Page 93 of Love Under the Microscope
This is what’s best for Zelda and the company she loves.
Only time will tell if she agrees with me.
Zelda
Where are they?
I’ve been waiting for more than an hour and a half. I’ve stayed in case Jack and Nigel are delayed, but it’s almost eleven thirty, and neither one is here. I haven’t called Jack in case Nigel sees my name and number on the screen, but screw it.
I call Jack, and it goes straight to voicemail.
My heart drops. Either Jack’s been hurt or he’s tricked me. Those are the only two explanations I can come up with, and both hurt my heart.
My eyes sting and water, but blinking does no good. Tears drip down my face, and I wipe them away aggressively. No crying, Zelda. I need to find him to determine whether he’s a great guy or a rat bastard.
My first stop is his apartment, which was closest to the library, but he doesn’t answer the door. The next place is the magazine’s office. It’s the last place I want to step foot in, given the lies they’ve written about Zentello, but here I am.
As I push open the door of the building, I’m unsure whether I want Jack to be there. I have no idea if his betrayal or him being injured will shatter me more. I pass the receptionist, who barely notices me, and head into the area with a bunch of desks.
Jack stands outside an office next to a shorter, thin man, and I nearly fall to my knees so that he doesn’t see me. But I realize the two are arguing and not paying attention to anyone else. I hear my name and stiffen.
Common sense takes over, and I dart behind a row of filing cabinets to listen more closely.
“Trust me. If I give them enough rope, they’ll hang themselves.” Jack’s tone is hard in a way I’ve never heard him before. “Carrington is holding his press conference and will run with the information I gave him today.”
The other man crosses his arms over his chest. “And you think this industrial theft and espionage story will hold our readers’ interest?”
“Once Carrington creates the drug and announces the formula is his, it’ll be the biggest story to hit the pharma industry in years.”
What! I’m not sure if I gasp or not, but I can barely breathe. This was Nigel’s intention, but Jack’s plan was supposed to have blown that apart. Then again, he was also supposed to be at the park next to the library, but he wasn’t.
I didn’t think it was possible for my heart to hurt more; I was wrong. But I’m still confused as to what’s going on, so I try to focus.
“And the announcement is tomorrow?” the other man asks.
Oh, no. If Nigel announces his product tomorrow, people will take him seriously. That’ll cause suspicion over Zentello being the true creator of Orchid.
“Yes,” Jack confirms. “At ten thirty. All the industry giants and media will be in attendance. It’s going to be huge.”
Tears trickle down my cheeks once again. Nate and Ashton have been working on Orchid’s launch, and even though Nate discussed moving it up, that won’t be tomorrow. I can get almost anything done, but I can’t plan a product launch in less than twenty-four hours. Thinking about how this will devastate Nate splits my heart even more.
Granted, Nigel is only announcing his product, but that could cause ripples—perhaps a tsunami—for Orchid and Zentello. I need to do something, but my broken heart makes my brain synapses misfire.
“I also know who Mr. Z really is,” Jack announces.
No. He didn’t say that.
But the other guy cackles, and the way he pats Jack on the shoulder tells me he did.
And I thought he couldn’t hurt me anymore.
Wrong again.
My breath hitches, but I can’t draw any air into my lungs. My heart must still be beating, or I’d be face down on the floor. But I have no doubt it has shattered into a million jagged pieces, ready to slice my insides with the same precision Jack has hurt me.
There’s only one thing left for me to do…
Run.
