Zach rapped his fingers against the table. He had on a nonchalant attitude as though he had nothing to do with what was happening in his surroundings. Victoria was busy chatting about with Xavier.
Despite the desperate attention different women threw at him, he never left his mother's side. If he was accompanying his mother, then that's what he would do. He might be a player and a lover of fun but there was a time and place for everything. And he wouldn't trust for his brother to entertain their mom in the absence of their father.
George, on the other hand, was a whole case of nerves. He had willed his face to remain calm though his insides were chaotic. He looked at Zach, who was calm and collected as always whenever in face of crisis. He also wanted to remain calm like his boss but he had seen how disturbed the man was for the past few days. How would he handle the confrontation?
Heels echoed from behind him until they came to a stop. A man's voice spoke from above them.
"Excuse me, Mr. Frost, Mr. Stewart, Gwen Cancino, C.E.O of Greco Pharmaceuticals", Peter introduced.
Zach retrieved his hand from the table and stood up to face them. He straightened his jacket out of habit and squared his shoulders as he stared at Gwen with his usual impassive expression. George stood by his boss's side and he too assumed a calm expression as he pushed his eye glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Peter felt so uncomfortable. Even without saying a word, Zach's imposing nature sent an unpleasant cold shiver down his spine. He suddenly felt like he had shrunk in size and should weigh his words carefully lest it costs his life. He was afraid of Gwen but Zach, the man was a whole different case.
"Mr. Frost, I didn't think we would see you here this year", Gwen started.
"And that's your business, how?" He spoke in an unhurried tone and arched a brow.
Gwen's lips spasmed. She was trying to make small talk but the man didn't even give her face.
"Alright, I'll cut right to the chase. I'd like to know where you assistant was for the past few days", she also willed a cold expression.
"Mr. Frost doesn't like to repeat himself", George said.
Gwen's mouth fell open in disbelief. Peter mistook her reaction for her lack of understanding.
"He means to ask how that is your business", he blurted out only to shut up when Gwen glared at him.
This man had turned himself into Zach's little bitch! He seemed to fear him more than he does her. To a certain degree, she could understand him. Zach exuded the same suppressing aura like The King does. This alone made her uncomfortable but she could not ignore her gut feeling.
Earlier, when she looked into George's eyes, she could not help but feel his gaze was familiar. Yes, they were different eyes but she had stared at his picture for too long. There was just something familiar about his gaze and she could not shake off that feeling.
"Mr. Frost, I wish for you to understand that I would not deliberately not waste your time", Gwen said after regaining her composure from Peter's stupidity.
"Yet, here you are", Zach countered.
"I have my reasons. Now, Mr. Stewart, where were you for the past few days", Gwen directed her gaze to George. She felt she a lot more Superior talking to him than Zach. But, Zach was not going to give her that chance.
"And why should he answer to you?" He demanded. His voice was quiet but it still sounded sinister no matter what he said.
"I said I have my reasons and I demand an answer. Mr. Stewart", she warned through gritted teeth.
"I am under no obligation to answer to you Miss Cancino nor do I plan to expose company secrets. I'm sure you understand the danger as well as the importance", George replied as he remained calm and collected. Maybe because of Zach, his nerves had calmed down from the moment the conversation had started.
"If I wanted company secrets, would I approach you so directly? Do I look so stupid?" Her usually calm countenance was breaking. The two men were proving difficult to talk to.
"Then why?" Zach looked at her before looking at Peter who gulped in fear.
"There was a break in at the lab and we're trying to find the intruder. But he had grey eyes I don't understand why....", Peter blurted out in fear under Zach's gaze only for his voice to falter when he caught Gwen's glare. The latter couldn't understand why he was being so stupid.
Zach's brows slightly rose as he gave George a look and the latter understood.
"Miss Cancino, do you realize that your actions have offended not just myself but the Chairman himself? You have also wasted his precious time that he took to attend this function. How do you plan to atone for this?" George did not bother hiding his displeasure while Zach's expression remained the same.
"Atone?" Gwen spat looking at George like he had grown two heads.
"Please, it's-"
"Not another word from you Peter!" She snapped gaining the attention of people from other tables. She looked around and felt embarrassed. She could already guess that people were judging her for offending Zach Frost.
With his appearance tonight, a lot of businesses wanted to use this opportunity to win an investment from Frost Corporation. Xavier never gave them a sure answer as all investments were approved by Zach the Chairman himself. This was a man who was hard to come by, should Greco Pharmaceuticals ruin this chance for them, Gwen would be gaining a lot of enemies than she already has.
"It seems Miss Cancino is a little desperate, let's ease her mind a little. George, did you break into their lab?"
"No, sir."
Zach gestured with his hands silently saying 'there you have it'.
"No-"
"Miss Cancino", Zach locked his piercing gaze on her making the older woman uncomfortable on her two feet. "If there is a break in, then report the case to the police. Should George fall on the list of suspects, you will have his full cooperation, I can give you my word. That's the reasonable thing to do unless..... "
He deliberately paused and let his words linger. Gwen felt like he could see through her and new her little secret. Was he messing with her or did he know something he shouldn't...?
"Sir, it's time", George said breaking the uncomfortable air.
Zach didn't spare another glance and sat back down and George followed after. Gwen's face was not good as she stared at the back of the two men.
"Boss..." Peter said with a lot of hesitation. She looked him in the eyes and in that moment, he knew he was done for.
Gwen walked off in her obvious rage and Peter followed after. He wished he could just disappear, it was not his fault that Zach instilled so much fear in him without even trying that he blurted all those things out. Aldo and Esmeralda watched as the pair derailed from their table's direction and walked out of the venue.
Back at the Frost table
"I'm sorry baby", Zach said in a quiet voice.
"It's okay....", George's voice faltered when he realized what was wrong with Zach's sentence. "Sir?"
Zach glared at him. He took in the man's face and finally noticed a nude earpiece stuck in Zach's ear. Who was he talking to?
"Mister, you're in a lot of trouble", Amy's voice resounded in Zach's ears. She was clearly pissed by what she had virtually experienced.
"I can explain", Zach hurriedly said.
"Uh-huh, explain."
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