Zoe

I woke up feeling groggy, like I hardly slept. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand—7:03 a.m. Only five hours of sleep. Not good.

My mind was restless and had kept me awake. Seeing Zeus again stirred up old feelings—pain, anger, and heartbreak—as if they were fresh. And knowing he was the other guest of the Somersbys and sleeping next door worsened the feeling.

With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself out of bed. A hot shower would wake me up and wipe away the frustrations of yesterday, especially that heated moment with Zeus in the hallway. I dressed quickly in a white shirt, jeans, a cream blazer, and black ankle boots. I brushed my hair thoroughly and let it fall naturally off my shoulders.

Today was the first day of the Expo, and I was ready to prove to John that we could secure a deal and cut out Petrakis Shipping.

On my way to the kitchen, the smell of fresh-baked bread and coffee greeted me.

Martha was setting the rectangular table with a plate and utensils. She looked up when she heard me and gave me a polite smile.

"Good morning, madam. You're up early."

"Good morning, Martha," I greeted back and sat behind the table. "I didn't sleep much."

"A young lady like you should get more beauty rest," she said and put a hot coffee in front of me.

I sipped my coffee, letting it wake me up a little more. "I'll survive."

Another maid entered the kitchen, pushing a trolley cart. She served platters of croissants, bacon, eggs, cheese, and fruits in front of me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Somersby are having breakfast in their bedroom. They usually do, now that they're older. They're conserving their energy," Martha said softly, then poured me a glass of fresh orange juice.

"I'll probably do the same when I get older," I said, then went for the croissant. I was eating when she spoke again.

"You just missed Mr. Petrakis, but I'm sure he'll be back."

I froze, croissant halfway to my mouth. "Really?"

Her smile widened. "He rose early, jogged, then had a glass of fresh orange juice. What a disciplined young man...and quite handsome, too."

I rolled my eyes.

She caught me and chuckled. "You don't like him, do you?"

"Never did."

Her forehead furrowed. "But you only met him yesterday."

"Um...gut instinct," I lied.

She tsked, shaking her head. "Too bad he made a poor impression on your first meeting. But believe me, he's a truly fine young man. He's close with Mr. and Mrs. Somersby, almost like a son. Every year, he visits us here at the estate."

I nodded, trying to hide my scowl. "Margaret told me."

"He's always polite and kind to everyone." Her smile instantly widened. "And he always attracts interest from girls, yet he remains a gentleman."

I almost choked on my coffee. "Gentleman? Zeus Petrakis? You must be joking."

"You can't deny he's a highly respectable man. And despite his wealth, he's never arrogant."

I raised my eyebrow. "Never arrogant? We must be talking about different people."

Martha's forehead narrowed as she looked at me closely.

I sat back, crossing my arms, and continued, "I know exactly who he is. He's cold, rude, and too full of himself. And let's not forget—he's a real womanizer."

She let out a big, dramatic gasp. "That's not true, dear. I asked him personally, and he said it's been a while since he last had a date. He hasn't even had a serious relationship."

If you only knew. What we had was pretty serious to me.

"He's lying. Trust me," I insisted. "Just because he doesn't commit doesn't mean he's not a womanizer. He knows he's handsome, and he uses it to his advantage."

Her eyes twinkled. "Ah, so you think he's handsome."

"No! I mean..." I mumbled, my face burning with embarrassment. "Okay, sure, he's attractive. That's why women throw themselves at him, and he enjoys it. He loves the attention."

She stared at me, looking suspicious. "How come you know all this?"

Oops.

"I've read... some articles about him on the internet."

She shook her head. "Maybe he's waiting for the right girl. I hope you'll see him differently one day."

I sighed and put an egg on my plate. "Not in this lifetime."

She chuckled, and I focused on my egg, trying to divert my thoughts away from Zeus. But like an annoying piece of gum stuck to my shoe, the devil himself walked into the kitchen right on cue.

Zeus.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. He looked annoyingly perfect in his dark blue suit.

"Well, well," he said with that annoying smirk of his. "Looks like someone found the kitchen without getting lost. I'm impressed."

My cheeks burned, remembering last night's hallway encounter. The way he'd found me lost, how close we'd stood in that dark corridor, how his eyes had dropped to my lips...

"I have an excellent sense of direction," I huffed, crossing my arms. "Last night was just...an accident."

"An accident that had you pacing the same hallway five times," he said, raising an eyebrow as he grabbed a glass and filled it with water at the kitchen island. "I thought you were mapping it out for a treasure hunt."

Martha quietly organized dishes in the background, pretending not to listen.

"At least I don't need a map to find my personality," I shot back.

He chuckled, leaning against the island. "Grumpy in the morning, Miss Stavrakos? Not enough beauty sleep?"

I noticed how he kept the kitchen island between us, maintaining a safe distance. Last night's moment clearly freaked him out as much as it had me.

"Hard to sleep when I keep having nightmares about your ego taking over the place."

His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Well, my ego and I got to run. A helicopter's waiting to take me to breakfast with my family."

Of course, he had a helicopter. So typical.

"Try not to crash," I said sweetly.

He laughed. "Your concern is touching. I'll see you at the trade meeting later. Try not to get lost without me."

The door closed behind him, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

***

At nine sharp, I slid into the back seat of the sleek black SUV to head for the Expo.

The familiar silence of Max greeted me—my ever-serious bodyguard-slash-driver. He wore a black suit and sunglasses and spoke only when necessary.

Next to me was Jackie, my personal assistant. She greeted me with a huge smile. Her tablet rested on her lap and her blond hair up in a high ponytail. Her eyeglasses perched on her nose as she scrolled through our schedule.

