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CHAPTER 41
-Zara’s POV~
“Mr. Blake,” Snow greeted coldly. “I wasn’t aware we had a meeting scheduled.” He shot me a glare.
Blake didn’t flinch, rather, he straightened his back, smirking slightly. “I thought I’d drop by to get a feel for things firsthand. And Zara here was just filling me in on
the details.”
I could feel the tension thickening in the room. Snow’s posture was rigid, his jaw clenched tight as his gaze briefly flicked over to me before returning to Blake.
“Well,” Snow drawled in an icily polite tone. “I handle
the majority of business decisions for Aurora Conglomerate. Perhaps we can reschedule for a more formal meeting?”
From the way Blake’s eyes lazily moved between us, I could tell he already guessed there was a lot of tension between Snow and me.
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He stood up, smoothing his jacket down. “Of course. I’ll let you two… discuss. Zara, it was a pleasure. I’ll be in touch.” He gave me a nod before walking out, leaving me with an uneasy and enraged boss.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Snow turned to me, his eyes blazing. “Care to explain?”
Here we were? I stood, crossed my arms, feeling defensive. “I was securing an alternative option. Marcus is dragging his feet, and Blake is more than capable.”
Snow took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Is that all?” I lifted my eyes, expecting a sensible explanation when he sprouted out insults. “Or are you eagerly flaunting your beauty and chasing men? Tell me, Zara, are you so insatiable?”
“The Actual Fuck!‘@
My fingers balled at my side, anger swirling into little fists, controlling the urge to smack him across the
cheek.
“What? You suddenly become too small or innocent for those kinds of words or…” The sound echoed loudly to cause an uproar from Snow. I did it. I slapped
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Snow before I could control myself.
His eyes seemed to have seen stars as they glared daggers in my direction.
To my surprise, Snow didn’t do or say anything and the tension seemed to have spiked, but I didn’t care
anymore.
I may be working for him, but that didn’t give him the right to speak to me in such a manner.
“Zara,” he said after some time. I could see his fist.
clench and unclench. Good, he felt it.
“Snow.” My breathing ragged as I waited for him to spew more nonsense, probably words like, you’re fired,
but he didn’t.
My palm still stung from the impact, but it was nothing compared to the fury blazing in Snow’s eyes. He stared at me, stunned, his expression unreadable at first, and then a slow, dangerous smile crept onto his lips.
“You’ll be punished,” he said, his voice calm yet seething with restrained anger. He waited for me to say something, but I didn’t.
Just as he was about to leave, I responded, glaring at
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him, my breathing ragged. “I’m counting on it,” I shot back, but the tremor in my voice betrayed the
adrenaline racing through me.
Snow halted in his steps, his eyes narrowing on me as if to ask what the hell was wrong with this woman- like I were a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.
His breathing came in measured, and he finally spoke. “You don’t make deals without consulting me first, Zara. That’s not how this works.”
“I was trying to help. Something you’d have noticed if you weren’t so…” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. “I’m not some pawn you can push around, Snow. I can make decisions too.”
He stared at me, his eyes darkening with something I couldn’t quite place–anger, jealousy, possession.
“You’re mine, Zara,” he whispered through gritted teeth. “Stop pushing me.”
My breath hitched at his words, the intensity in his gaze making my heart race. But I wasn’t about to back down. Not after everything.
“And you don’t get to control me. I am not your toy,
Snow” I shot back my voice trembling slightly as the
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weight of his stare bore down on me.
The tension between us was thick. Snow leaned in closer. “You’re playing with fire, Zara. And you’re going to get burned.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. But the truth was, every word he said sent shivers down my spine, and for a brief moment, I wondered if I’d really be burnt.
Before I could respond, Snow stormed out of the office without another word, slamming the door shut behind
him.
‘As soon as he was gone, the weight of what had just happened hit me. My knees buckled, and I sank into the chair behind my desk, my chest heaving with anger, regret, and confusion
What the hell had I done?
I stared at my shaking hands. I had slapped Snow. The CEO of Aurora. My… husband.
The realization settled in like a cold, sinking stone in the pit of my stomach. Sure, he deserved it after the way he’d spoken to me–insinuating I was some sort of attention–seeking flirt. But now in the silence of the
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aftermath, I couldn’t help but feel… guilty.
My breath hitched as I tried to justify my actions to myself. He had pushed me too far, insulted me, questioned my loyalty–questioned me, my work, and my motives.
But…
I felt Astrid’s disapproving stare in my mind.
And then I remembered the look in Storm’s eyes. before he stormed out. There was more there than anger. He felt betrayed.
I stood up, pacing the length of my office, replaying the events of last night in my mind. Ivan. Of course, this was about him. Snow was still angry that I’d even entertained a conversation with Ivan. He had seen it as some sort of betrayal, and I hadn’t bothered to explain. That must have driven him to act out today
I paused, leaning against the cool surface of the window as I stared out at the city. But why hadn’t I explained myself to Snow? Was it pride? Fear? Maybe
both.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples I had handled this all wrong and now I was
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tangled up in a mess of my own making.
But what now? Snow had left, and I knew he wouldn’t let this go. And as much as I hated to admit it, I had crossed a line. He wasn’t going to forgive me so easily.
