Chapter 96: Did My Dad Force You?
The next day at the Imperial Hotel, the atmosphere inside the executive floor was unusually quiet, wrapped in the kind of silence that always seemed to settle before something unpleasant happened.
Zoey Sterling stepped out of the elevator with her usual poise and grace.
Everything about her exuded unquestionable control. Her calm expression, her graceful posture, and the effortless authority that made people instinctively lower their voices around her.
But the moment she opened the door to her office, that sense of control slipped away.
Someone was already inside.
Seated comfortably on the single sofa near the tall windows was a man who looked entirely too relaxed for someone who had entered the CEO’s office without permission.
Zoey was speechless when she saw Riley so early in her office.
He didn’t stand when she entered. He didn’t greet her. He didn’t even bother pretending that this situation required an explanation.
He simply looked at her nonchalantly.
Still, the intensity of his gaze alone was enough to make most people uncomfortable. It was sharp, as if he had been waiting there for a long time and had no intention of leaving until he got what he came for.
Zoey stopped near the door for the briefest moment. Then she smiled. Not a nervous or offended smile, but a calm one.
"Well, Riley..." she said lightly as she closed the door behind her. "This is new. Breaking into my office early in the morning? Are you trying to show off your street skills?" Her brow lifted slightly. "Should I compliment you or should I be concerned?"
Riley didn’t answer. His expression remained unreadable.
Zoey wasn’t surprised. In fact, his silence only confirmed what she had already guessed the moment she saw him sitting there.
He hadn’t come for a casual visit. But she had expected that.
So she calmly walked past her desk and headed directly toward the seating area, her movements smooth and composed.
Then, she sat down on the sofa opposite him and reached for the landline beside her.
"Can you bring two warm teas?" she said calmly into the receiver. After a short pause, she added, "And make sure it’s not the one that tastes like regret."
Another pause followed.
"Yes. That one."
She hung up and finally gave him her full attention.
Riley was still staring at her.
"What brings you here so early and without prior notice, Riley?" she asked, her voice light but threaded with quiet curiosity.
Silence answered her.
Zoey sighed softly, resting her arm against the armrest.
"If you came here just to stare at me," she said dryly, "the least you could do is offer a warm regard with friendly talk first. Otherwise, I’ll assume you’re occupying my time for nothing."
Still nothing from Riley.
Their eyes remained locked, neither of them willing to look away first, as if surrendering eye contact meant surrendering something far more important.
After another second passed, a knock interrupted the silence.
"Come in," Zoey called.
The door opened carefully, and her secretary stepped inside carrying a tray with two cups of tea. Her secretary, obviously, tried to hide her surprise at finding Riley there. Her gaze flickered briefly between Zoey and Riley, clearly sensing the heavy tension in the room, before she quickly placed the tray onto the table between them.
"Anything else, ma’am?" she asked tensely without losing her politeness.
"No," Zoey replied smoothly, never taking her eyes off Riley. "That will be all."
The secretary nodded quickly and left the room without another word.
Once the door closed, silence settled between them once more.
Zoey reached for her tea first.
Riley followed a second later.
Neither of them spoke while taking a sip, their gazes still locked over the rims of porcelain cups. The quiet no longer felt empty now. Filled with words neither of them had spoken yet.
When Zoey finally placed her cup back onto the saucer, the soft clink sounded unnaturally loud in the room.
"Speak," she said at last, her patience thinning just enough to become noticeable. "Stop wasting my time. I’m busy. Unlike you, I can’t spend my entire morning sitting here having a silent staring contest with you..." Her lips curved faintly. "Even if you are strangely good at it."
Riley inhaled slowly.
He set his cup down carefully before leaning back slightly, his expression darkening further.
But before he could speak, Zoey spoke first.
"Are you angry with me?"
Riley’s gaze sharpened instantly.
"You already know the answer," he said coldly. "So why ask?"
And before Zoey could respond, he continued.
"I already told you," he said, his voice lower and tighter this time, "I’ll quit on my own. You didn’t need to ask them to fire me first."
Zoey’s expression softened slightly, though there was visible weariness beneath her small smile.
"I didn’t have a choice, Riley," she replied gently. "You need to leave this hotel."
Riley leaned back further against the sofa, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Did my dad force you?"
Zoey didn’t hesitate.
"Hmm," she hummed softly. "He said he’d remove me from Imperial if I refused to kick you out."
Riley let out a quiet exhale and tilted his head back briefly, as if forcing himself to remain patient.
"That old man is seriously annoying."
Zoey let out a soft breath of amusement.
"It’s because you ignored him," she replied calmly. "I heard he summoned you back, but you never returned."
Riley didn’t answer.
His silence made Zoey narrow her eyes, curiosity flickering beneath her calm expression.
"Besides," she continued, "why have you been staying in this hotel for so long?" Her voice softened slightly. "You were only supposed to stay for six months."
A pause.
"And it’s already been a year. I let it slip because I have a lot more important things to do than to remind you about it. Until now. So, at least, you could respect that."
Still no answer.
Riley simply looked at her, and somehow his silence felt deliberate this time, almost guarded.
Zoey straightened slowly against the sofa.
"Alright," she said after a moment, her tone deceptively calm. "I won’t ask."
A brief pause followed before her expression sharpened slightly.
"But if the reason you stayed here is because of a woman..." Her lips curved faintly. "Your father is going to be furious. I know that for certain."
For the first time since she entered the room, Riley reacted.
Zoey noticed immediately. And suddenly, everything became interesting.
Her posture shifted as she sat straighter.
"No way," she said, genuine surprise slipping into her voice now. "There actually is a woman?"
Riley’s expression darkened instantly. He said nothing.
But that silence alone was enough of an answer.
Zoey stared at him for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh of disbelief.
"Seriously, Riley?" she asked. "You stayed here this entire time because of a woman?"
Silence again.
