"You're really following me?" she asked dryly.
"Apparently, I value my life," Carter muttered, opening the car door. "I wouldn't risk it by disobeying Mr. Anderson."
Hearing this, Zara gave a slight nod, her expression softening just a fraction. Without saying much, she slipped into the car gracefully, settling into her seat with quiet resolve.
Carter glanced at her briefly before getting behind the wheel, aware that silence often spoke louder than words when it came to Miss Luna.
As soon as the car started, Zara's calm but assertive voice broke the silence. "Drive to Magnolia Grove Restaurant," she instructed Carter.
Carter acknowledged with a brief nod. "Understood."
The car glided through Clover Hill's streets, the journey silent but filled with Zara's focused thoughts. An hour later, they arrived at their destination—a sophisticated establishment nestled among manicured gardens, the elegant sign reading Magnolia Grove Restaurant.
Zara looked out the window, observing two to three sleek cars parked near the entrance.
A group of individuals in impeccably tailored professional attire stood nearby, their polished appearances clashing with the gritty reality of the situation.
As the car came to a halt, Carter swiftly exited and circled around to open the door for Zara. She stepped out gracefully, nodding at Carter before turning her full attention to the waiting figures.
The group, sent by Jack, remained composed but couldn't entirely hide their surprise at the sight of Zara. Despite being informed that "Miss Luna" would be supervising the task, they'd expected someone far different—not a strikingly beautiful and poised young woman whose presence radiated quiet authority.
Though their boss had made it clear that she was there merely to oversee the work and should not be burdened with operational matters, the professionals couldn't help but be taken aback by her youth. However, their training quickly kicked in, and they straightened their postures.
A middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a dignified demeanor stepped forward. "Miss Luna," he greeted respectfully, extending his hand, "I'm Richard Gray, Chief Executive Manager of the Clover Hill branch office."
Zara accepted the handshake with a nod. "Mr. Gray," she acknowledged smoothly. Her sharp gaze swept over the others. "Thank you for being here. I appreciate your time."
Richard smiled as he said, "It's our duty, Miss Luna."
She offered a composed nod to the rest of the team before continuing, "Can you brief me on the current situation with the land?"
Richard's expression darkened as he gestured for her to walk with him. "The situation is more problematic than anticipated," he admitted. "Some unauthorized individuals have taken possession of the land. They've constructed high-end residential buildings and even established shopping complexes. When we approached them, they didn't just refuse negotiations—they became hostile. A few of our team members were assaulted. Some are still hospitalized, receiving treatment."
Zara's brows knitted together at the mention of injuries. Jack hadn't mentioned anything about this, which suggested he was unaware. Her tone turned colder. "Were the higher-ups or head office informed about the situation?"
Richard's face tensed awkwardly, and he glanced back at his team, who shifted uneasily under her gaze.
The awkward silence stretched uncomfortably. Zara's eyes narrowed. "Is there a reason no one reported this?"
Richard responded, "We informed, Miss Luna. But...," but hesitated
Recognizing the futility of pushing further for now, Zara exhaled softly and pivoted to a different line of inquiry. "Tell me about the individuals who've taken control of the land."
Richard's expression grew grim. "They're part of a group called the Crimson Syndicate. On the surface, they operate as influential developers and investment tycoons, but their true operations run deep into the city's underworld. They control multiple sectors, from construction to financial laundering, and have strong political ties. Their influence is particularly entrenched in Clover Hill, making it difficult for local authorities to intervene. As no one claimed the land for decades, they took control over it and used it as they wanted."
Before Zara could respond, one of the men from her group approached the restaurant receptionist to check-in. After a brief exchange, the receptionist made a call, then hesitated. "I'm sorry, but our manager just got caught up in an urgent matter. He asks that you wait."
The man turned back to Zara, looking unsure. Zara, however, maintained her composure. "We'll wait. Please arrange a private room."
The receptionist faltered. "Uh... I'm not sure if—"
Carter, stepping forward with a cold expression, cut her off. "Is this how your restaurant runs the business? Refusing to accommodate customers?"
The receptionist paled, clearly intimidated. "I... I'll—"
Before she could stammer further, a smooth, confident voice interrupted. "No need to scare the poor receptionist over a small matter."
A tall, well-dressed man approached with a charming smile. The receptionist exhaled in relief and greeted him respectfully.
He nodded at her before turning his gaze to the group—and then his eyes landed on Zara. His expression shifted into stunned admiration, his gaze lingering on her composed yet strikingly beautiful demeanor. Her cold, confident air only enhanced her appeal, leaving him momentarily dazed.
Carter immediately stepped forward, positioning himself between Zara and the man's gaze, his demeanor icy and protective. "Eyes forward," Carter said flatly.
The man chuckled, undeterred. "Relax. No harm meant." His tone playful, he added, "The boss is already waiting. Follow me."
Zara's expression remained unreadable as she looked at Richard with a raised eyebrow. Richard looking at Zara informed her, "Miss Luna, this is Mr. Nathaniel, one of the people in charge of Crimson Syndicate."
Richard's expression remained stoic as he gestured toward Zara. "Mr. Nathaniel, this is our person in charge, Miss Luna," he introduced with a straight face.
Nathaniel's polite smile hinted at playful amusement as he extended a hand toward Zara. "Didn't think I'd be meeting someone so... youthful and beautiful for such high-level negotiations. Thought your boss would show up for this," he remarked casually.
Zara's cold gaze flicked briefly to his outstretched hand, but she deliberately ignored the gesture. Her voice, calm yet razor-sharp, cut through the space between them. "He doesn't entertain minor matters."
Nathaniel's confident smile wavered as Zara's sharp words hung in the air, cutting through his bravado. Awkwardly, he lowered his outstretched hand, masking his unease with a forced nod. "Right... shall we?" he asked, gesturing toward the elevator in an attempt to regain composure.
Zara's expression remained icily composed as she stood there without caring about his awkwardness. Her cool indifference radiated authority, leaving Nathaniel second-guessing his assumptions. Richard stood closely behind, concealing a smirk as he noted Nathaniel's rattled demeanor.
Carter, standing nearby, fought back a grin. He couldn't help but admire Zara's fearless poise — a woman who clearly didn't bow to egos. Inside, he silently gave her an approving thumbs-up.
Zara, with her signature cold elegance, nodded slightly. Richard turned to Nathaniel with a polite but firm gesture. "Lead the way, Mr. Nathaniel," he prompted, seizing control of the moment.