Zoe was surprised to see Kearney sitting amongst the host of departmental directors."When did he become one of them?" she wondered, but she remembered Mr. Andre saying something like Kearney would make a good director."So Kearney is indeed the next in line. Well, it isn't such a bad thing, although I will miss Mr. Andre. I preferred him as my departmental boss, but I will have to work with Kearney since Mr. Andre had so much faith in him." All this and more thoughts rolled into her mind like mighty waves from an ocean crashing onto the ocean bank.All eyes were on Zoe when she plodded into the room. She immediately felt uneasy. She remembered her days in high school when she had to give a presentation before a large audience. She would usually look over the audience's heads and not directly at their faces to avoid seeing the lion faces that took form in place of theirs. She was doing it right now, keeping her eye level just above the director's head. If she were looking at their fac
It was agreed upon that Zoe would meet with the hacker later in the day during her lunch break. Zoe placed a call to the hacker in the conference room with Henry standing by her side, ready to eavesdrop."Hello, it's me again," Zoe said."Did the plan work?""Yes, it did; I'm no longer signing the stupid contract!" Zoe said, smiling.Henry scoffed inwardly, reminding himself that it was only a matter of time before Zoe would come to him willingly with the signed contract."Okay, I'm glad I could help.""Yes, well, I thought we should hang out for lunch later just to thank you," Zoe said. There was a pause on the line."Black diamond, it's fine; I've accepted your thanks; we don't have to have lunch together," said Sparrow."Oh, come on, I insist, let's have lunch, and let's play a chess game over the board. I know you've been dying to have a rematch.""Okay fine, see you at noon.""Yes!" Zoe said. "Game on.""Well done," Henry said. "Are you sure he will show up?""He will come alrigh
Zoe had thought about the way Henry sounded cold at first when they told him that they lost the chance to apprehend the hacker. She had never seen him sound so angry, even though it didn't last for long.She walked down the hallway with the thoughts of freedom gone on her mind as she turned different corridors that led to the software department with her heels making clicking sounds on the ceramic tiled floor.On getting back to her desk, she had barely settled down when she noticed Kearney coming from the opposite direction. He had this sheepish smile on his face and Zoe could see something hidden behind the smile. She just doesn't know what it is."Hey Zoe," he said immediately as he got to her desk."Hey!" she replied without looking at him. She concentrated fully on her laptop.She opened the file she was working on before Jack came to get her moments ago for the meeting at the conference room and then raised her head up to look at the tall figure that stood next to her desk."Con
Zoe left work with the thoughts of everything that had gone down that day. Many things had been going on, and she didn't understand any of it. Each new development seemed to leave her clueless.What worried her most was that she did not know who had tipped off the hacker. That person had ruined her chance of gaining freedom, and she didn't think she could forgive such a person when she discovered who it was.She had seen it with her eyes. Sparrow had been standing right there. He had almost entered the restaurant before receiving a phone call, and then, like a dog let loose to fetch a ball, he had bolted, only unlike a dog, Sparrow never returned. Zoe tightened her grip on her handbag as she waited in front of Maga Tech for Emily to come to pick her up.It wasn't long before Emily pulled up in front of the company. Zoe got in, greeted Emily and Leo, smoothened her hair, and exhaled deeply. It had been a long day.Emily noticed Zoe's long face as she wheeled the car to the highway."Yo
Zoe found Leo lying on his bed, gaming and listening to music on his phone simultaneously. She could tell he was listening to the song on the highest volume since she could still pick out the lyrics of the familiar song despite her brother listening to it with an earpiece."Leo," she called, but he didn't seem to hear her.She had wanted to reach for his earpiece, but he had blocked her hand before getting to it. "You are inaudible to me, but I can see you," Leo said. "What do you want?""I want to talk to you," she said, and he read the words on her lips, sighing. Reluctantly he paused the game and took out the earpiece plugged in his ear."I'm listening," he said, looking straight into her eyes.She knew he was not happy he hadn't paid for his science project in school. Also, he had other fees to pay, and he seemed to be the only one in his class yet to pay."Uhmm... Leo," she started, drawing close to him. "I know you're not happy with me right now. I know that, and it's fine," s
"Do you think it's a good idea?"That was Emily. She had been asking questions since Zoe told her she had agreed to go on a date with Henry. She had even told her she had decided to sign Henry's proposal since she had no other option."It's not a good idea, I agree, but it's the best among the options I have left. You need to understand, Em." Zoe crashed on Emily's bed.Emily was sitting in front of her makeup mirror. She had just arrived from the shower when Zoe had told her of the latest development. She had turned to face Zoe when she had talked about agreeing this was a terrible idea, but she knew she had no better option at the moment. There was a moment of silence.Ever since Emily and Zoe became friends, they had both made lots of crazy decisions, and this to Emily seems to be the craziest. It is crazy and dangerous at the same time. She had read a lot about Henry Arthur, and she knew how ruthless he could be. That dude was a devil!Zoe noticed Emily was still worried. She coul
Zoe signed the documents while Henry watched with keen interest. At last, Zoe belonged to him alone. Victory at last.Zoe signed the last paper and returned the pen to Henry, who collected it with a mischievous smile. She marveled at how much money he would have spent on the pen."You can have it if you want," he returned it to her. "It's just five hundred thousand dollars. I have more than one.""Who cares?!" she said inwardly."Thank you, sir; I don't need it," she replied, even though she knew she would love to have it, knowing what it would fetch her if she sold it."I insist you have it, and that's an order," he said. "Remember you already signed the deal," he added, pointing at the documents on the table.Was that it? Was that the type of life she would live from now on? She was pissed at herself. Life had been unfair to her, and it kept fucking her face.She looked at the pen in Henry's outstretched hand. It was a fortune. She hadn't noticed there were diamonds until now when s
"I can't believe it, Zoe. He told the bodyguard to drive you home by this time?" Emily said with eyes wide open.She was surprised Henry did not take advantage of the time. She had thought he would force her to spend the night with him since it was late, and God knows what would have happened. She knew what would have happened."I was surprised myself. You need to have seen my look; my mouth was practically opened in surprise," Zoe emphasized while cleaning the red lipstick off her lip.Zoe was seated in front of the dressing mirror with Emily behind her, dressed in her silky nightgown. She looked at Emily's reflection in the mirror as she talked, waving her hand dramatically, making one think she was talking to the reflection in the mirror."And what did you say?" Emily asked, resting her hand on Zoe's chair."Say?" said Zoe turning slightly to face Emily. "What do you want me to say? Girl, I said nothing," she added, turning back to face the mirror.She grabbed another handful of a