Chapter 26 Did Zoe Get What She Wanted?
"I'm so sorry! I'm sorry, Nicholas! I... I didn't mean to!"
Zoe frantically grabbed tissues, fumbling to dab at the wet stain on his chest, her movements clumsy and desperate.
Nicholas glanced down at his shirt, then looked up at her panic-stricken face.
"It's fine."
His tone was completely neutral, betraying no emotion.
"I'll go change."
With that, he turned and walked directly toward the private suite next door.
Emma's heart lurched.
Change clothes? Here?
She instinctively looked for somewhere to hide, but in this spacious suite with nothing but a pristine king-size bed and a wardrobe full of clothes, there was simply nowhere to go!
Even the bathroom featured trendy floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
In desperation, she could only slip into the shadow behind the massive wardrobe, pressing herself against the cold cabinet door and holding her breath.
The suite door wasn't fully closed.
Nicholas walked in and casually pulled off the coffee-stained shirt, revealing the smooth lines of his back and shoulders, his muscles taut and defined.
His tanned skin gleamed with healthy vitality under the lights.
Emma caught a quick glimpse, then immediately turned away, her face burning like fire.
He retrieved a fresh black shirt from the wardrobe and began putting it on with deliberate care.
Just then, the suite door was gently pushed open.
Zoe walked in, her face still showing traces of panic mixed with deliberate shyness.
Without a word, she stepped forward and boldly wrapped her arms around Nicholas's waist from behind, pressing her cheek against his broad back.
"Nicholas."
Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a flirtatious undertone.
"Do you love me?"
Nicholas's hands paused on his shirt buttons.
He didn't turn around.
"Of course."
His voice remained calm, almost matter-of-fact.
Zoe tightened her arms, burying her face deeper against him.
Her voice carried a hint of grievance and confusion.
"Then why do you keep rejecting me? Don't you... want me?"
The air grew thick with tension.
Nicholas fell silent, offering no immediate response.
Emma crouched behind the wardrobe, her heart pounding so hard it might burst from her throat.
She heard Zoe speak with desperate determination, "I want to be your woman!"
She even took Nicholas's hand that hung at his side and guided it to encircle her own slender waist.
Nicholas's body tensed slightly.
He gently pulled her hands away and turned to face her.
"My marriage with her isn't over yet."
His eyes were unreadable, revealing no emotion.
"Wait a little longer."
Zoe looked up at him, her eyes slightly red-rimmed, but she nodded firmly.
"Okay." She sniffled, her voice catching, "I'll wait for you forever, Nicholas, no matter how long."
Emma's lips twitched. She clearly remembered that not long ago, Nicholas had told her emphatically that he and Zoe had never had any relationship.
Never, but maybe that would change very soon.
A series of urgent, aggressive knocks shattered the intimate atmosphere in the suite.
"Mr. Harrison? Mr. Harrison, are you in there?"
It was Charlie's voice, thick with anxiety.
Charlie had burst into the outer office to find it empty, which scared him senseless.
He rushed here to pound on the door, thinking all three of them were inside.
He knocked even harder, his voice cracking with panic.
"Mr. Harrison, the client is here! The important client is already in the conference room! She's here! She's already here!"
Nicholas frowned and opened the suite door, quickly fastening his last shirt button.
At the door stood Charlie, breathless and sweating profusely.
Charlie's gaze moved past Nicholas to land on Zoe, who stood just a step behind him.
Zoe had her head slightly lowered, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes evasive—the picture of someone who looked thoroughly... satisfied.
Charlie was speechless.
His brain short-circuited.
What the hell?
What just happened?
Had Zoe gotten what she wanted?
He'd only been gone to ask the secretary to buy pastries and pour coffee—five minutes, tops.
A shocking conclusion crashed through Charlie's mind.
No way. The CEO had finished that quickly?
He suddenly thought about Mr. Harrison and Emma's divorce proceedings.
Could it be... could it be that the CEO couldn't... satisfy Emma?
So Emma was determined to leave?
And the CEO, to prove his prowess, or maybe just from pure impulse, had slept with Ms. Perez?
Wasn't Emma supposed to be hiding in there?
They couldn't have done it right in front of Emma, could they?
Charlie shuddered, not daring to pursue that line of thought.
This was too much information. His brain couldn't process it all.
Nicholas ignored Charlie's spectacular array of facial expressions.
He turned to Zoe and said, "Wait here for me to come back."
Then he strode out with his long legs, heading toward Conference Room Three.
Charlie quickly snapped back to attention, his professional instincts kicking him into work mode.
He couldn't let Zoe stay here and cause more trouble—Emma was still hiding somewhere.
Thinking quickly, he put on an enthusiastic smile and approached Zoe.
"Ms. Perez."
He lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"Did you know? Mr. Harrison had the engineering department build you a super-luxurious private screening room so he can watch your movies anytime!"
Zoe's eyes lit up instantly, delighted with surprise. "Really?"
"Absolutely!"
Charlie patted his chest in assurance, his expression exaggerated.
"Mr. Harrison is so thoughtful! That screening room has top-of-the-line equipment! Would you like to see it now? Experience his devotion firsthand?"
"Yes, yes! Take me there now!"
Zoe was completely distracted, nodding excitedly.
Charlie immediately waved to a secretary waiting nearby. "Take Ms. Perez to the screening room on the 78th floor for a tour."
"Yes, Charlie. Ms. Perez, this way, please."
The secretary respectfully led an elated Zoe away.
Charlie exhaled deeply, feeling like he'd just fought a major battle.
The so-called private screeningroom was just the executive entertainment lounge!
He straightened his tie and walked back to the suite door, this time knocking much more politely.
"Ms. Rodriguez?"
"Ms. Rodriguez? Are you in there?"
The door opened from inside, and Emma emerged.
Her face showed no anger whatsoever. She said nothing, simply slapped the signed divorce agreement against his chest.
Charlie instinctively caught it, scanning her face.
He'd expected to see heartbreak, fury, humiliation, at least some intense emotion, but there was nothing."Ms. Rodriguez, Mr. Harrison is in Conference Room Three. I'll take you there."
"No need. The agreement is signed. Just notify me when we're scheduled to go to court!"
With that, she moved to leave.
Charlie hurried forward, asking carefully, "Ms. Rodriguez, just now, in there, did you..."
Emma glanced at him, her expression meaningful, as if she was saying: Really nothing worth watching.
She opened the door and swept out with complete composure.