Chapter 5

                                        

                                              
Zeus
I watched Zoe inadvertently make her way across the living room toward me.
Well, not me. John and Margaret.
She'd spent the whole night mingling with everyone except me.
Every time I tried to get closer to her, she moved in the opposite direction. It was too obvious and ridiculous. She avoided me like I had this contagious virus she didn't want to catch. For heaven's sake.
And for some crazy reason, it only made me want to chase her more.
Oliver Edwards must have felt the same way, because he'd followed her everywhere, like an annoying bee. He'd hung around too close, leaning in every time she spoke, smiling like he owned her already. 
He'd sent a silent message to everyone in the room—hands off. She's mine.
That thought pissed me off!
Dammit.
I shouldn't care. She was nothing to me.
But then why was I gripping my glass so tightly? Why had I been watching them all night like a hawk, ready to pounce the moment Oliver tried something?
Oh hell.
Before I could stew any longer, Zoe waltzed up to us, a wide smile on her face. "I just wanted to thank you again for the lovely evening, John and Margaret."
"Our pleasure," Margaret said, winking. "It seems you've made quite an impression!" 
Zoe laughed, and it was still the same as high school—bright and full of life. For a moment, I was eighteen again, sitting with her on the bleachers after school, making plans for a future we would never have.
"So, what do you think?" John nudged me. "Would your company handle Zoe's shipments?"
I played with my glass stem, trying to figure out what to say next as my gaze drifted to Zoe. "It depends."
Zoe arched a brow and asked. "On what?"
I shrugged. "If you'll trust the Petrakis name with your business."
Zoe's expression was unreadable. But the slight tension in her jaw told me everything.
Would she be comfortable with this arrangement? Would her family approve? 
Given the ongoing war between our families, I highly doubted it.
"I'm sure she will," John cut in, smiling.
"Well, if you'll excuse me," Zoe said politely, gesturing to the hallway. "I'm afraid jet lag is catching up to me."
"Sleep well," Margaret replied.
Without a second glance at me, Zoe headed for the doors. 
Next to me, John caught me staring and lowered his voice. "She's impressive, isn't she?"
I inhaled sharply. "Yeah," I muttered, taking a sip of my wine. "She is."
He studied me, smirking like he could read my mind, but didn't say anything more. 
Without thinking, I bid goodbye to John and Margaret and followed Zoe toward the exit. My feet moved like they had minds of their own, trailing after her past the grand living room and into the dimly lit hallway. 
Just when I was about to catch up to her, I hesitated.
What the fuck was I doing? Why was I following her? It wasn't like I needed to talk to her.