When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 57: Just who?

Chapter 57: Just who?

Samuel’s mind wandered back to the board of directors as he stared at the documents in front of him. One by one, the faces of the men who had sat around that table during their last meeting flashed through his thoughts.

Raver Lucas, Revilo’s older brother. Samuel had grown up calling him "Uncle Raver." He had always been close to Samuel’s father, a trusted ally in the company. But blood ties didn’t guarantee loyalty.

Could Raver be involved? Samuel didn’t want to believe it, but maybe Raver had grown tired of standing in the shadows. He only had a 1% share in the company, but perhaps he wanted more.

Samuel clenched his fist, struggling with the possibility of betrayal. Too much history, too many memories. Yet, in business, nothing was impossible.

Then there was Daren Farrell, the COO. Daren had been a loyal supporter of Samuel’s father during his time as CEO. He had never shown much ambition beyond his current role, always content to do his job quietly and efficiently.

But what if that was just a front? What if Daren had been waiting for the right moment to strike, to make a play for control?

Bart Brendon and Billy Braham, the independent directors, were another story. They had no personal attachment to the Lucas family.

Samuel knew they would go wherever the financial wind blew, aligning themselves with whoever promised the greatest return. Opportunists—plain and simple.

If there was a plot against him, they might have joined forces with whoever had the most to offer.

And then there was Edward Jones, the real estate expert. Reliable, efficient, always good at his job. But even the most competent people had ambitions. Could Edward be quietly trying to carve out more power for himself?

Samuel’s jaw tightened as he thought about the possibilities. Someone in that room knew more than they were letting on. And he would find out who.

A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. Timmy entered, holding a folder in his hands. "Sir, I’ve compiled some preliminary information on the board members," he said, placing the file on Samuel’s desk. "It’s not much yet, but it’s a start."

Samuel opened the folder and flipped through the pages. There were meeting records, financial reports, and personal histories. Nothing suspicious jumped out immediately, but he knew that whoever was behind this wasn’t going to leave obvious clues. They were careful, patient, and smart.

"Keep digging," Samuel instructed, closing the folder. "I want a detailed report on each of them by the end of the week."

Timmy nodded and left the room. Alone again, Samuel leaned back in his chair, staring out the window at the city skyline. The company he had fought so hard for was at risk, and the people he had trusted were becoming his suspects.

Hours passed, and Samuel finally decided to call it a day. He closed his laptop, gathered his things, and headed home. As he stepped out of the office building, the cool night air hit him, providing a momentary relief from the tension that had been building all day.

When he arrived at the house, he paused for a moment in the garden, taking in the quiet surroundings. It was peaceful there, far from the chaos of the business world.

The lights were off in most of the house, and Samuel assumed Zinnia was still out with Lily, enjoying her day.

But as he stepped inside, something caught his attention. A soft light glowed from the kitchen, and he could hear faint sounds of movement. Curious, Samuel called out, "Zinnia, is that you?"

"Yes, it’s me," came Zinnia’s voice from the kitchen.

Surprised, Samuel hurried toward the sound. As he entered the kitchen, he saw Zinnia standing by the stove, busy cooking something. The warmth of the kitchen hit him immediately—the smell of something delicious filled the air.

"You’re cooking?" Samuel asked, genuinely surprised. "Didn’t you eat out with Lily?"

Zinnia turned to him with a smile, wiping her hands on a towel. "We did eat out, but Lily gave me something special," she said, gesturing to the dish she was working on. "It’s a rare snack she found during her travels. She thought I’d like it, so I thought we could share it tonight."

Samuel felt something stir in him—an unexpected warmth that he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a while. He moved closer to the counter, watching as Zinnia continued cooking.

"What’s it called?" he asked, curious now about the snack.

"It’s called Churros de Amanecer," Zinnia explained, smiling. "It’s a sweet treat from a small village in Spain. Lily swore it’s the best thing to have at night, especially when you want to relax after a long day."

Samuel nodded slowly, watching her as she worked. The tension from the day started to melt away as he stood there, the smell of the food filling the room and the sight of Zinnia calmly preparing it. He hadn’t realized how much he needed this—just a quiet, simple moment with her, away from the chaos of the business.

"Do you need help?" Samuel asked, breaking the silence. "I’m not sure how much help I’d be, but I would love to."

Zinnia laughed softly, handing him a spoon. "Then you can stir this while I get the sauce ready."

For the next few minutes, they worked side by side, the atmosphere between them light and easy. Samuel found himself forgetting about the threats, the board members, and the investigation. He allowed himself to just be present in the moment.

When the snack was finally ready, they sat down together at the kitchen table, the small plates in front of them. Zinnia took a bite first, smiling as the flavors hit her taste buds.

"See? I told you it’s good," she said, nudging Samuel.

Samuel took a bite, and to his surprise, it was delicious—sweet, light, and comforting. He nodded in approval, making Zinnia grin.

"Thank you," he said after a moment, his voice quiet but sincere.

"For what?" Zinnia asked, looking at him curiously.

"For this," Samuel replied, gesturing to the food. "For thinking of me."

Zinnia’s expression softened. "You’re welcome."

They ate in comfortable silence, the world outside forgotten for a while.

But then Samuel’s phone buzzed on the table, breaking the tranquility. He glanced at the screen—Timmy was calling. A knot of unease tightened in his chest, a familiar feeling creeping in that something was about to go wrong.