To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 264

Zane withdrew his hand and watched her leave, his expression unreadable.

Quincy Shelton opened his mouth as if to speak, but Zane silenced him with a subtle gesture.

At that moment, Summer pulled the car up to the curb.

Elara was about to get in when someone called out from behind, “Elara.”

She turned to see Hayden Everly jogging up to her, slightly out of breath.

“Our last meeting was too brief,” he said. “We didn’t really get to talk. Would you let me take you to dinner this time?”

Elara’s tone was cool as she replied, “Is there really anything left for us to discuss?”

A shadow of embarrassment crossed Hayden’s face. “All these years, I’ve tried to become someone you could respect.”

Elara gave a short, humorless laugh. “As long as you’re following Gregory, I never will.”

She turned to leave, but Hayden stepped in her path.

“You want proof that Gregory stole your research, don’t you?” he said quietly.

Elara paused.

Suddenly, rain began to fall, cold and sudden.

Hayden quickly raised his hand, trying to shield her from the downpour.

“Tomorrow night, seven o’clock, The Zephyr Bistro. I’ll bring you the evidence. Now get in the car before you catch a cold.”

He gently helped her into the car, watching as she was driven away.

From a distance, Quincy Shelton observed the exchange and raised an eyebrow. “Well, what a coincidence—tomorrow night you’ve got a dinner at The Zephyr Bistro.”

Zane watched the rain growing heavier, his voice even and cool. “You seem to have a lot of free time lately, Quincy.”

Caught off guard, Quincy blurted out, “Have you lost interest in Miss Jules?”

Zane gave no answer. He simply walked off in the opposite direction.

The next day, after finishing up work at Ignition Dynamics, Elara headed straight for The Zephyr Bistro.

Because of her injured foot, she took a cab.

The Zephyr Bistro was a chic Japanese restaurant.

Seeing her difficulty, the staff swapped out the traditional seating for a regular chair so she could sit more comfortably.

“Was your injury serious?” Hayden asked, concern in his voice.

Elara answered coolly, “Let’s get to the point.”

Elara laughed in disbelief. “If I want Brian’s money, I certainly don’t need your convoluted schemes. You’re just worried that once you run out of the data I left behind, you’ll be exposed—and then Brian will deal with you himself.”

Her expression hardened.

“You and Gregory are cut from the same cloth. I’d love nothing more than to watch you both get what you deserve.”

She turned and made for the door again.

“No, don’t go!”

Hayden, his composure fracturing, lunged and grabbed her wrist.

Elara twisted away and brought her cane down hard across his face.

Clutching his cheek, Hayden’s last shred of restraint snapped.

“If you don’t agree right now, you’re not leaving this room!”

Across the hall, Quincy Shelton cracked open the door and peeked in, then leaned close to Zane and whispered, “There’s a lot of noise coming from that room. Should we check on it?”

Zane was in the middle of a dinner engagement, but Quincy’s words made him pause.

He was about to reply when, with a thunderous crash, the sliding door of the private room across the way collapsed.