My Poppy

Hidden Agendas

Zack swung the door open with a force that nearly knocked me off my feet, pulling me into a tight embrace the moment he was near me, a hug that enveloped me in warmth and safety. Despite the overwhelming sensation of comfort, I couldn't ignore the fact that he looked like a zombie, his hair so untidy.

"Zack!"

"I missed you too," his voice was muffled against my cheek. H, is gaze soft and filled with unspoken emotions.

"Why are you home so early?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued by his unexpected arrival.

"You don't want me here? Your husband is a pain in the ass," he grumbled, stretching his arms with a hint of exhaustion evident in his movements.

"Well, lucky for you, he's not here. Are you hungry?"

"We're making progress on the contract. Things are going better than expected," he said with a distant look in his eyes, a proud smile playing on his lips.

"Dinner's ready," I said, noting the mixture of determination and excitement in his expression, "Would you like to watch a movie?" I offered once he returned from fetching the food.

"I have work tomorrow, Poppy. There's a conference coming up too. We're officially becoming their business partner," he announced, his chest swelling with pride. I couldn't help but return his smile, proud of his achievements.

"Trevor stopped by," he said, I was eager to hear the news he had brought.

"Oh, really?"

"He mentioned something intriguing," I leaned in, mirroring his mischievous grin.

"What?" Although I had selected a movie, my attention was now fully focused on him.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," he teased, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"That's so mean of you," I chuckled, wrinkling my nose in mock disgust.

"Keep your eyes peeled, you'll find out tomorrow," he called out as he ascended the stairs, leaving me to ponder the mystery he had presented.

A sense of unease settled over me as I considered the possibility that the secret might involve Mr. Ferro. I remained seated in silence, lost in thought, until the sound of my phone chiming on the counter snapped me back to reality, Lanie's name illuminating the screen.

L: Hey babe, check this out.

There was a link below, leading to an Instagram account. It was none other than Tamika's. Despite my resistance, I felt a surge of temptation to scroll through her posts.

My finger hesitated before giving in, revealing several snapshots of her with friends and family. But it was one particular photo that grabbed my attention-a picture of her with Mr. Ferro. Her hand rested on his chest, her head nestled against his shoulder, radiating happiness in her smile. Mr. Ferro, on the other hand, wore a stiff, forced grin. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the image, my glare fixated on her hand as if it could incinerate on sight. The backdrop of their fancy attire and the other guests hinted at one of those lavish parties they often attended.

Nice try, Lanie. But I don't succumb to jealousy easily.

Me: What?

L: Come on, I know you've seen the post.

I refrained from replying, opting instead to retreat to my room before seeking solace in the sanctuary of the shower. I needed some time alone to process everything. Nice try at stirring up jealousy, Melanie.

*

Wednesday passed by without any drama from my friends, nor a call from the troublesome Dante. Instead, Zack had diligently emailed me some documents regarding my father's company. Thanks to the business course I had taken, I was now tasked with handling the financial sector of the company. Delving into past expenditures, income, investments, managing employees, assets, and capital was no easy feat.