Chapter 8 Ch Eight

• Though Zoe had planned the day to take a peace check and go out to have fun by herself, Francis Sinclair had called unexpectedly and demanded a brief audience from her as soon as she was about to leave the spa.
• She strode elegantly out of the spa a few minutes after Audrey and Ivy had seen her, leaving them aghast and battered by intense guilt and fear of the most unexpected thing that could happen to them.
• The feeling of having to see them shocked beyond their bones at the sight of her, made a satisfactory smirk cross her lips as she sat back in the car that drove her away from the building.
• But first, that was the most basic because it was an encounter she least expected. Dealing with her grandfather, whom she just got to familiarize with for lunch, was another hassle.
• The old man was too obnoxious and unnecessary.
• "You are late," Francis pointed out as Zoe sauntered in and took her seat elegantly in the chair opposite him.
• "I'm sorry for that. My location was quite far when you called," she answered him respectfully with a polite smile, as she turned to the waiter who approached to ask for dessert only. However, Francis wouldn't have it and ordered a nice lunch menu for her instead.
• "It is fine that you are here anyways," he cleared his throat, and she acknowledged his words with a bow as she carefully watched every one of his movements as he sat back. She knew he had a lot to say.
• "Do you see those people looking at you?" He asked her again, his eyes pointing to no one in particular as he took a sip from his tea. It was up to her to take a cue and look around to see what he was talking about.
• "Not really? I do not think I know them," Zoe answered, as her eyes studied the few people who were around in the five-star restaurant, who seemed to be overly concerned about what she and her grandfather could be talking about.
• "You should take notice of their looks, and how they act around you irrespective of how close. They are reporters, and people waiting to dig out the slightest nasty news about you and put it out for the world to see," he told her calmly with a stern subtle warning that he wanted her to take note of.
• "Oh," she mouthed, unsure of what to give as a reply to him, "I will," she added.
• "What about your ex-husband, Malcolm? Has his family contacted you since? They came to the ball party as one of the top-ranking families in power of the city, so they must have heard the news by now," Francis proceeded to ask.
• "I do not have anything to do with them anymore. They are not my concern," she answered him instantly, feeling a little uncomfortable that he was talking about the people she never wanted to talk about.
• "They might come, or try to get involved with you either positively or negatively. You should let your personal life cause problems to the corporation," he emphasized with another warning, as he took another from his tea again, ignoring the food that was served before them already.
• "I'll keep my personal life in check. There would be no problem," she assured him, as she began to cut bits from the steak which was served before her.
• "I trust you will do that. Last time I checked, things ended badly between you and them," Francis persisted with an intent to make her say more than she had said. However, she was not willing to talk about it.
• "Why have you called me here, grandfather?" She asked him instead, with a modest but convincing smile that would give any paparazzi willing to capture the scene an impression that she was having the best time with him.
• "How are you these days?" He asked, taking the cue that she was unwilling to talk about his concerns.
• Zoe was taken aback to hear the grumpy old man ask her such a question, and she raised her eyes to meet him, with surprise visibly written on her face. It didn't seem like his place to ask how she was doing. No one had ever asked her.
• "I'm great, thank you," she answered, regardless.
• "The board meeting is next week. You need to put your health as a top priority and be set for the meeting. Gary is going to send the files and everything that is going to be talked about at the meeting. Just study them," he informed her, getting ready to round off his talk. He had a flight to catch the next hour to Okinawa.
• "Is it possible to come to the office before then and get myself accustomed to everything that goes on in the office? I think that would be much better," Zoe suggested to him, finally relieved that they were finally talking about business. The one she was going to control even if she was so nervous and anxious.
• "It is not necessary. Things for you to say will be highlighted, and your reports will be written for you. Down to speech and everything. Just go with the flow. You don't need to do much," he dismissed her idea instantly. His plan was just to get her in the place of the head, while the administrative affairs that would eventually be employed by him would covertly control the company's affairs.
• "If I am doing my job as the heiress of the corporation, I might as well execute it properly as expected of me by everyone," she retorted calmly, and a sudden silence expelled amidst them as she maintained eye contact with him.
• 'He didn't expect such a response from her.'
• Francis thought Zoe was just as useless and nonchalant as the Meyers family had made her, but it seemed like things were a bit different from what he thought. Her new personality after everything seemed fierce and defiant in a manner that was not groveling or infuriating. It was, calculative.
• 'Is she doing it to gain favors?' he wondered.
• 'Time will tell,' he concluded.
• "Okay," he let out a draggy affirmation and nodded his head continuously like it was assurance that he was making the right choice, "Gary will help you and get you whatever you want and need to know. I trust you will not be wasting any time doing things that are going to be of no relevance in the long run."
• "Of course not, grandfather. I'll be doing better than your expectations," she answered him again with a classy look, and he tried to read what was going on in her mind, taking his time to study her facial expression. However, she seemed impenetrable.
• "Hmnn," he hummed, wiping his mouth with the white piece of napkin. Though he had not eaten a quarter of the food on the plate, he was already full.
• He left shortly after Zoe ate a little portion of her meal, and she accompanied him to his car with a warm hug to end their meeting for a public charade. It was probably the last meeting they were going to have in another long while.
• "To the mall, please," Zoe instructed the chauffeur as soon as she entered back into her car, and closed her eyes tightly to summon peace to calm the storm which was brewing within her.
• She had promised herself to never find reasons to cry or be frustrated, after she left the mansion of the Meyers for a new life. Even if she was sad and close to tears, she made sure to not give room to unnecessary sentiments that would end up ruining her day.
• 'Regardless of whatever happens, you have sworn to embrace positivity, while slowly finishing anyone that tries to trample on you,' she reminded herself again as the car zoomed off.