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Chapter 82
~Zara’s POV~
I pressed my lips into a thin line. God, being so mature had its limits and this was one of them, not being able to slap him whenever he spewed nonsense.
Sensing my reluctance in engaging his comment, Snow continued, "And when is this meeting supposed to happen?" His voice had an edge to it, one that made me pause.
"He wants it in two days but I’ll head back to the city first," I said, glancing up at him. "I need to prepare some things with Andrew before the actual signing. I’ll push your meeting back a day or so."
Snow arched a brow, silently questioning me. "That way, you can deal with your sisters first." I kept my tone neutral, but I could feel the tension rising between us.
Snow’s jaw clenched slightly, and his eyes narrowed. "So eager to leave, are you? Going back to the city for your new lover?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the question. What?
Just when I thought he’d actually be mature about things and focus on the matter at hand, he still brought this up!
Was he that eager to annoy me or was this something else?
"Excuse me?" I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended, unable to hold back my anger again. "What are you even talking about?"
"Oh, don’t play dumb, Zara." He crossed his arms, leaning back against the desk. "Andrew Blake. You’re practically glowing every time his name comes up. Can’t wait to go back to him, can you?"
My mouth fell open in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"
He shrugged, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something close to jealousy, though he hid it well. "Just wondering. You seem awfully invested in this project."
I groaned, rolling my eyes and massaging my temples. Well, glad he brought it up since anytime Andrew was mentioned he got this way.
There was no way he’d say he wasn’t jealous now.
"I’m invested because it’s important for your business, Snow. Also, if I do well as your assistant, it can build my portfolio a notch, and give me a better edge in the business world when we annul the marriage officially."
I noticed a flicker of shock or surprise in his eyes when I mentioned annual.
But what did he expect? Everything was a ruse and a contract anyway. If he didn’t believe that he wouldn’t have been relating everything to the contract and lived peacefully.
"This isn’t about Andrew," I continued, "and it certainly isn’t about some ridiculous notion of a ’lover.’ I don’t need one."
He was quiet for a moment, his gaze still lingering on me, as if he was sizing up my response.
"Why? Because you got me to satisfy you?"
I did not hide it anymore and facepalmed. "Snow I..." I barely got the words out when he leaned forward and kissed me.
"I wouldn’t mind doing that for you." I blinked, my mind was still in a haze and not following. "I mean satisfy you, of course. You are my wife," he went ahead to explain.
I was speechless. Too dumbstruck to speak.
What made him think there’d be a repeat of our heated encounter? Especially when to him this was just like a child’s play, a contract and nothing. I didn’t want a contract with benefits with him either.
"Thanks but I’ll pass," I managed to say.
He kept quiet. Perhaps too shy or angry that his ego was bruised. I mean, which girl wouldn’t want a go at the package he was packing?
As much as I loved our intimate session, I needed to focus and not be misled.
Finally, he let out a breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Fine," he muttered. "But I’ll admit, I appreciate you pushing the meeting back. I need to make sure everything with my sisters is sorted before I leave."
At the mention of his sisters, Snow’s demeanour shifted. The lightness from earlier faded, replaced with something more sombre. His shoulders dropped, and he looked away, almost as if the weight of it all was pressing down on him.
"You’re a good assistant, Zara," he added softly, his voice losing its teasing edge. There was something genuine in his tone, something that caught me off guard.
I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just nodded. "Thanks, I guess."
Snow pushed himself off the desk, his usual confident demeanour returning as he glanced at his phone. "I’ll be ready whenever you need me. Just let Andrew know."
He was back to his usual self in seconds, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his mood than he was letting on.
I nodded, watching him as he stepped out onto the balcony again, the tension between us easing but lingering all the same.
Before his return, I dressed up in a simple wear and left the room. My focus was on the documents I needed to review once more.
It wasn’t until noon time I finally peeled my gaze from my laptop in the library when my stomach rumbled.
In a bid to get things done, I skipped breakfast but my body wasn’t agreeing on that idea.
"You work well." Just as I stood up, the soft most calming voice reached my ears, making me freeze.
My hand was still on the edge of my laptop, my mind racing at the sudden interruption. I hadn’t even heard her enter the room, but then again, Luna Star had always moved with the grace and quiet elegance of a queen.
"I see why he likes you. That aside from your obvious beauty."
I turned, my heart skipping a beat as I met Luna Star’s soft, knowing gaze. She stood just inside the doorway, her eyes warm but piercing, as though she could see far more than what I was letting on.
"Luna Star," I stammered, my voice catching in my throat as I straightened up. "I didn’t hear you come in."
She smiled, stepping forward with that same unhurried grace, her hands clasped in front of her.
"I didn’t mean to startle you, dear. I was just passing by and couldn’t help but notice how focused you were. Snow’s never had an assistant quite like you."