<h4>Chapter 34: Business Dinner</h4>


    <strong>*************</strong>


    <strong>Chapter 34</strong>


    <strong>~Zara’s POV~</strong>


    Dressed in an elegant peach gown with my hair neatly styled and packed, leaving a few strands to fall at the side of my right eye, I stepped out of the car beside Snow, the sh of cameras surrounding us as we entered the event.


    Snow’s hand rested lightly on the small of my back, giving a silent signal that we were a united front, at least for the public eye. But underneath that, the discord between us was still simmering.


    Immediately we got in, the grand ballroom was filled with important figures—business tycoons, investors, and influential yers.


    I spotted Marcus almost immediately, standing by the bar, his gaze sweeping the room like a predator surveying his prey.


    Good, my time to catch my prey had begun.


    Snow’s grip on my back tightened ever so slightly as we made our way over to him while exchanging pleasantries along the way.


    "Zara," Snow murmured in my ear when we greeted the one of the guests that had walked up to us. "Marcus is crucial. Just... be yourself. He likes women who are direct."


    I nodded even though my heart raced, I held on as though nothing bothered me.


    I’d done this for years for my father, counting two lifetime experiences to the list, I was pretty much confident or I should have been but something about this night, Marcus and Snow made me edgy.


    I knew what Snow was asking of me. He needed me to charm Marcus, to secure the deal. And I would, even if I was still angry with him.


    We approached Marcus, and I put on my most confident smile, introducing myself with a firm handshake.


    "Mr Deveraeux, I believe we haven’t properly met yet."


    "Outside of the conference room, no. d a beauty such as yourself could make it."


    He returned my smile and shake, extending his lips to the back of my palm.


    I felt Snow tense at that exchange, his shoulders rigid as did his hold on the small of my back.


    Marcus must have sensed it. He turned his attention to Snow. "Forgive me, Mr. Zephyr, I just couldn’t resist the allure of a beautiful woman. Good evening."


    Snow took his shake and gave a small smile. "Well, we can both agree to one thing, Zara is charming."


    My heart skipped a beat at thatpliment. My cheeks betrayed me instantly, flushing like a teen as I held back the choke of breath about to happen.


    Marcus sensed it, raising a brow as I managed to smile andpose myself.


    "Sorry, swallowed wrongly," I apologized before turning to Snow. His eyes held mine for a minute and I felt Astrid smirk within.


    It wasn’t Snow she was smirking at. It was cier.


    Just the thought worsened my situation. I shook my head, breaking our contact as I averted my gaze elsewhere.


    "So, how’s the party so far?"


    Marcus followed my line of sight, nodding as he took in the patrons again. "Well, so far so good, it’s okay."


    "Just okay?" I asked, tilting my head to the side a bit.


    "Yes." His focus was back on me. "It’s a business dinner no less. Everyone here is making connections or talking about theirtest investment. Nothing much."


    "And you?" My focus was now on him as I straightened my neck, my charming smile still disying on my lips.


    Snow was a little tense. He must have not loved the fact that I was showing that smile to a stranger but it was business.


    "Me?" Marcus’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "I’m looking for something more... substantial."


    "Substantial?" I repeated, intrigued.


    "Yes. An investment that will shake the market."


    Snow chimed in, his voice smooth. "I think we might have just the thing, Marcus. Just like what was shown during thest meeting."


    "Yeah, probably. My mind’s a bit fuzzy with the memory. That’s why I asked for dinner to help jog my memory," Marcus half noted with a mischievous smirk.


    I nodded, my thoughts raced at the oue but I dissed his first statement. "Our new tech venture is poised to revolutionize the industry."


    Marcus raised an eyebrow. "That’s a bold im."


    "I assure you, it’s backed by numbers," I said, confidence oozing from my voice.


    Snow added, "We’ve already seen significant interest from major yers."


    Marcus leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Let’s just say I want more, Mr. Zephyr."


    His tone made Snow’s brows crease but that didn’t deter Marcus. "I want exclusive rights."


    I nced at Snow, waiting for approval and when he rubbed my back lightly, I got my go ahead.


    I smiled, sensing the deal within reach. "I think we can arrange that but there’d be a few changes from our side as well."


    Marcus seemed to consider my offer and shrugged. "Okay, as long as you’re the one pulling the deal, it’s worth negotiating."


    Snow stood beside me, watching the interaction carefully. The conversation flowed easily enough.


    I kept it light, engaging Marcus with witty banter and calcted charm. It didn’t take long before Marcus’s interest in me was clear.


    He leaned in closer, his eyes flickering between Snow and me as he asked more personal questions.


    Just when I thought things were going smoothly, the air in the room shifted. I felt it before I saw him.


    Ivan.


    He strode into the ballroom like he owned the ce, his eyes locking onto me almost immediately.


    A smirk curled on his lips as he made his way over,pletely ignoring the rest of the room.


    The aura Snow emitted made me stiffen, cier snarling in the back of his mind. I could feel the tension rise between them, like a storm about to break.


    Ivan’s gaze locked onto mine. "Zara, lovely as always."


    My instincts screamed warning, but I kept myposure. "Ivan."


    "What brings you here?" Snow asked, his tone neutral.


    "Well, well, well," Ivan drawled. "If it isn’t Snow Zephyr and his lovely wife."


    I red at him, my jaw clenched. "What do you want, Ivan?"


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