Chapter 176 Temporary Additional Conditions
"Talk."
Zachary stood, phone pressed to his ear.
Quinley happened to be in the kitchen grabbing a spoon for her soup. She had no idea who was calling.
Marlee wanted to talk, but not before adding conditions.
"Release my son first. Once Denny's out safe, I'll tell you everything."
Zachary figured Dennis had coached her on this. He'd said he could set him free anytime. But he could also take that freedom away just as easily.
"Fine."
He hung up and dialed Lucas.
"Let him go."
"Mr. Jennings, are you sure about releasing that punk? He gets out, he's just gonna cause more trouble."
Zachary's gaze darkened. He glanced toward the kitchen where Quinley was coming back out with her spoon. Seeing him on the phone, she slowed down, trying not to make noise.
Always thinking of him. How could he not put her first?
"Let him out. We'll deal with the rest later."
Ten minutes later, Dennis walked free.
"Something came up at the office. Pretty urgent. I need to head over."
Zachary made an excuse and headed for the door. He rarely lied, especially to Quinley. But this involved her, and he was terrified of hurting her. So he lied.
"Want me to come with you?"
Quinley was already standing, ready to change.
"No need. Lucas is there. Stay home and rest today. I'll come back when I'm done."
He left quickly.
Quinley didn't think much of it. After last night's intensity, she was exhausted anyway. After cleaning up from lunch, she went back to bed.
---
The moment Zachary returned to Apex Global Group, Lucas arrived with the Elikins in tow.
Marlee immediately started thanking him. "Mr. Jennings, I can't thank you enough. Denny owes you everything."
Now that Dennis was free, there wasn't a trace of gratitude on his face. Just cold arrogance.
"Make him wait outside."
Zachary sat in his executive chair, all business. He'd only released Dennis for one reason—the truth.
"If you want my mom to talk, you'll have to go through me first."
Adding conditions at the last minute—classic Dennis. Two years of college and he'd learned nothing good. Less than a year out in the world and he'd picked up every bad habit.
"Go through you how?"
Zachary's eyes were pitch black, cold as ice as they swept over Dennis.
"I want a job here. Sales director."
Dennis shot for the moon.
Marlee kept her mouth shut, silently going along with it.
"Sales director requires a master's degree and ten years of relevant experience. Which of those do you have?"
Lucas rarely spoke out of turn, but this time he couldn't help himself.
Dennis was clueless. Delusional, even.
A mocking smile tugged at Zachary's lips.
"You really want it?"
Dennis lifted his chin. "Obviously. I studied economics and trade in college. I have experience in this area."
"Overestimating yourself," Lucas muttered coldly.
"Who are you talking to? Just because you're useless doesn't mean you get to mock others. I'm talking to Mr. Jennings, not you. Who the hell do you think you are?"
Dennis jabbed a finger at Lucas.
"You—"
Lucas started to snap back, but Zachary stopped him.
"Mr. Murphy, no need for that here."
Lucas had to swallow it.
"Fine. I'll give it to you. Starting today? Or tomorrow?"
Dennis hadn't expected Zachary to actually agree. Joy split his face in a massive grin.
"Tomorrow. It's already afternoon. I'll be here at eight sharp tomorrow morning."
"I need to speak with your mother now. Go to HR and handle your onboarding. Mr. Murphy will take you."
Lucas's eyes went wide as saucers.
"Mr. Jennings," he said quietly, a warning.
Business was a battlefield. They needed warriors, not cannon fodder like Dennis who'd be dead on arrival.
"What? Not following orders anymore?"
Zachary's voice cut like a whip.
"Let's go, Mr. Murphy. Starting tomorrow morning, call me Mr. Elikin."
Dennis was already getting ahead of himself.
He followed Lucas out. Now it was just Zachary and Marlee.
Zachary pulled the photo from his drawer and placed it on his desk.
"Talk. Who are they?"
Marlee's eyes darted away. She lowered her head.
"Mr. Jennings, I don't actually know them."
"Don't know them?"
Zachary's tone was skeptical.
"Twenty-five years ago, they rented a room in our building—the same apartment we live in now. Quinny's dad and I had only been married three years. We were broke, trying to make extra money, so we rented out that unit."
"They were your tenants?"
"Yes, but not for long. Maybe three months. From what I heard, they weren't married. The woman was already pregnant, so they'd snuck away together."
"These twins are their children. One of them is Quinley?"
This time, Marlee didn't hide it.
"Yes. Quinley is one of the children."
"And the other child?"
Marlee's expression twisted into something ugly. Her whole demeanor shifted.
"I don't know. I really don't know."
She started denying it.
Zachary had read enough people to know when someone was lying.
Right now, Marlee was lying.
"Seems like you forgot. Take your time remembering. We've got plenty of time. Whether your son keeps that chair depends on you."
He handed control back to Marlee.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"The orphanage."
"Which orphanage?"
"Luck House."
Something twisted painfully in Zachary's chest.
"Why did that child end up at an orphanage?"
Marlee kept wringing her hands, clearly struggling with whether to speak.
She didn't say anything. Zachary didn't push. He just stared her down.
Eventually, she couldn't handle the internal battle anymore.
"I... I sent her there."
She admitted it.
"They weren't your children. What right did you have to keep Quinley and send the other one to an orphanage?"
Fury coiled tight in Zachary's chest, already starting to burn.
"They... they owed rent. Couldn't pay. And they weren't married, couldn't afford to raise two kids, so... so they gave the babies to us. Both were girls, and our situation wasn't great either. We could only afford to raise one, so..."
Marlee didn't finish, but Zachary understood completely.
What was he supposed to say?
Thank you? For taking in Quinley, saving her from a life of wandering?
Or should he hate them? For abandoning Susan, condemning her to that miserable existence?
"Is what you're saying true?"
"Every word. I swear I'm not lying."
Marlee raised her hand like she was taking an oath.
But later, much later, Zachary would realize that the most convincing oaths are often the most hollow lies.