Turning and seeing him, she asked, “What’s Zachary doing here?”
“He’s buying us lunch, so it’s natural that he’s there,” Diarmuid replied, gathering him in his arms. “It’s almost one. Aren’t you hungry?”
“I don’t want to see him,” Abigail said.
What?
“Weren’t you good friends?” Diarmuid said, actually feeling a little weird as he spoke.
The fact that she and Zachary Slate had met each other before he met her always nagged at him.
It was not jealousy since things were clean between them and lacked any attraction, but he was uncomfortable regardless.
He could not explain what was wrong either!
Abigail rolled her eyes at him just then. “I heard from Lulu. She says she’s getting married, and I wouldn’t know how to respond if Zachary asked.”
Diarmuid said coolly and nonchalantly, “Just pretend you aren’t aware.”
Abigail sighed. “Yeah. Guess that’s the only way.”
She entered with Diarmuid then and Zachary rose to his feet, smiling. “You’re late.”
“I was held up,” Abigail explained—she thought Diarmuid was treating her to something nice when she got his call, only to find out that it was Zachary buying.
“I’ve ordered, if you don’t mind,” he said. “I more or less know your tastes.”
They both sat down together opposite Zachary then.
“Why would you suddenly ask us out for lunch?” Abigail asked, having the feeling that he found out about something and was trying to get her to talk.
“I’ve been busy lately, but I happened to be free today and called Diarmuid since it’s been a while,” Zachary said, keeping his eyes fixed on Abigail. “Why do I feel like you’re being distant?”
“You’re ridiculous.” Abigail denied it vehemently.
Zachary flashed a rare smile. “I’m just kidding.”
“Have you been busy lately?” Abigail asked.
“Yeah,” Zachary nodded.
A waiter started bringing in their food just then and Abigail picked up her fork and knife, saying, “Let’s eat —I’m hungry.”
Zachary smiled as he asked Diarmuid, “She looks hungry. Haven’t you been feeding her?”
Diarmuid shot him a look. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re mocking the way she eats?”
Zachary chuckled. “Well, she does lack manners when she’s wolfing her food like that… but as long as you like it.”
Abigail was speechless.
She was just eating, but she somehow ended up a subject of ridicule?
Could a girl not eat in peace?
When she was finished, she rose to her feet and said, “Take your time and eat slowly. Don’t choke.”
“You’re really getting a temper after being with Diarmuid for so long,” Zachary said. “You used to be milder… Or is temper infectious?”
Abigail smiled at him. “Can’t help it. He’s really rubbing off on me, so try not to mess with me from now on.”
Picking up her bag, she told Diarmuid, “I still have work in the afternoon, so I have to go.”
Diarmuid got to his feet. “I’ll drive you back.”
“It’s alright—Eagle is waiting for me outside. It’d be a long detour when you return to your office, and a waste of time.”
“Yeah,” Diarmuid replied and told her, “Come home early.”
“Okay,” she said, waving him goodbye.
After Abigail left, Zachary’s expression turned serious. “Actually, there’s a reason I asked you out here…”
Diarmuid leveled a cool look at Zachary that pretty much said ‘I knew it’.
“Shoot!”
Zachary sighed again. “I wanted to ask Abigail about Lulu, but she seemed wary about me so I didn’t ask. Does she know something?”
“You’re imagining things.” Diarmuid told him off immediately. “Weren’t you just putting your whole heart into your work lately? That’s good, so keep that up.”
Zachary was speechless, wondering if Diarmuid could not understand him because he was leading a blissful life with Abigail, so anyone else’s business was not his.
“Fine,” Zachary said as he reclined against his chair.
Diarmuid then put down his fork and knife. “Try to be nice if you meet a nice girl. It’s not like there’s only one woman in this world.”
“Really?” Zachary was not about to forget how Diarmuid brooded because of Abigail in the past.
Diarmuid stared at Zachary for several heartbeats before snorting. “I’m doing this for your own good. Don’t talk about my past if you know what’s good for you.”
Zachary chuckled. “I got you good, huh?”
Diarmuid ignored him and strode off then.
Still, he paused at the doorway, and since he wanted Zachary to give up instead of obsessing over finding Lulu, he said, “I heard Abigail saying that Lulu chose to start over. Give up already.”
With that, he started to head outside, but stopped in his tracks again when Zachary caught up.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Sleep on it,” Diarmuid replied flatly, and then warned, “And don’t be so casual with Abigail.”
Zachary was speechless, but since Diarmuid might get a little upset if he did not play along easily, he decided to mess with him.
Surely he could not let Diarmuid off so easily!
“We’ve always been like this for a while. It’s not going to be that easy to change a habit. I’ll try to change, but it might take some time”
With those words, Zachary left Diarmuid behind as he strode off with a huge strut in his gait.
While Diarmuid was left speechless and staring at Zachary’s back, he wanted nothing less than to kick him so hard he’d fall flat on his face, with his rump in the air!
…
As soon as Abigail returned to Hotmesh Research, Finn informed her that someone was asking to see her.
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know. I asked him to wait for you in the conference room.”
Abigail started to head there while giving him some instructions on his work, and Finn soon left, while Abigail entered the conference alone.
Opening the door and seeing that it was Mark Wickers, she entered and asked, “You’re here already?”
“Of course. I’ve done what you asked,” Mark smiled.
Abigail was certainly surprised. “That’s quick.”
“Well, New Sun Pharma is in the same business and a rival, so getting dirt on them is really easy.”
Abigail sat down and held out her hand. “Where is it?”
Mark did not give it to her right away, but instead asked her what she wanted it for.
“Why would you want to upset New Sun Pharma out of the blue?”
Abigail did not hide it from him or treat him like a stranger. “I had no choice—I got the photos, but I’m still worried that they would resort to other dirty moves and harass Professor Lowe.”
“Let me help you with this,” Mark offered.
Though Abigail was grateful, she did not want to trouble him further. “Getting dirt on them is already too much trouble. I can’t let you get dragged into this because of me.”
However, Mark had clearly made up his mind and was brimming with confidence. “Oh, they’re my rivals and they tried to backstab me before. They’d know it’s me if their dirty laundry was exposed, but they won’t do much since it’s just payback from me. On the other hand, if they realize that it was you, and that you’re trying to poach Professor Lowe from them, they’d come for you like a pack of wild dogs—it’s really better to just leave this to me.”
“Thank you,” Abigail said.
“Oh, it’s fine. I know you work for the sake of advancing our medical field and contributing, and we can all imagine what it’s like if New Sun Pharma gets their hands on it instead. That’s why I’m not just helping you—please don’t feel burdened.”
With that, Mark rose to his feet. “I shall head back to prepare now.”
Abigail said, “They’re still bugging Professor Lowe to sign an agreement…”
“It’s fine to show your hand. Leave the rest to me,” Mark said confidently.
Mark got up and left the conference room, and Abigail walked with him to the front entrance.
She cheered up considerably after her conservation with Mark, and she then told Professor Lowe to contact New Sun Pharma, so that they could talk about the agreement New Sun Pharma wanted to sign with him.
“I thought we should wait?” Professor Lowe asked—why the sudden change of plans?
Abigail said, “Someone will help us resolve the issue, so it went smoother than planned.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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