Chapter 547 - Don’t You Want To… Chill?

Forty-five minutes later, Zoey had successfully admitted Clara to the nearest hospital. After settling papers for her, Zoey returned to the lobby where Matthew was waiting for her.

"Are you alright?" Matthew asked when Zoey plopped down to his side while he was flipping the page of a medical magazine. The faint chemical scent of the magazine wafted in his nose, yet he enjoyed the scent.

"Hmm?" Zoey turned to him, raising her eyebrows. "Of course, I am."

"No, I mean leaving the party without bidding your farewell. Isn't this party important to you?" Matthew explained as he shook his head lightly.

"Also, that woman… isn't she your ex's current lover? Why are you helping her? Aren't you afraid she will blame you for whatever happened to her?"

Matthew added as he scrutinized Zoey's side profile. He saw her release a heavy sigh before she leaned her back.

"Well," Zoey paused as she let out another sigh. "I can always figure my way out."

Zoey answered as she didn't have a clear plan for now. Niko's appearance tonight was not in Zoey's plan. She didn't expect him to crash the event and do what he pleased. She was certain that when Clara recovered, she would totally blame Zoey because Zoey knew the person who nearly killed him.

Zoey could only expect for the worst. However, for now, she didn't want to think about it or worry about tomorrow. What's important now was no one died; she stopped Niko from wreaking havoc and aligned with her previous life's mentality as to why she broke ties with the Silva Family to the current one.

Matthew stared at Zoey's side profile. He could sense her dilemma with a tinge of relief. It was baffling to him, but that was what he sensed from her aura.

"Do you want to grab a drink?" Matthew asked as he slightly raised his brows.

"Huh?" 

Upon hearing his suggestion, Zoey slowly faced him, confusion glinting on her eyes. She didn't expect to hear such an offer from Matthew. After all, she already thought he would tell her they should head home and rest so she could think of plans to counter whatever was ahead of them.

"You looked stressed. Don't you want to… chill?" Matthew shrugged nonchalantly.

Slowly, the side of her lips tilted into a smile as she slightly bit her lower lip. "Of course. A lot happened tonight. A drink will save me."

*****

"Uh, why are we here?" Zoey dawdled as her jaw nearly dropped, seeing them entering the XI Corporation's parking space.

Since they bought a lot of beers in the convenience store, Matthew told her he knew a perfect place to unwind. Now, this was not the place she expected when he said 'perfect' place to unwind.

Did he plan on working while drinking? Was that the meaning of relaxing for him?

"No one will bother us here." Matthew indifferently answered as he parked the car and cocked his head to her direction.

"You'll be surprised how convenient this place is."

Matthew added as a playful smirk resurfaced on his lips. Zoey watched him unbuckle his seat as she could feel the corner of her lips twitch. Thus, Zoey unbuckled her seat and grabbed the plastic bag from the back seat before departing the car.

As soon as Zoey exited the car, a light from an incoming car caught her attention. It was the car that had been following them — there were two cars that fetched them earlier in the hotel. One was used by Matthew while Zoey and Clara used the other.

However, the next second, Zoey's jaw dropped. Behind the car, there were more! At least five cars were driving inside and a few more entering the parking space.

"Did you bring all your men with you?!" Zoey gasped in disbelief, watching each car scatter and parked.

"No," Matthew denied, looking away while telling his lies. "They followed me."

Matthew cleared his throat, putting the blame on his men for 'voluntarily' following him. Obviously, this wasn't the case as Matthew ordered them to surround the hotel after knowing Nikolai was present as well.

Just in case; he thought.

Zoey scoffed because she could not buy this obvious lie. Matthew could not lie to her -- at least, in front of her, he couldn't execute that.

Just as Zoey would humor him, she stopped as she blinked her eyes many times. 'No, he can lie… at least the younger version.'

Zoey muttered internally, thinking of the past encounter with Matthew, who would humor her with petty reasoning. Although they were not hardcore bluffs, Matthew could get away from bluffing with a straight face.

On the other hand, her husband —the older version of Matthew— couldn't. Matthew would probably keep all the details with him, but he would rather say the truth instead of lying because Zoey would figure it out, anyway.

Without Zoey realizing it, she had been staring at Matthew for a long time. Matthew furrowed his brows as he tilted his head to the side.

"What?"

"Uhm, nothing." An awkward smile resurfaced on her lips as she shook her head sideways.

Matthew studied her for a second before nodding. "Let's go."

With that being said, Matthew grabbed the plastic bag from her and walked towards the lift. Zoey stared at his departing back for a second before following his tracks.

'Nah, that's impossible.' She thought internally.

Zoey ruled out the fact that Matthew might have regained his memories from their previous life. Although it had been bothering her how Inigo experienced the same thing, Zoey could only conclude a thing or two.

It was either Inigo killed himself after Zoey's suicide or someone killed him. She doubted the latter, though. Inigo was sick — Zoey's death was his defeat and Inigo hated being a loser.

Who knows? Maybe Inigo thought of haunting her even in hell.

*****

"Here?" Zoey's nose scrunched up as she somehow expected their destination was here, the CEO's office.

"The night breeze is cold. We can't drink on the rooftop." Matthew shrugged as he pressed something and the tinted floor to length window suddenly turned transparent.

"But this place offers the same view.." Matthew beamed her a proud smile as he saw the awe plastered on her face.