Chapter 198
Marina took the file from Daron.
As her fingertips brushed his warm palm, she felt a soft warmth ripple through her heart.
Daron’s icy gaze flickered over her fingers before he quickly looked away.
Marina suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and lowered her head, flipping through the file.
As she read further, her frown deepened.
No wonder Lavern had been dragging his feet on the deal with Mr. Macias lately. He was just trying to secure a bigger cut for his own side,‘ she thought.
The rebate contract in her hand was dated three years ago.
For the past three years, Lavern had been taking kickbacks from this company while driving up Ross Group’s operating
costs.
‘He’s the top guy at Ross Group, and he’s actually doing this? He’s got no shame at all, Marina thought, her anger rising.
Marina clenched the contract so tightly her knuckles turned white. After a long moment, she finally managed to choke out, “I must’ve been blind to like him for the past seven years.”
Daron rose to his feet, towering over her, his deep voice carrying a trace of satisfaction.
“You finally understood it, so you weren’t completely blind,” he said.
Marina felt a lump in her throat. She looked up at Daron and replied dryly, “Mr. Zamora, your way of comforting people is something else. Next time, just skip it.”
Daron arched his brow, then bent down and started picking up the books scattered on the floor, putting them back on the shelf.
Marina placed the questionable contract on the table, then pitched in to help him tidy up.
Daron carefully put the books back on the shelf, handling them like they actually meant something to him.
Marina remembered how David had made sure to get these books included when he bought the villa, so she found herself asking, “Do you like these books too?”
All these books lining the shelves were ones Marina had read over the years. Most of them were rare and out of print now.
‘Who would’ve thought Daron’s taste would line up with mine?‘ she thought.
He put the last book back on the shelf, noticed one of its corners wrinkling, absently smoothed it out, and slid it back in.
Hearing Marina’s question, he shot her a sideways glance.
“I’m just curious what you’ve been reading all these years. No wonder your brain’s all scrambled now,” he teased.
Marina bit back her frustration and looked away with resentment in her eyes. She grabbed the file from the table and turned to walk briskly out of the study.
‘Why do I keep trying to make conversation with him? I’m such a sucker,‘ she grumbled to herself.
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Chapter 198
Darou watched her leave, a faint smile playing on his face.
He followed her out at an unhurried pace, pulling the study door closed behind him.
The elevator was sitting on the top floor.
Marina pressed the open button and stepped inside.
Even though she was still pissed, she kept holding the button for Daron to catch up.
Only when Daron finally stepped into the elevator did she let go.
When the elevator reached the downstairs lounge, neither of them said a word.
The atmosphere was unusually quiet.
Daron glanced down at Marina’s bare feet.
Marina noticed his gaze and instinctively pulled her feet back.
She’d taken off her shoes outside the wall earlier so she could climb the tree more easily, so she’d been walking around barefoot the whole time.
She’d been so caught up in hunting for evidence that she hadn’t paid attention to the little things, like her feet.
It wasn’t until she glanced down that she noticed her feet were all dirty.
Then Daron looked away and strode out.
Marina tried to rub the dirt off her right foot with her left, but it just got even dirtier.
She gave a weak smile, looked up, and saw Daron had already walked out of the elevator. She breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought, ‘Daron’s such a clean freak. Bet he’s silently judging me right now. Whatever.
‘It’s not like this is the first time I’ve made a fool of myself in front of him.
‘It was all because he made David keep me out, leaving me no choice but to climb the wall just to dig up evidence.
‘He should at least take half the blame for how pathetic I look right now.”
Marina stepped into the living room, gave the place a quick once–over, and didn’t linger.
It was just a house. This place didn’t mean much to her. Without hesitation, she walked straight toward the door.
Daron was standing at the door. When he saw her coming, he grabbed a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them in front of her.
“Put these on,” he said.
Since the place was still under renovation, the outside was littered with gravel and debris. If Marina tried to walk out barefoot, her feet would get pierced before she even made it to the gate.
Marina stared at the white slippers on the floor, freezing for a second. ‘My feet are so dirty. If I put them on, those slippers would be a mess in no time, she thought.
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Chapter 198
When she didn’t move, Daron stepped closer, leaning in so she couldn’t ignore him
Not going to wear them?” he asked.
Marina shook her head and replied. “It’s not that?
It’s just… My feet are so dirty, and those slippers are way too white, she thought.
Daron arched a brow, a devilish smile playing at his lips.
“Is that so?” he said with a smirk.
Marina was caught off guard by his sudden grin, staring blankly at his handsome face, finding herself bolding her breath.
“I figured maybe you wanted to walk out barefoot, let the gravel tear up your feet, so I’d have no choice but to scoop you up and carry you back, Daron teased, his voice low and tempting.
His words snapped Marina out of her trance, and she quickly slipped on the slippers.
“That’s not what I meant,” she muttered.
Daron shot a look at her dirty feet, his eyes darkening and his tone suddenly frosty.
“Alright,” he said.
‘Seriously? Marina thought, left speechless.
“Why are you saying it like you’re angry?” she retorted.
Daron shot her a frosty glare, then turned and strode out of the living room.
Marina hurried after him, feeling awkward.
She shut the gate behind her after she stepped out.
Daron walked off so quickly that Marina had no idea which way he went.
She stood at the entrance for a few seconds, a little dazed. At least she’d driven herself here today, so she was not afraid of being ditched.
Thinking about her car, Marina instinctively reached into her pocket.
Her fingers closed on nothing.
Panic flashed across her face. Her car keys were missing. She was sure she’d put them in her pocket when she got out, but now they were nowhere to be found.
This was a villa neighborhood, hardly any cars ever came by at midnight, and calling a cab or getting a ride here was next to impossible.
Marina rushed over to the big tree, frantic.
‘Pretty sure they fell out when I was climbing that tree,’ she thought.
If the keys fell under the tree, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But if they landed inside the yard, that’d be a whole other headache.
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Marina could already imagine the kind of savage sarcasm Daron would throw at her if she had to call him asking for the
door code.
No way am I letting Daron laugh at me again, she thought.
Marina rushed toward the tree. As she rounded the corner, she almost bumped into Daron, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
Marina blurted out, “Didn’t you just leave?”
Her gaze went straight to his hands.
He was holding her shoes, the ones she’d kicked off under the tree, and her missing car keys. He’d found everything she’d dropped.
Daron towered over her, giving her a mocking look.
“If I really left, were you just gonna walk all the way home?” he said, his tone full of sarcasm.
Marina gave him an ingratiating smile and quickly took her things from his hands.
I’d just shamelessly call you and make you come pick me up,” she said.
Daron narrowed his eyes, bending down a little as he looked at her.
“Would you really call me?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.
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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.
