Chapter 04

Zayden

“Stop right there, young man.”

Dad’s cold voice echoed through the living room.

I froze halfway up the staircase, my fingers tightening around the railing. My jaw locked as I slowly turned.

He sat in his usual chair, his glasses resting low on his nose. The magazine in his hands was open, but he wasn’t reading it anymore.

“I got a call from Chairman Peterson,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “You’ve been avoiding meeting with Edwina again?”

I dragged a hand over my face before letting it fall to my side.

“Dad, if she really wanted a partnership, she would request a meeting at the workplace instead of choosing these—”

“Enough.”

The word cracked through the room.

My teeth pressed together.

He slowly removed his glasses and placed them on the table beside him.

“You always think you’re smarter than everyone else.”

I stared at him without answering.

“That arrogance of yours will be the reason you lose everything one day.”

My fingers curled into my palms.

I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me react.

He pushed himself out of the chair and walked toward me.

“You’ve been behaving like an irresponsible child simply because you don’t like the woman.”

His footsteps stopped in front of me.

“Do you know how I met your mother? I didn’t love her at first. But after those meetings, after spending time with her, I began to see her differently. I was far younger than you are now.”

I almost sighed.

Of course.

But you still managed to cheat on her with your secretary.

I wanted to say it, but I bit my tongue instead.

My gaze shifted toward the staircase.

Then his voice hardened.

“Do you know what this will do for this company?”

My eyes returned to his.

“You’re my son, Zayden, not some king who gets to make his own rules.”

His hand suddenly clamped around the back of my neck.

My body went rigid.

Before I could move, he pulled me down until our faces were level.

“You will go upstairs.”

His fingers dug into my skin.

“You will get dressed.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry.

“You will meet Edwina.”

His grip tightened.

“You will sign those fucking papers.”

Heat crawled up the back of my neck.

“And you will stop embarrassing me.”

He released me.

I straightened slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. My eyes remained fixed on him, anger burning behind them.

I bit the inside of my cheek and tasted blood.

Dad turned away as though nothing had happened.

He returned to his chair, picked up his magazine, and flipped a page.

“Bring me a proper report when you return.”

I remained where I was.

His eyes didn’t leave the magazine.

“Or are you suddenly too stupid to understand a simple instruction?”

My fists tightened.

My nails dug into my palms.

I forced my feet to move.

“Five fucking minutes, Zayden.”

I turned toward the stairs.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

My hand slid along the railing, my knuckles whitening as I fought the urge to turn around.

Then I heard Adrian and Ryan chuckle.

---

The hotel was quiet when I arrived, but the irritation I’d carried from home hadn’t left me.

If anything, it had settled deeper beneath my skin.

I pushed open the door to the private dining room.

Edwina was waiting.

No one else was there. Apparently, she had rented the entire place for the meeting.

She sat at the table with a glass of wine in her hand, her legs crossed beneath the table.

The moment she saw me, her lips curved into a slow smile.

“There you are, my love.”

My jaw tightened.

I ignored the greeting and walked toward the table.

“You’re late,” she said.

“I have a busy schedule.”

I pulled out a chair and sat.

She watched me for a moment before standing.

“You look far better than I remember.”

I said nothing.

My gaze moved past her to the chandelier hanging above us.

Anything was better than looking at her.

Edwina walked around the table and stopped beside me.

Her fingers brushed over the lapel of my suit.

“I’ve missed you a lot.”

My hand closed around her wrist before she could touch me again.

“Don’t.”

Her eyes dropped to my hand.

Then she smiled.

“Still so difficult.”

I released her wrist.

She leaned closer, her lips hovering near my ear, her body brushing against mine.

“Don’t you think you can ever run away from me, Zayden Whitmore?”

A muscle jumped in my jaw.

“Sit down, Edwina.”

My voice remained calm.

Barely.

Instead, she straightened, poured me a drink, and held the glass out to me.

Her fingers deliberately brushed against mine.

“You’re always so tense. Maybe you need someone to help you relax.”

I stared at her.

The muscles in my forearm tightened.

I pushed myself to my feet.

The movement sent her stumbling backward.

She caught herself before she fell.

“I’m not here for this, Miss Edwina Peterson.”

She laughed softly.

“You never know how to have fun.”

“There’s nothing to have fun about. This is business, and I don’t joke when I’m doing business with a client.”

Her smile remained as she finally picked up the folder.

“Fine. Business.”

I sat again.

We went through the investment proposal.

I pointed out the changes I wanted.

She agreed.

After several minutes, the final papers were placed between us.

I signed my name and pushed the document toward her.

She signed hers.

I closed the folder.

“Done.”

I stood.

Edwina looked up at me.

“That’s it?”

I ignored her.

She leaned back, studying me with a smirk.

“You came all the way here just to sign a few papers and leave?”

“That’s what the meeting was for.”

She slowly rose.

Then she adjusted her dress, pulling the fabric higher as she walked toward me.

My eyes dropped briefly before I looked away.

A quiet scoff left my mouth.

“You’re really going to leave without giving me a chance?” she asked.

“There is nothing to give you a chance for.”

She stopped in front of me.

Her hand lifted toward my tie.

She straightened it even though it wasn’t crooked.

“You know I love you, Zayden.”

I caught her hand and lowered it.

“Don’t confuse your feelings with mine.”

Her smile faltered for half a second.

Then she laughed softly.

“You really enjoy hurting my feelings.”

I released her hand before speaking calmly.

“And I never asked you to love me, Madam Edwina Peterson.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then her lips curled into another smile.

“Fine. I’ll call you for another meeting, and I’ll make sure you don’t decline.”

“If it’s business, send the details to my office.”

“Maybe I’ll choose somewhere better next time.”

She stepped closer.

“Somewhere more private. Somewhere we can actually talk without all these walls between us.”

My fingers curled at my sides.

“Make sure the next meeting has a purpose.”

I turned toward the door.

Behind me, her voice followed.

“I’ll see you again, Zayden. And make sure you answer my texts.”

I didn’t look back.

The moment the door shut behind me, I dragged a hand down my face.

My shoulders dropped for the first time since I’d entered the building.

I loosened my tie as I walked outside.

By the time I reached my car, I pulled off my suit jacket and threw both the tie and jacket into the trash can beside the entrance.

I stared at them for a second.

“Bitch,” I whispered.