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You’ve been through worse, Grace. Your ex was much, much meaner than this.

I cleared my throat, trying to get a grip on myself.

Zachary shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Whatever reason you’re pursuing this project isn’t my business, as I intend to win anyway.”

“Really? Why are you even bothering? Clearly this project isn’t a fit for the portfolio of the Orleans Conglomerate.” I flexed and unflexed my hands. God, I hadn’t been so worked up in a very long time.

“I’m glad we’ve settled our opinions of each other,” Zachary said in a cool voice. “Let’s just proceed with the tour.”

I couldn’t do it. I knew myself well enough to realize I wouldn’t regain my composure to finish this and would likely wind up making a fool of myself. Which was why I turned on my heels without another word to Zachary and walked out of the stables.

Felicia and Gaston were talking to each other, clearly having finished the call. They both stopped when they noticed me approaching.

“Hi. I’m truly sorry, but I need to go,” I told them. “I got a call, and I’m urgently needed back in the city.”

Felicia’s face fell. This sounded like the made-up excuse it was, but I was too upset to come up with something better.

“But I’d like to make another appointment so I can look at everything thoroughly,” I went on. “I’m still very interested, and I’d planned to discuss ideas with you today about what type of investment would make sense and how I could help best. But I need to be on my way.”

I wanted them to see how important this would be for me, but right now, I couldn’t even gather my wits. I shouldn’t have scheduled so many meetings before coming here becauseI was exhausted. Zachary and exhaustion were not a good combination.

“Of course,” Gaston said. “I’ll walk back with you to your car.”

“There’s no need. I’ll find my way.” I felt like a coward, leaving like this, but it was better than the alternative.

I bid both of them goodbye before walking away. The humidity was truly insane out here. I struggled to breathe until I reached my car. Once inside, I immediately turned on the air-conditioning. I could finally take a deep breath.

I simply sat in silence for a few seconds, wondering if I should go back after all. But no, it would make things even weirder.

Oh, Grace, this isn’t like you, running away like this.

Zachary’s insults were still ringing in my ears. The nerve of him. I couldn’t believe he’d dared to say all those things. He knew nothing about me. Absolutely nothing. Not who I was. Not what I’d gone through. He had no right to talk to me like that.

But none of that mattered.

I was going to come back here as soon as possible and show Gaston and Felicia that I was the right person to partner up with—not that infuriating jackass.

Chapter Five

Zachary

The next morning, I called Marcel first thing. I’d stayed for two more hours out at the ranch after Grace left yesterday. I even had dinner with Gaston and Felicia. I had a good feeling about the whole thing. It would require more of an investment than I’d initially figured, but that was all right. I’d told Gaston and Felicia that I would outbid Grace no matter what she offered. They were shocked but pleased.

I couldn’t believe Grace had darted out like that. In fact, the whole interaction with her had been completely bizarre. But something that stuck with me was that she accused me of having Marcel bad-mouth her to Gaston and Felicia. I couldn’t see him doing something so unprofessional, which was why I dismissed it when she first said it. But then again, why would she lie?

He answered immediately, as usual. “Morning, Zachary!”

“Listen, I’ll make this quick. Yesterday evening, I went out to the ranch. Did you by any chance call the owners to tell them anything about Grace?”

“Yes, of course. Even asked them if they knew what her good-for-nothing brothers had been up to last year.”

I instantly saw red. “Why the fuck would you do that? I just told you I needed information about her.”

“Because that was part of my gathering information. I wanted to know if she’d already been in contact with them.”

“That was not in the scope of what I asked you to do.”

“You asked me for information. I have my methods. It’s never been a problem before.”