Ace turned away from her, his back stiff.
'Because it's my duty to protect you, Zara. I failed once. I can't fail again.' The words screamed in his head, but he couldn't bring himself to say them out loud.
"Cat got your tongue?" Zara mocked, twisting her wrist. "Where did all that rage go?"
Still, Ace said nothing. He walked over to his desk and sat down, wiping his face with his palm. "What's the progress on your designs?" he asked, finally.
Zara let out a dry laugh. "Oh, now you want to be professional?"
Ace kept his eyes low, hands clenched under the table, refusing to rise to her tone.
"Well, I'm almost done with the second design," she said, folding her arms. "Though the first one hasn't even been approved yet."
Ace flipped open his laptop, voice steady but cold. "Then I suggest you speed it up. The construction team is moving faster than expected, and the spokesman could request a review any moment."
"Okay, sir." Her sarcasm was sharp.
