Mag-log inBy afternoon Zoe had washed her face, changed out of the dress she wore when Nathaniel sat next to her for a strategy session, and set herself up at the dining table with her laptop, a legal pad, and the focus of a woman determined to solve at least one problem today with numbers rather than feelings.She had given Beulah the day off after assuring the woman that she would not go near the kitchen if it wasn’t to boil water.How on earth was she going to convince Beulah that she finally learned how to cook in Emery’s house in her past life.She’d taken classes from Michelin-starred chefs and burned her hands cooking for Emery because he mentioned that his new love language was Acts of service.When he said Quality gifts, she’d went overboard, tearing open her trust fund to get gifts suitable for his tastes. Gifts that appealed to whatever his mother - Eunice wanted.The same Eunice who was aware her son was freaking cheating on his wife with tons of women outside and still raised her h
Zoe's phone buzzed the moment the lawyer's assistant finally returned to the line."Ms. Beckett? Sorry for the wait. Mr. Kent confirms that an inquiry came from a firm called Meridian Trust Advisory for routine verification. He didn't seem concerned, though, and he is happy to walk you through it personally if you'd like to schedule a call.""Please have him call me directly," Zoe said, already half distracted, the Meridian name making her uncomfortable. "And please move forward with the early release paperwork in the meantime. I'll need the entire funds within the week.""Understood, Ms. Beckett. I will prepare the documentation this afternoon. Do you have the time to come and fill it out tomorrow?"Zoe nodded, “That’s fine. I can be there by one pm. How does that sound?”“Perfect Ms. Beckett. I will pen you down for a one o’clock appointment.”She ended the call and glanced down at her buzzing phone, expecting Nathaniel, or Eclipse, or Chloe with some update about Zen.It was Emery
There would be no winning if she chose to fight this in court. Zoe knew that.She knew that with a sharp cold clarity she'd once used to read Emery's lies off his own sweating upper lip. The clauses were airtight, drafted by lawyers considerably more expensive than the ones who'd represented her, and any legal chance she wanted to challenge would cost more in fees than simply paying the cancellation amounts outright.Plus the additional publicity a lawsuit would generate, which she could not currently afford to generate right now with the painfully increasing amount of negativity surrounding her name.Zoe picked up her phone.She scrolled to the number of the number one Media’s house capable of turning public opinion about her.This was the same media house that she had patronized to white wash Emery in her past life.Zoe’s hand paused, hovering over the dial button.The media house was perfect but expensive.Zoe dropped her phone, allowing it to drop onto the table with a soft clac
‘Checking with you to ensure the cake is delivered at the earlier agreed-upon time. We will be sending the cake on your wedding day.’‘Happy Married life in advance, Ms. Beckett!’Zoe held her phone in her hand, reading through the messages over and over again.First, the flower decorations had placed a call, now the baker for cake, the event center also reached out and her event planner had sent tons of emails to her inbox.Zoe didn’t blink. She knew what they were after.Their balance. These people wanted their balance more than they cared about what was really going on with her.It was obvious.Zoe scoffed.Some of them like the event planner had gone ahead to subtly ask if she would still get her balance if the wedding would no longer take place.Zoe leaned her head back on the couch, closing her eyes, allowing her annoyance wash away.Her mind went to her savings.Now that she had cut off Rogue cosmetics and Aurelle had done the same to her, she had three brands remaining.Two
‘Checking with you to ensure the cake is delivered at the earlier agreed-upon time. We will be sending the cake on your wedding day.’‘Happy Married life in advance, Ms. Beckett!’Zoe held her phone in her hand, reading through the messages over and over again.First, the flower decorations had placed a call, now the baker for cake, the event center also reached out and her event planner had sent tons of emails to her inbox.Zoe didn’t blink. She knew what they were after.Their balance. These people wanted their balance more than they cared about what was really going on with her.It was obvious.Zoe scoffed.Some of them like the event planner had gone ahead to subtly ask if she would still get her balance if the wedding would no longer take place.Zoe leaned her head back on the couch, closing her eyes, allowing her annoyance wash away.Her mind went to her savings.Now that she had cut off Rogue cosmetics and Aurelle had done the same to her, she had three brands remaining.Two
“What ….? Wh … How?” Zoe spluttered.She jumped from the couch, her feet narrowly missing the sharp leg of the middle glass table.“Hey, take it easy. It was just a joke.”Nathaniel stretched his right hand forward.Zoe brushed his hand away.“Just --- Just stay here! I’m going to freshen up!” She yelled and ran into her room.In her room, Zoe hit her head with her palm over and over, only stopping when she caught sight of her red forehead in her dressing mirror.She winced.Nathaniel’s bright eyes flooded her mind, his teasing smirk as if there to show her that she could really not keep to her promise.SLAM!Zoe rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her, ignoring the loud sound the slam made.Her feet crossed the short distance to the washbasin, turning the faucet open.Her palms curved underneath the faucet, bringing water up to her face.She splashed cold water on her face.Her eyes widened in shock.“Ow! That’s really cold. What was I thinking?”‘About how hot Natha







