one more look at Hazel's picture on my phone, and I casted my support. 

No changing it now. I smirked.