Chapter 94 Cancel the Engagement
"Notify the marketing department—all collaboration projects between Apex Global Group and the Davis Group are suspended immediately."
Zachary's words fell like a guillotine blade.
"Mr. Jennings, this is a major decision. Shouldn't we convene the board first?" Lucas ventured carefully.
William's body was barely cold, and Emily's faction was already making their moves. She was busy trying to secure her position through pregnancy, racing to produce the next Jennings heir, while simultaneously pressuring the board to remove Zachary as CEO, leveraging her status as William's widow.
Zachary had made enemies during his tenure—his decisive, often ruthless leadership style had ruffled feathers both inside and outside the company. With internal family strife weakening his position, those enemies were rallying behind Emily.
This was exactly the wrong time for bold moves. The Davis Group had deep roots in Rosewood City. While not as powerful as Apex Global Group, they were still a major player. Going to war with them now was reckless, potentially suicidal.
Zachary ignored Lucas's concerns entirely and issued his second command.
"Contact the media. I'm terminating my engagement to Alicia Davis."
He hung up without waiting for a response.
"Mr. Jennings, please think this through." Quinley's sharp intake of breath betrayed her shock. "You need to slow down."
They were cut from the same cloth—both analytical, both pragmatic. Harold and Alicia's stunt this morning had been infuriating, a blatant provocation that demanded response.
But these drastic moves would only put both Zachary and Apex Global Group in greater danger.
"I have a headache. Help me with it."
Years of relentless work had left him with chronic migraines. Quinley's gentle massage was the only thing that provided relief during the worst episodes.
He stretched out on the bed fully clothed, eyes closed, lips pressed into a hard line. His hands folded across his stomach in a gesture that somehow made him look vulnerable despite his commanding presence.
Quinley sighed softly, knowing that once Zachary made a decision, nothing could change his mind.
As her fingers worked at his temples, Lucas called again. The persistent ringing grated against Zachary's nerves until he answered himself.
"Ms. Elikin, you have to talk sense into Mr. Jennings! He's cutting ties with the Davis Group, breaking his engagement—he's destroying himself—"
"Lucas, are you particularly bored today?" Zachary's voice could have frozen fire.
"Mr. Jennings, I—"
The line went dead. Zachary powered off his phone entirely and settled back into position.
Quinley resumed her gentle massage without comment.
"You think I shouldn't have done this either." It wasn't a question.
"Yes." Her honesty was unflinching.
"Then what would you have me do?" He caught her wrist, pulling her hand away as he fixed her with an intense stare.
"Marry Ms. Davis. Bind yourself to the Davis Group's interests. The board doesn't care who runs Apex Global Group as long as they generate maximum profit."
Her analysis was coldly objective, stripped of any emotional consideration. She might as well have been discussing quarterly earnings.
Zachary's expression darkened like storm clouds gathering.
"And what about you? Planning to sacrifice yourself again? Quinley, are you that insecure, or do you simply have no faith in me at all?"
His bitter laugh cut through the air as he stood abruptly, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door.
Quinley wanted to explain that she hadn't meant it that way, that she was simply thinking like the businesswoman she'd trained herself to be. But he was right about one thing—she hadn't considered herself in the equation at all.
The moment he left, everything exploded.
News of the suspended partnership sent shockwaves through Rosewood City's business community. Large corporations might weather such storms with mere scratches, but the smaller companies dependent on them faced potential bankruptcy overnight.
Protesters gathered outside Apex Global Group's headquarters with signs and demands. The board erupted into chaos. Media outlets scrambled for exclusive coverage, and speculation ran wild about Zachary's broken engagement.
And Zachary himself? He vanished completely. Phone off, location unknown—even Lucas couldn't track him down.
"Ms. Elikin, do you know where Mr. Jennings might go?" Adela's call came through filled with barely controlled panic. Background noise suggested she was dealing with her own crisis.
"Try Maple Estate." Quinley kept her response brief, aware that saying too much could create more problems given her complicated position.
Lucas called moments after Adela hung up.
"Ms. Elikin, is Mr. Jennings with you?"
"No. He left."
Lucas's heavy sigh carried the weight of the world. "Ms. Elikin, everything Mr. Jennings did today was for you. But he's destroyed himself in the process."
The words hit her like a physical blow. As someone in the eye of the storm, she'd never dared assume such responsibility.
"Mr. Murphy, you should focus on finding Mr. Jennings."
She ended the call and returned to her apartment, hoping for peace. Instead, she found Alicia on her doorstep within the hour.
Tears streamed down Alicia's face as she collapsed onto Quinley's sofa, clutching tissues like lifelines.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Elikin. I shouldn't have interfered, but everything I did was for Zach's own good. What he's doing now is self-destruction. Please, you have to tell me where he is. I'll apologize, I'll promise never to interfere with you two again."
Her words tumbled out between sobs, seemingly incoherent but carrying an unmistakable undertone of accusation.
"Ms. Davis, I genuinely don't know where Mr. Jennings is. And please don't misunderstand—there's nothing between Mr. Jennings and me."
Quinley maintained careful distance. Zachary had lit this fire, but Alicia had built the kindling. She refused to become collateral damage in their war.
"You know, you have to know! Ms. Elikin, please take pity on me. I'm begging you—I know I was wrong."
Alicia dropped to her knees on the floor. "You can hate me, hit me, whatever you want. But Zach is innocent in all this. We both love him—why do we have to destroy him?"
Quinley rubbed her temples, feeling a headache building. Alicia knelt there pleading while simultaneously painting Quinley as the villain behind Zachary's downfall.
"Ms. Davis, you're giving me far too much credit. I don't have that kind of influence. You're his fiancée—if you want to know why he broke your engagement, ask him directly. Instead of wasting time here, you should be out finding him. There might still be a chance to fix this."
Quinley's calm deflection left Alicia with nowhere to direct her dramatics.
"May I use your bathroom?"
The Davis siblings clearly shared the same playbook.
"Of course."
Quinley saw through the ploy but didn't call her out. If Alicia wanted to search for Zachary, let her look.
While supposedly using the facilities, Alicia's eyes swept through Quinley's bedroom and living space. The apartment was small enough that one trip gave her a complete reconnaissance of the premises.
"Ms. Elikin, if you hear anything about Zach, please let me know immediately."
"Absolutely."
Quinley escorted Alicia out, relief washing over her as she reached for the door handle. But her peace was short-lived—David emerged from the elevator just as Alicia disappeared around the corner.