Yesterday, the three of us arrived in England together, but they all stayed in an Airbnb near the trade expo venue.

Jackie tapped away on her tablet's screen. "Okay, so the exhibitors' meeting starts at ten...in the hall's conference room. FYI, I heard from the expo management that Mr. Somersby took part in choosing which company to feature in the expo."

"He did?" I said. "If that's true, then we're more likely to get that deal with Fresh-Food."

"Definitely." She nodded excitedly.

I gazed out of the window as we drove off. I was enjoying the view when Jackie mentioned my older brother, Samuel. "He's very concerned about your safety and plans to post bodyguards outside Somersby Estate."

"Ugh." I turned to her. "I already told him I don't need extra protection. John and Margaret have their own security team watching us."

She glanced at Max. "And yet, Mr. Tall, dark, and brooding is still here."

"I only need him for outside trips." I shrugged. "Max, you don't mind, right?"

Max gave a silent nod.

Jackie huffed a laugh, waving a hand in his direction. "He's such a fun companion."

As the countryside whipped by, I changed the subject. "I've got some news... a shocker. You'll find out eventually, anyway."

Jackie perked up instantly, closing her tablet. "Tell me."

I lowered my voice slightly, leaning in. "Zeus is here."

Her jaw dropped. "Zeus Petrakis? Your Zeus?"

"There is no, my Zeus," I corrected quickly, cheeks flushing regardless.

Jackie's eyes were wide. "What is he doing at Somersby's estate?"

"Unfortunately, he's their other guest." I let out a deep sigh. "And before you ask, no, I did not know he'd be there."

She dramatically fanned herself. "Whoa... this is like some soap opera plot twist."

I scoffed. "More like a very unfortunate coincidence, Jackie."

"Your family and his have been at war for years. Not to mention your history. This is fate trying to mess with you."

"Exactly." I twisted my lips nastily. "After eight long years."

"And does he look ugly now? Bald and a big tummy? Or is he still the same drop-dead gorgeous guy you fell in love with?"

I shrugged, faking nonchalance. "He's still the same."

She clutched her chest. "Sooo, hot as ever?"

I glanced at her, pointed. "That's not what I said."

Her eyebrows wiggled. "Did you two talk?"

"A little."

"Oh, my God!" She clapped a hand over her mouth. "You saw your ex, the one your family forbids you from even mentioning, and you talked to him? You basically committed a mortal sin against the Stavrakos family."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be dramatic."

"How did it feel seeing him again?"

My lips twisted. I couldn't dare tell Jackie the truth—that he still got under my skin and made my pulse race. When he locked eyes with me, I struggled to look away.

"It felt like nothing," I settled on.

She squinted at me. "Nothing? That's a lie."

"You think I was all giddy when I saw him? Seriously? He didn't affect me, not at all."

"So, you're really over him?"

"Obviously!" I said, tilting my head defensively and ignoring the way my stomach squeezed. "Why wouldn't I be after what he did to me? Not to mention he's still arrogant."

She nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"Still acts like he's God's gift to women."

"Mm-hmm."

"And still a total player."

"Mm-hmm."

I exhaled sharply. "Will you stop that?"

Her grin went wider. "I'm just agreeing with you."

I narrowed my eyes. "I hate him. Intensely. Like, with every bit of me."

"That much hate? You're doomed."

I crossed my arms, scowling. "Nothing's changed, Jackie. He's still Zeus Petrakis. My family's enemy."

She gasped again. "Uh-uh. And yet...here you are, ranting about him like he just flipped your world upside down. Oh, my God!"

"He did no such thing." I shot her a sharp look. Then, lowering my voice, I said, "Jackie, if you dare tell anyone—"

Grinning mischievously, she threw her hands up. "I won't. Promise. I'm just dying inside." Then she turned to Max, who was still driving like nothing had happened. "Max! You too. Keep your mouth shut!"

Max, as usual, didn't reply.

Jackie huffed. "Why do I even bother? He's like a statue."

I sighed, gazing out the window. The last thing I needed was Jackie giving me a hard time about Zeus or swooping in to play matchmaker. It was best how it was—avoiding him and any hint of our history at all costs.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the trade expo. I sent Jackie off to help with our booth set up and headed for the participants' meeting, eager to be ready and professional.

The large conference room at the trade hall featured a long table surrounded by chairs. They placed additional chairs at the back for other attending exhibitors.

People were already milling about. Businessmen and women dressed in their best suits, carrying folders and tablets. Among them were Oliver and Amy. They waved in my direction when they saw me and I waved back. They sat at the far end of the room.

"This way, Miss Stavrakos," an expo staff member said, then guided me to my designated seat near the front.

"Thank you." I smiled at her and she left.

Moments later, Ivy Lecter entered the conference room with the confidence of a runway model in her striking neon green business suit. When she noticed me, she gave me a disapproving look.

Obviously, she disliked me because of our rivalry over the distribution deal with John's company. And I disliked her because she had her hands all over—

I stopped myself.

This wasn't about him. This was about my chance to show everyone what Vital Harvest could do. I couldn't let this opportunity slip through my fingers, and I wouldn't let Ivy Lecter win.

Still, my heart flipped annoyingly, thinking of Zeus.

Then, as if someone was playing a sick joke on me, I looked at the nametag assigned to the empty seat across from me and groaned.

Darn it. Of all the seats in the room, the organizers had stuck Zeus and me together. It looked like getting away from him during long days at the Expo would not be so easy after all.

This was going to be a long week.