To Color Your Life - Chapter 106

Zoya was momentarily confused, not expecting such an initiative from Denver. The melody that started playing was familiar to her – slow and lyrical. Such one would be perfect for couples in love. And completely unsuitable for the two of them.

“Why such generosity, Christian? You were avoiding me all evening, as if I was an especially infectious virus,” the girl put her hand in the man’s palm and approached him.

Their size difference was so striking that they could well have played the main roles in Beauty and the Beast. Denver would play the role of the Beast, of course. Her small and fragile figure was lost behind the broad back of the man as if the girl was not even there at all.

“Why such persistence in wanting to meet with me, Zoya?” the man asked.

She gave him a killer look as if she were taking aim at what the red dot in the center of his forehead would look like as a target. But after the silent battle of two glances, she lowered her eyes.

“You know perfectly well why I want to meet with you. Don’t make me humiliate myself even more, Chris,” the girl whispered, blushing. “You’ve known my feelings for a long time.”

The man’s face remained indifferent. He slid his gaze over her slightly trembling eyelashes, her cheeks tinged with a blush, her plump lips pursed in indignation.

Zoya Evans was certainly beautiful. She knew about this and skillfully took advantage of her curves. She could conquer anyone she wanted. But she chose the wrong candidate.

“Miss Evans, your skills have become so impeccable that they can be a subject of admiration. I acknowledge that. Therefore, I propose to stop this show and stop bothering other people with your game. My time is not limitless. You have no more than two minutes left for the song to end.”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Zoya hesitated.

Denver wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him with a quick movement, “Then I should show you so you understand?” he whispered in her ear, “If you are so thirsty for communication, we can go up to any free room right now. I will put you on the bed and do the dirtiest things to you. And then we’ll talk. If I like it, of course.”

He said this with the same stone face, not betraying a single emotion.

“Why are you silent?” a malicious grin still touched his lips, “You can slap me in the face, I will turn any cheek to you, as the Bible teaches. Do my harsh words really not hurt your bright feelings, Zoya? Or…” Christian leaned towards her face, her lips a centimeter from his lips, “Or is it that there were never any feelings?”

There was no trace of the girl’s former blush. She looked the man in the eyes, not a bit embarrassed by his too close presence.

A second, another.

Zoya’s lips curled back into a grin.

“Heck. Seems like you have figured everything out.”

The girl took a step back and looked at the guests. Everyone was busy with their own business, and their couple did not attract attention.

She turned her head back to the man, “I was right to make you stand out among all. You’re so smart. Well, this is even for the best. I will now not have to play what isn’t there.”

Why does she need it? Christian could not understand what a girl of her age and status wanted from him. In her head, unicorns should frolic and vomit with rainbows after her endless trips to nightclubs. And she runs after a man who she is indifferent to,  and who is indifferent to her?

“Marry me,” Zoya said in a tone that sounded more like an ultimatum.

“Why on earth would I agree to that?”

“I am beautiful, young, bright, sociable. I know etiquette and communication style in high society. I am an ideal wife for a successful husband, who can be shown even to the president himself. I will not meddle in your affairs and pester with stupid questions, why you are always busy. I will not endure your brain with my jealousy and check your phone.

Given our age difference, even in twenty years, I will still be beautiful and your business partners will turn green with envy that you have me. I can make a more detailed list of the benefits and send it to your e-mail if you wish. Once I figured it out, there should be at least fifty points.”

Fifty points? Is this a sale and purchase deal?

“Are you serious?” Christian regretted starting this conversation. It would be better to ignore her further.

“Absolutely,” Zoya nodded. “Denver, admit it. All these courtship-flowers-sweets and other crap that I find useless seem the same to you. Marrying me is a win-win thing. Am I right? And don’t make a face like you’re hearing nonsense. Didn’t you and Joyce marry for the same reason? Arranged marriages are the norm in our circles.”

“Wow, what an awareness. Then, Miss Evans, you know very well that I do not belong to “your” circles. And what is considered a “norm” in them does not bother me.”

“Your genealogy doesn’t bother me either if that’s what you mean,” Zoya replied. “I want my children to be at the head of Pharaoh after you step back from the business. This is a family business and it should stay in the family.”

The man tilted his head to the side and looked at the girl as if she was a silly child who claims that the earth is flat. “What children are you talking about, Zoya? Pharaoh has long gone beyond the family business. Didn’t you watch the last meeting of shareholders?”

He thought that the girl just wanted to get married successfully, but it seems that she had a different motivation.

“I did,” she snapped, “And knowing your approach to business, when you become a CEO, you won’t let anyone closer to that position. But if this is your child, then you will bring up a worthy replacement out of him, or her.”

Christian felt his head start to ache. It would be better if Zoya Evans had a banal crush on him than that.

“What makes you think that I’m going to take the position of CEO?”

The girl widened her eyes, “Who if not you?” her surprise was absolutely genuine. “Dad is already old for such stress, Jacob is not interested. Justin’s head was turned to completely different things from the very beginning. Only you fit this position the best.”

Christian glanced at the girl in the white dress who was standing six meters away from them. “There are dark horses in Pharaoh that have just entered the race.” Or is it better to say, one nimble dragon?