"Just drop it," Zach said


    "Fine." Wendy bit het lip and swallowed her frustration.


    The elevator doors slid shut behind them, but neither of them pressed a button.


    It wasn''t until they reached the top floor and stepped out behind Serena that she finally turned. Her patience was wearing thin. "Follow me one more step, and I''m calling security."


    "I just wanted to apologize to you," Zach said.


    He remained patient and continued, "You look exhausted tonight, and I don''t want to bother you too much. How about this? I''ll book a restaurant for lunch tomorrow. We can talk over a meal I hope you''ll have time to-"


    "I don''t have time," Serena said, cutting him off without hesitation. She nced at her watch. "You guys can go home now. Stop wasting my time."


    She reached into her bag for her keys, but Zach''s hand mped around her wrist before she could grab them.


    "Let go!" She instinctively tried to pull away.


    Instead, Zach tightened his grip. "Serena, if you''re willing to forgive me, if we can be friends again, I''ll do whatever it takes to help you at Jansen Group. If you need projects, Zarena Group can provide them. If you need results, I can make sure yound our contracts..."


    Serena stared at him like she was looking at a stranger.


    Zarena Group was thepany she had helped build with her own two hands. If she wanted help, plenty of people were willing to lend it. Did Zach really think she needed his charity? With a sharp yank, she wrenched her hand free from his grasp. "I built Zarena Group with you from the ground up. I helped take it public. And now, I can also establish myself at Jansen Group on my own


    “Zach, don''t tter yourself. You''re not as important as you think you are. And if you ever touch me again, I won''t hesitate to call the police."


    Aserena''s


    Serena''s chilling re made Zach falter.


    Did he say something wrong? He was offering to help her, so why couldn''t she see that?


    Serena turned toward her door, but Zach stepped in front of her before she could reach it.


    "Rena, just give me one more chance..." His voice softened, and he dragged out thest word the way he used to when he coaxed her while holding her close. But Serena felt nothing but disgust.


    Just then, the door across the hall swung open.


    It was Hugh, dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark cks. His sharp gaze swept over the scene before settling on Serena.


    Zach''s eyes widened slightly. Was Hugh living right across from Serena?


    Thest thing Zach expected was to run into Hugh at a moment like this. He fumbled for words. "Mr. Larson, I''m from Zarena Group..."


    "Come here." Hugh''s voice was calm, but his deep eyes never left Serena.


    Serena finally snapped back to reality. She was surprised, as she hadn''t known Hugh lived across from her, and she had no idea why he was calling her over.


    But that didn''t matter. Without a second thought, she stepped past Zach and into Hugh''s apartment.


    Zach watched as Serena walked straight into another man''s home. He felt something twisting in his chest.


    His voice got caught, and he felt his throat tightening like a cloth soaked through


    and wrung dry as he tried to call out, "Rena..."


    With a loud bang, Hugh mmed the door shut.


    The m of the door swallowed the unfinished nickname.