ENTANGLED BY BILLIONAIRE BROTHERS

Chapter 2: A Night Of Surprises

[PEARL]

Sophia's words hung in the air like a challenge, her piercing green eyes daring me to defy her. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized the complexity of Zach's past. What had happened to him? And why did Sophia seem so bitter about it?

"What do you mean, Sophia?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. I was curious, but also cautious. I didn't want to get in the middle of their drama.

Sophia's smile was like a razor's edge, cutting through the tension. "Zach and I were together for three years, Pearl. We were deeply in love, or so I thought. But he has a dark side, a side he only reveals when he's hurt. And trust me, he's been hurt before."

I felt a pang of sympathy for Zach, despite Sophia's warning. There was something about him that drew me in, something that made me want to help him heal.

Just then, Zach returned to the dining room, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. Sophia's presence seemed to darken his mood, and I sensed a storm brewing. The air was thick with tension, and I felt like I was caught in the middle of a war zone.

“What is she doing here?” Zach asked in annoyance.

“Relax, Zach. She's here to deliver a message on her mother's behalf,” Eunice responded.

After Sophia left, the tension between Zach and his mom, Eunice, was palpable. They argued about his reluctance to settle down.

“I won't get married! You can't talk me into playing your mind games of guilt-tripping!”

"Son! Don't you raise your voice at me; I'm your mother!" Eunice commanded as she stood up abruptly. "Why do I have to appear like a bad person to you because I want what's best for you and our family?" She slammed her hands on the table as tears streamed down her eyes.

I noticed how Zach's demeanor changed. He is a cold man who masks his emotions in the business world. But before me, I saw a son who felt guilty for talking to his mother disrespectfully. His face was evident of defeat.

"Mom, I...I am sorry, I didn't mean that," Zach stood up and walked to his mom, giving her a warm embrace.

I didn't know what to do, so I came up with a flimsy excuse to let them have their moment. "Sorry, I'm going to get some fresh air outside," I said while standing up.

Eunice's expression softened. "No dear, don't mind us. You're like family to us. There's nothing new about the Davis family you should feel awkward about.”

"Alright, let's all have a wonderful dinner. Please," she gestured to me to sit down.

Zach returned to his seat and resumed his lasagna. "So Pearl, how are your parents? Hope you do hear from them?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," I responded respectfully.

Eunice turned to me with a sly grin. "Pearl, you're a catch! Zach should snap you up." Zach rolled his eyes, ignoring her. Then she turned to Zach, “Don't you agree?”

Zach's face darkened. "Mom, drop it."

I forced a smile, not wanting to get drawn into their argument.

Dinner went on smoothly, and it was time for us to leave. Eunice walked both me and Zach to the doorway and whispered to me, "I meant what I said earlier." My eyes widened in astonishment, and my cheeks flushed. Zach, unaware of what just happened, interrupted. "Thanks, Mom, for the delicious dinner."

"Thank you, Mrs. Davis," I said.

We both gave her an embrace, and she waved back at us as we drove out of the villa.

"I'm sorry about my mother. She's...a handful sometimes, and that's why I try avoiding her dramas a lot," Zach said in a soft tone.

"No, sir. It's okay. I enjoyed dinner tonight," I replied.

"Oh s**t!" Zach exclaimed, as if he remembered something. "s**t! How did I totally forget?" he said, readjusting the rear gear as he began to reverse.

"Sir, what's wrong?" I asked in confusion.

"This dinner with my mom wasn't planned. There's a proposal we were supposed to work on after we finished up that meeting. And the client needs it tomorrow," Zach explained, his brow furrowed in concern.

I looked at my watch, it was 7:30 pm. "Sir, I can work late so I can get it sorted out before morning," I responded confidently.

"I won't let you do it all on your own. It'll be faster if we both do it together," Zach said, his eyes locked on mine.

I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest. Working late with Zach wasn't exactly what I had planned, but I couldn't deny the excitement I felt at the prospect of spending more time with him. This wasn't the first time we had worked after office hours, but this was the first time we were working together after office hours, alone. My cheeks turned red as a naughty thought of how it'd look if Zach bent me over his desk. But who was I kidding? That could never happen.

We headed back to the office, and I could feel the tension between us building. We worked in silence, our fingers flying across our keyboards as we raced against the clock. I couldn't help but notice the way his muscles flexed beneath his black button-down shirt as he typed. He was focused, intense, and utterly captivating. God, this man was just perfect, even when he made no effort and the sight got me wet in my panties. But I pushed away my naughty thoughts as it was time for concentration.

By the time we were done, it was 10 pm. The silence between us grew thicker, until finally, Zach spoke up. "Pearl, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, sir," I replied, my heart racing.

"Why do you always leave your blazers on after work hours?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. "I...I don't know, sir. It just seems more professional, I guess.”

Zach chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You're not very good at this, are you, Pearl?"

I looked up at him, my eyes locking with his. "Not good at what, sir?”

Zach leaned in close, his face inches from mine. "Pretending you don't feel it too," he whispered.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I realized what he was talking about. The tension between us, the attraction that had been building all night. Oh, this is it, I thought. He's going to confess his feelings for me!

But just as I was about to swoon, Zach continued, "I mean, pretending you don't feel the heat. This office is stifling!”

I was taken aback, my face flushing with embarrassment. "Oh, uh, yeah! The heat! Totally feeling it!" I stuttered, trying to play it cool.

Zach chuckled and patted me on the back. "Don't worry, Pearl. I've got your back. You've been sweating like crazy."

I laughed, relieved but also a little disappointed. I guess I was just projecting my own feelings onto the situation! Note to self: work on that.

We headed to his car, and he drove me home as I guided him with the directions to my address.

"Thank you so much, Miss Collins. I know this came in as an emergency, but you gave it your all. I appreciate that a lot," he said in an appreciative tone.

"I'm just doing my job, sir," I said with a little chuckle as I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Goodnight, Miss Collins. See you at work tomorrow." "Goodnight, Mr. Davis." As I made my way out of the car, I stood there and watched him leave. I couldn't shake off the feeling of excitement and admiration that I got to spend alone time with Zach, even if it was for work purposes.

As I walked towards my door, I noticed a figure sitting by the stairs, shrouded in darkness. My heart raced, and my senses went on high alert. Who was this? And what did they want? I tried to stay calm, telling myself it was just a neighbor or a friend, but my instincts screamed otherwise.

As I stepped closer, the figure slowly stood up, but my mind struggled to place who it was. Was it someone from work? A friend of a friend? The uncertainty sent a chill down my spine.

My heart raced faster, my thoughts consumed by a sense of dread. Who was this person? And what did they want from me?