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Novel Catalog
Chapter 49
Cordy sat on the edge of her bed, the throbbing in her head almost unbearable as she tried to piece together the hazy fragments of the night before. The memory of the banquet was fragmented—smiles, laughter, the soft clinking of glasses—but the details felt distant and fuzzy. The biggest mystery was John. She had no clear recollection of how she had gotten home, or of any moment they had shared after she had left the banquet. Yet, the band-aids on her ankles spoke volumes. She hadn’t noticed them last night, but now, in the quiet of the morning, she couldn’t help but feel a mixture of gratitude and unease. John had taken care of her in a way that surprised her.
Her mind spun, wondering if it had been pity, kindness, or something else entirely. The memory of him catching her as she almost stumbled came back to her, his hands gentle but firm as he steadied her. She shivered at the thought of his touch. She had always been cautious, keeping a safe distance from men, but John… he had a way of making her question her own defenses.
She looked at the clock on her nightstand. It was already late morning, and the headache was relentless. With a sigh, she reached for her phone to check for messages, hoping to distract herself from the storm of thoughts swirling in her head. There was a new message from her mother, asking if she was okay after the party. Her fingers hovered over the screen before she quickly dismissed it. The last thing she wanted to do was explain why she was feeling so off today.
Just as she was about to put her phone down, she noticed a notification—an alert from her social media account. The post was from a paparazzi account, showing a blurry image of John with her at the banquet, draping his suit jacket over her shoulders. Her stomach twisted. The caption read: “Are John Levine and Cordy Sachs more than just business associates? Speculations rise as the two share a cozy moment at a private event…”
A wave of discomfort washed over her. Why did the press always try to complicate things? She didn’t owe anyone an explanation about her relationship with John—or with anyone for that matter. Yet, the attention made her uncomfortable. It wasn’t just the speculation; it was the fact that someone had been watching, capturing a private moment and turning it into something that didn’t belong to her.
She ran a hand through her hair and sighed deeply. She needed space. Time to think. Time to process everything, including the unexpected care John had shown her. But the more she tried to make sense of it, the more she felt herself unraveling.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Zoe York’s anger simmered as she continued to pore over the photos on her tablet. She had seen John with Cordy at the banquet and, unlike the others, she wasn’t swayed by the image of an innocent gesture. No, Zoe knew better. There was something more going on beneath the surface. And she was determined to uncover it.
Zoe’s eyes narrowed as she swiped through the photos. Her bodyguard, standing dutifully behind her, watched her every move, but even he knew better than to speak unless spoken to.
“Find out everything about her,” Zoe ordered, her voice cold and precise. “Family background, relationships, any secrets she’s hiding. I want it all.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the bodyguard replied without hesitation, already pulling out his phone to begin the task.
Zoe leaned back in her chair, her lips curling into a smile as she thought about the game she was about to play. The pieces were in motion, and she would make sure that Cordy Sachs didn’t stay in John Levine’s orbit for long.
Back at Levine Manor, Jay Parker had finished dealing with the leak in the bathroom and was now leaning against the doorframe of Zoe’s room. His mind was elsewhere, however, distracted by her earlier comments. He had a reputation for being unflappable, but something about Zoe’s blatant disregard for his discomfort made him uneasy.
Still, he kept his thoughts to himself as he made his exit, closing the door behind him. Zoe, on the other hand, had no intention of leaving things at that. The night was still young, and she had her own agenda.
As she prepared for the evening ahead, she couldn’t help but think about John and the mysterious woman who had his attention. No matter how things played out, Zoe was ready to make her move. She wouldn’t let anyone—or anything—stand in her way.