Chapter 116
The car turned into the alley where Marina lived.
This alley was tight and tucked away. It was hard for someone new to find their way out.
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“Mr. Zamora, you can just drop me off here. I’ll walk the rest of the way. It’s a pain to turn around up ahead, Marina said, reaching for her seatbelt.
But Daron didn’t even slow down. He just drove right into the alley.
Daron grinned, “What, you don’t trust my driving?”
Marina saw Daron had already driven in, so what else could she say? She forced a smile and replied, “Of course not.”
Daron shot her a sideways glance but didn’t say anything. He quickly pulled up right in front of her little courtyard.
“Thanks for taking the time to drive me home, Mr. Zamora. Let me know when you get back,” Marina said.
She picked up her briefcase, ready to get out of the car.
Daron gave a low, noncommittal grunt, then said in a quiet, almost brooding tone.
“I’ll be heading back to Vrufield in a couple of days for Zack’s engagement banquet,” Daron said.
Marina’s hand froze on the car door. She turned to Daron, a little hesitant as she asked, “Mr. Zamora, could you take me with you? I promise I won’t delay any work.”
Elnora would definitely be at Zack’s engagement banquet, and Marina didn’t want her sister to face such a painful scene all by herself.
The Clark family had moved to Vrufield from Tideland, and they still kept the old Tideland tradition of sending out invitations with the guest’s name and all their family members spelled out in full.
For years, it had been Elnora who had been holding the Finley family together.
Marina knew her name had long since faded from the Vrufield social scene, so her name wasn’t even on the invitation the Clark family sent to the Finley family.
Elnora had already made it clear she wouldn’t be taking Marina with her.
But Marina wanted to go. She couldn’t stand the thought of Elnora having to face all that pain alone, with nobody there for
her.
Given how powerful the Zamora family was in Vrufield, the Clark family wouldn’t dare say no to them. If Daron showed up with an extra person, they probably wouldn’t even blink or bother looking at the invitation.
Daron just looked at her in silence, his handsome face half–hidden in the shadows, making it impossible for Marina to read his expression.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she waited, fingers unconsciously tightening around her briefcase. After a moment, she steadied herself.
“If it’s not convenient for you, Mr. Zamora, never mind–just forget I said anything. Thanks for driving me home,” Marina
said.
Just showing up at the reception was already doing the Finley family a solid.
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Chapter 116
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If Daron brought her along to the Clark family’s engagement banquet, rumors would fly and people would start gossiping about what was really going on.
She got why Daron was having second thoughts.
She’d really put him on the spot just now.
Marina was about to get out of the car when, right then, a warm, strong hand grabbed her wrist.
“Taking you with me isn’t impossible,” Daron said, his voice low and with a hint of mischief. “But don’t expect me to do it for free. I want something in return. So, what can you offer that’ll actually make me say yes?”
Businessmen always looked out for their own interests, and Daron was as shrewd as they come.
Marina’s eyes lit up for a moment, but then grew serious. She racked her brain, wondering what else she had that Daron might actually care about.
It felt like she had nothing left to offer.
She’d already put all her cards on the table for the reception, showing him all her sincerity.
Daron saw how serious and thoughtful she looked, his voice low as he spoke.
“No rush. Just think about it when you get home,” he said.
There were still two days until the Clark family’s engagement party.
Marina honestly couldn’t think of anything she could offer Daron that would actually catch his interest.
Since he was being unusually gentle with her, not giving her a hard time for once, Marina just came out and asked, “Just tell me, Mr. Zamora. What do you want me to do for you? Or is there anything else I can offer that you actually want?”
Daron looked into her sincere, bright eyes, let out a slow breath, trying to keep his expression in check.
“Just go home and think it over,” he said.
Marina caught the slight twitch in Daron’s brow–her bluntness and refusal to dig any deeper had clearly rubbed him the
wrong way.
He was keeping his cool, still cutting her some slack.
“Alright then,” Marina said.
She took the hint and got out of the car.
But Daron didn’t drive off right away. He just sat there, watching her through the window.
Marina took a few steps, then suddenly turned back, pressing he hands to the car window, her gaze earnest and pleading as she looked at Daron.
“Mr. Zamora, as long as you’re willing to take me to the Clark family’s engagement banquet, whatever you want, I’ll do it,” she said.
Elnora had finally started to pull herself together and was actively working with her doctors on her recovery,
Marina really wanted to go back and be by her side.
She was scared her sister might lose hope and fall apart.
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Chapter 116
Even though she knew that was unlikely.
Daron’s brow furrowed, finally losing his patience. He looked downright pissed as he spoke.
“Then go kill someone for me,” he said, his tone deadly serious.
Marina’s blood ran cold. She instantly shook her head.
“Absolutely not,” she said.
Daron looked at her with obvious disdain from inside the car, like he couldn’t believe she’d back out so fast.
Changing her tune that quickly made Marina look a little flaky, and she gave a sheepish grin.
Marina said, “Anything except murder, arson, or anything illegal–just name it.”
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Daron looked at her desperate face and gave a cold, mocking snort. “Really, Ms. Finley? That’s about as sincere as a sales pitch.”
Marina hurried to explain, “No, seriously, Mr. Zamora, I’m overflowing with sincerity here–I might as well tattoo it on my forehead!”
Daron ignored her and slowly rolled up the window, shutting her out.
He didn’t drive away, just sat there in the car, unmoving.
Marina stood outside, squinting at the car. The window tint was so dark she couldn’t see a thing, so she made little binoculars with her hands and pressed hef face to the glass, trying to get a glimpse inside.
When she finally caught Daron’s eyes, Marina quickly put her hands together in a begging pose, giving him her best “please, I’m desperate” look.
They stood there in a silent stalemate for about a minute before the window finally rolled down again.
Marina was just about to speak, but Daron cut her off, his voice low and steady.
“Just be good and go home, Marina. Think it through. You’ve got two days, so don’t rush,” he said.
His voice was tinged with authority, and the way he set his jaw gave off a commanding vibe that made Marina instinctively
wary.
“Okay,” Marina replied.
Even if she couldn’t think of anything, she had no choice but to head inside. If she kept bugging Daron, she’d just blow her shot entirely.
After all, he’d already cut her a lot of slack today.
Marina went inside and closed the door behind her.
She left the door slightly ajar, her bright eyes peeking out through the crack. She caught a glimpse of Daron in the car, his lips moving as if he was saying something.
Even though she couldn’t read lips, she still understood what he mouthed.
“Idiot.”
With that, he started the car and drove off.
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Marina sighed, locked the door behind her, and went back to her room.
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After washing up and lying in bed, she still couldn’t figure out what she could possibly offer Daron that would actually catch
his interest.
‘What does Daron really want from me?‘ Marina wondered. Does he want me to work for him my whole life?‘
Aside from what she could do for him at work, it seemed like she didn’t have anything else he’d actually want.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
