THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW

~ 9 ~

Laura’s response was immediate. "Right away, sir. I guess they must have offended you."

"They have," Zach said, his voice tight with anger. 

Laura sneered. "How dare they bite the very hand that feeds them. We've given them opportunities in the past, just like First Star Bank. This is how they repay us? Nonsense.”

Zach added. "I want you to also halt all business dealings with them."

"I will take care of it, Master Zach," Laura confirmed. "Consider it done."

Zach exhaled slowly, his grip on the phone tightening as he finished the call. He wasn’t just about to take back his dignity; he was about to make sure no one ever dared to mock him—or his family—again.

He stepped back into the grand hall, the echoes of his footsteps competing with the sneers and mocking laughter that immediately greeted him.

 Luke, Maya, and a few others snickered, their eyes gleaming with amusement as they watched him walk in.

"Back so soon, Zach? Did you go to weep for a moment or call some top authority?" Maya teased, her voice dripping with scorn.

Zach’s lips curled into a cryptic smile. “Could be any,” he replied coolly, his eyes steady as he glanced at each of them. He wasn’t fazed by their ridicule.

They laughed, thinking he was just bragging, but the atmosphere shifted when Luke’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his smile bloomed as he saw the caller ID.

"Excuse me for a moment," Luke said, stepping aside to answer the call. His voice was almost smug as he lifted the phone to his ear. "Hello, Father. Your son is about to uplift the family by getting the great investment project from First Star Bank—"

"Oh, shut up!" His father’s voice exploded on the other end, the words sending a shockwave through Luke’s body. His face froze, his smile faltering into confusion. "What nonsense have you done, you fool?"

"Wh-what?" Luke stammered, the color draining from his face as his father’s fury hit him like a tidal wave. He could hardly breathe, dread pooling in his stomach. "N...nothing, Father."

"What did you do, Luke?" His father’s voice was seething with rage. "You’ve somehow offended an important client of First Star Bank. They’ve canceled all cooperation with us, you damned piece of thrash! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!"

Luke stood frozen, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what he was hearing. "What? I—I didn’t do anything wrong, Father!"

His father wasn’t listening, his voice cutting through the line like a knife. "Shut up! You’ve caused the family a significant loss, Luke. The news of our halted business dealings with First Star Bank is going to go viral soon, and we’re going to be destroyed. Because of you!"

"No! Father, I didn’t—" Luke protested, but his voice faltered as his father’s wrath only intensified.

"You're a good-for-nothing!" His father spat. "The family has decided to strip you of your inheritance rights to the business. You’ve cost us too much. You’ll bear the heat of your mistakes, and it’ll be on your shoulders now."

Luke’s stomach twisted in knots. "Father, no—please—"

His father’s voice was cold and final. "This is the price of your foolishness. If you hadn’t opened your mouth, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Now, suffer the consequences."

"Father, please!" Luke’s voice trembled with desperation. "I didn’t do anything wrong!"

"You’re a disappointment," his father barked, the words hanging heavy in the air. "Now, stop bothering me."

The line went dead.

Luke stood motionless, the phone still pressed to his ear. His body felt cold, his hands trembling. The bustling sounds of the hall seemed far away, like a distant hum in the background.

Luke slowly lowered the phone, his hands trembling. His face drained of color, a sick feeling settling deep in his stomach. The air around him felt thick and suffocating, as though the weight of his father's anger was pressing down on him. His mind was spinning, trying to make sense of the conversation, but all he could feel was the sharp sting of humiliation. His breathing was shallow, each breath coming with difficulty.

"Who have I offended?" Luke muttered under his breath, frustration bubbling inside him.

 "Did I—" He stopped abruptly, a sudden realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning. His eyes flickered across the room, landing on Zach standing at the other end. 

The words Zach had spoken earlier echoed in his mind, and a deep sense of fear gnawed at him. Could Zach have had a hand in this? The thought lingered, making his stomach turn.

But Luke quickly dismissed it. No. It was just a coincidence. There was no way Zach could be connected to something huge like this. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the doubt.

However, as his gaze remained fixed on Zach, a wave of anger surged within him. He needed someone to blame. Someone to lash out at. Zach, standing there so smug, was the perfect target. After all, he had jinxed him, hadn't he? 

Luke's frustration burned hotter. He could feel the bile rise in his throat, and without a second thought, he stormed toward Zach.

"Seize him," he commanded, his voice sharp, ordering his two guards near him to act. 

The guards, trained to follow his every order, moved quickly, grabbing Zach by the arms and pulling him toward Luke.

Maya, standing nearby, gasped in delight, her lips curling into a cruel smile. She chuckled in excitement, her eyes gleaming as she watched Zach being restrained. 

"Oh, this is going to be good," she whispered, eager to see her ex-husband suffer.

But just as the guards were about to drag Zach to the ground, a strong, feminine voice rang out across the room.

"Stop that nonsense!"

Heads turned in unison, and a shocked silence fell over the hall. People stared, their eyes widening as Laura Sinclair stepped forward, her presence commanding the room. Her posture was straight and regal, her gaze unwavering as she moved toward Luke.

Luke froze, his heart skipping a beat. He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a strange knot tighten in his chest. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to salvage the situation. He didn’t expect Laura to show up now, not like this. Trying to hide his unease, he forced a smile, though it was more strained than genuine.

“Madam Laura…” Luke greeted, his voice attempting to sound casual, but the tension in his body was palpable.

Before he could say anything further out of courtesy, a sharp crack echoed through the hall.

PAAA!

The sound of Laura’s hand meeting Luke’s cheek reverberated through the space, leaving everyone in stunned silence. The force of the slap was so sudden and powerful that it made Luke’s head snap to the side. His cheek stung as the pain radiated through his face, and the shock of it made his legs feel weak. 

Gasps filled the room, and even the guards who had been holding Zach in place let go in surprise, their eyes wide.