Zara stepped out of the office with her usual composure. She gave no outward sign of the tense exchange that had just occurred—her expression as unreadable as ever. Behind her, the men trailed in silence, Richard among them, his thoughts troubled, clouded by the weight of what had just transpired.
As she reached the car, the familiar hum of the engine already purring, Richard called out, his voice carrying an undertone of concern. "Miss Luna."
Zara paused, her figure still as stone, and turned to face him. Her eyes locked with his, her expression neutral, but Richard could see the glimmer of something beneath—an unspoken question in her gaze, an understanding that something was amiss.
"Speak your mind," Zara said, her tone unwavering yet calm.
Richard hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. His usual confidence faltered for a moment as he searched for the right words. Finally, he spoke, the gravity of his voice pulling the air taut around them. "I think it would be best if you left for headquarters today," he said, each word deliberate. "Those men won't take this lightly. We just threatened them, and I highly doubt they'll just let it slide. Your safety is our priority, Miss Luna."
Zara's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him, her gaze piercing through him. She seemed to weigh his words, to consider them. The silence stretched, and Richard felt the unease in the air like an invisible force pressing against him.
Then, to his surprise, Zara let out a quiet breath, almost as if in amusement, the faintest flicker of a smile dancing at the edges of her lips. It was an expression that left him unsure whether she was genuinely reassured—or just hiding her thoughts behind a wall of calm.
"Don't worry about me," she said evenly, her voice steady, yet carrying a firmness that made it clear she wouldn't be swayed. "Focus on the task at hand. Keep an eye on the land, monitor their movements, and report back. Give them two or three days. If they begin clearing the buildings, we'll know they've accepted the reality of the situation. Keep me updated."
Richard pressed his lips together, reluctant but unable to argue. He could see it in her eyes—this was Zara's way, her unshakable resolve. Headquarters had sent her for a reason, and no amount of concern could change her course. He wasn't about to try.
"Understood," he muttered, the words leaving his mouth heavier than he intended.
Without another word, Zara slid into the car, her posture graceful, her every movement calculated and poised. Carter, ever silent, opened the door for her and slid into the driver's seat without a word. The engine roared to life, and within moments, the car disappeared into the busy city streets.
Richard exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, watching the car fade into the distance. His thoughts churned, but there was little time to dwell. He turned back to the men standing behind him, each of them waiting for direction.
"Mr. Moore," one of the subordinates spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Do you think they'll actually clear the land?"
Richard didn't answer immediately. His gaze turned distant, his mind still on the cold warning Leonard had delivered in the office just moments ago. A warning that hadn't escaped his thoughts since.
"It's hard to say," he murmured, his voice low. The tension in his chest was thick, his instincts telling him that something was far from right.
Another man shifted uneasily, glancing at the others before speaking. "Maybe we should inform headquarters. They need to know what happened. If those bastards retaliate, we need to be ready."
Richard's jaw tightened, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He reached for his phone, pulling it from his jacket pocket. Headquarters had given him clear instructions—ensure Miss Luna's safety at all costs—but after everything that had transpired, he wasn't about to take any chances.
He dialed quickly, his conversation brief, efficient. When he ended the call, the men surrounding him looked at him expectantly, waiting for answers.
"What did they say?" one of them asked, voice tinged with concern.
Richard pocketed his phone and looked over each of them, his expression grim. "They said to proceed as Miss Luna instructed. Everything else…" He exhaled sharply, his words clipped. "They'll handle it."
A tense silence fell over the group. There was no room for argument—Miss Luna had given her orders, and headquarters had approved. All they could do was follow suit. Without another word, the men climbed into their respective cars and drove off, the weight of what lay ahead pressing on them all.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Adam Group headquarters, Jack sat behind his massive desk, his sharp eyes scanning the documents spread across the surface. The silence of his office was only broken by the faint ticking of the clock, each second marking the intense focus with which he reviewed every detail.
Then, a knock echoed through the stillness.
Jack's gaze lifted, cold and unyielding, his sharp eyes cutting through the air as his assistant hurried into the room.
The assistant froze mid-step, his heart skipping a beat under the weight of Jack's gaze. Jack's expression was rigid, his demeanor as stern and commanding as always. He hated being interrupted during important work—everyone in the building knew that. The assistant swallowed nervously, trying to compose himself.
"I—" he started, his voice faltering. "Sir, this is about the Clover Hill land matter."
Jack's posture shifted at the mention of Clover Hill. The mention of his sister softened the sharpness of his face, a subtle, almost imperceptible change, but a change nonetheless. The assistant blinked, surprised by the shift in Jack's usually unrelenting exterior.
Jack's voice was calm but firm. "Go on."
The assistant, now more composed, recounted everything—the negotiation, how Zara had taken control of the situation with remarkable ease, and how she had given the men time to vacate. The assistant spoke with a sense of awe, noting how effortlessly Zara had commanded the room.
Jack leaned back in his chair, his lips curving into a rare, almost amused smile. The thought of his sister, standing her ground with that composed, fearless demeanor, brought a warmth to his chest. She must have looked adorable, he mused. His little sister, a force to be reckoned with.
But then, the assistant hesitated before continuing, a note of hesitation in his voice. "Sir… there's something else."
Jack's gaze snapped to him, the warmth in his expression disappearing instantly, replaced by a dangerous edge. "What is it?"
The assistant took a deep breath, then spoke, his voice quiet. "The other party… they—" He paused. "They threatened Miss Luna after hearing her conditions."
The room seemed to freeze. Jack's hand clenched into a fist, the veins in his arm taut with restraint. His eyes darkened, his features hardening into something cold, something lethal.
"Threatened her?" Jack's voice was dangerously calm, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence.
The assistant nodded quickly, his voice lowering. "Yes. According to our people on-site, the threats were… serious. They implied she wouldn't leave Clover Hill in one piece if this continued. They were scared about her safety, so they called to inform me immediately."
The assistant barely finished his sentence before the temperature in the office dropped, the air thick with unspoken fury.
Jack's eyes gleamed with cold, calculated rage. His voice, when he spoke again, was pure steel. "Find out everything. Every single detail about those men. Not a shred of information missing."
The assistant nodded quickly, his breath catching in his throat. He scrambled out of the room, his heart racing.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Jack remained motionless, his fingers drumming slowly on the polished wood of his desk. His mind was already working, calculating, plotting. Threatening his sister?
They would regret it.