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Home / Urban / THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW / ~ 119 ~
~ 119 ~
Author: Gem Lynne
last update2025-05-16 23:54:05

Zach sat alone in his study, the cool hum of his system echoing softly in the quiet room. Shadows danced across the floor from the screens that flickered before him.

His eyes were fixed, sharp and alert, as his fingers glided over the keyboard. He wasn’t just browsing, he was digging, searching, reacquainting himself with the very empire he built before memory betrayed him.

Dominion’s Shadow.

The name alone commanded power. Secretive, precise, and quietly feared—it was the force Zach created with his own hands, long before the accident that fractured his past. Government officials, CEOs, even the criminal underworld all walked carefully when that name was whispered. Now, Zach was learning it all over again. Every encrypted file, every name on the payroll, every mission—he needed to understand it again. Control it.

He leaned in, narrowing his eyes as a pop-up alert blinked, Level 3 breach attempt flagged. It was a minor concern Laura had mentioned earlier that morning. Zach cracked hi
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  • ~ 124 ~

    Zach was about to pull out his card when the man chuckled smugly, brushing imaginary lint from his cashmere blazer.“You don’t need to go that far,” he said, voice laced with condescension. “Tell me your price. No need to pretend you can actually compete with me over a dress.”Zach raised a brow, a slow chuckle escaping his lips. “I don’t compete with unfaithful men,” he said calmly. “They're the least worthy people walking this earth.”The man's smirk dropped instantly. His eyes flared. “What did you just say?”“You heard me.” Zach’s smile didn’t waver. His confidence was effortless, lethal in its silence.The man lost it.“You insolent bastard!” he roared and lunged forward, his fist aiming straight for Zach’s gut.But Zach didn’t flinch. With one smooth step back and a twist of his upper body, he dodged the punch with ease. His elbow slammed into the man’s nose in one clean, fluid motion. A sickening crunch followed.“Arghhhh!” the man screamed, stumbling backward and crashing into

  • ~122~

    Barbara’s jaw tightened. Her heart thundered against her ribs, but she refused to show fear. She took a bold step forward, eyes locked on the suited woman in front of the restroom door. Her voice was low, cold, and sharp as glass.“Respect is earned. I don’t care who’s in there—I need that room now.”The woman didn’t flinch. Instead, she took a firm stance, her hand raised again. “I said wait,” she snapped. “Try acting like you belong here.”Barbara’s eyes darkened, fury rising like a tidal wave in her chest. She leaned in slightly, her words cutting. “I won’t wait. Try and force me if you can.”The woman’s hand still barred her path.Big mistake.In a swift, unfiltered reaction, Barbara grabbed the woman’s wrist and twisted it back, forcing a yelp from her lips. With her other hand, she shoved the woman aside, pushing her cleanly away from the door.The woman, determined to do her job, jerked back up, lunging again, her heels clicking aggressively on the marble floor.Barbara squared

  • ~ 122~

    Barbara gazed at him, heart hammering against her ribs, unable to form a reply. His eyes were steady, dark, deep, and earnest. The look he gave her wasn’t the cocky, teasing stare she was used to. No, this one had weight. Warmth. A kind of pull she wasn’t ready for.Zach exhaled and leaned his back slightly against the driver’s seat. “It’s really annoying hearing you call me ‘Mr. Marlow,’ you know,” he said, his voice softer than before. “Put it off for today. Not just for one time… for the whole day.”Barbara blinked rapidly, trying to regain her balance. He was slowly worming into her defenses, and she couldn’t allow that. She straightened her posture. “No,” she replied, jaw set. “You are… Mr. Marlow.”“Ssh,” he raised a finger to his lips, silencing her gently. Then, with a sudden boldness, he tilted toward her, lowering his voice. “Will a kiss make you?”“What?” she breathed, barely above a whisper.He leaned closer, eyes not leaving hers. “Tell me… if I kiss you, will you stop a

  • ~ 121~

    Maya's entire body tensed. He grabbed her hand and pulled it toward his groin. She felt the hardness—and fury ignited inside her like wildfire.She yanked her hand back violently. “Bastard,” she hissed through gritted teeth, her skin crawling, rage burning her face.He moaned theatrically. “Come on, Maya. Don’t act like you didn’t miss this.”She turned sharply to leave, breathing hard but then his next words pinned her in place.“You can curse me all you want,” he called after her, “but don’t forget that night at the bar. You remember, right? You showed up in disguise as a hook-up girl, then revealed yourself and after the crazy sex we had, you told me all those wicked ideas in my ear… how you wanted to destroy Zach.”Her steps slowed.“I had our conversation recorded.”Her breath hitched.“Yeah,” he said smugly. “That’s the proof. It truly exists. I’ve got a loyal man out there, Maya. He’s keeping watch. One wrong move—one delay—and that recording goes straight to Zach. Imagine him

  • ~ 120 ~

    Eldenwood Penitentiary reeked of despair.The air was heavy with a silence that spoke of broken men, shattered dreams, and time crawling on rusted clocks. Maya’s heels clicked against the cold floor as a guard led her down the corridor, her back straight, but her shoulders tense. She clutched her purse tightly, heart pounding louder than the sound of their steps.Her mind raced, looping the same thought—Why did I come? But deep down, she knew why.The guard stopped abruptly and struck the cell bars with his rod. The sharp clang echoed. “Fitzroy, you’ve got a visitor.”Maya took a slow breath. The guard turned to her, eyes narrowed. “Five minutes. Got it?”She gave a faint nod.As the guard walked away, she braced herself and shifted her gaze to the man in the cell. Her breath caught.Darius.She stepped back instinctively, gasping softly. He was… unrecognizable. Half of his face bore angry red burn marks that had yet to fade. The side of his jaw drooped slightly where the skin had mel

  • ~ 119 ~

    Zach sat alone in his study, the cool hum of his system echoing softly in the quiet room. Shadows danced across the floor from the screens that flickered before him. His eyes were fixed, sharp and alert, as his fingers glided over the keyboard. He wasn’t just browsing, he was digging, searching, reacquainting himself with the very empire he built before memory betrayed him.Dominion’s Shadow.The name alone commanded power. Secretive, precise, and quietly feared—it was the force Zach created with his own hands, long before the accident that fractured his past. Government officials, CEOs, even the criminal underworld all walked carefully when that name was whispered. Now, Zach was learning it all over again. Every encrypted file, every name on the payroll, every mission—he needed to understand it again. Control it.He leaned in, narrowing his eyes as a pop-up alert blinked, Level 3 breach attempt flagged. It was a minor concern Laura had mentioned earlier that morning. Zach cracked hi

  • ~118~

    Just as Sarah opened her mouth to give an answer, Maya’s phone buzzed sharply on the table. She glanced at the screen—Unknown Number. Her heart skipped.She picked it up with trembling fingers. “Hello?”“Maya…” The voice was slow. Icy. Familiar.Sarah froze, watching her daughter’s face drain of color.“You shouldn’t think too much about it. Just come see me,” Darius said smoothly. “It’ll be worth your while.”“Don’t bother me,” she snapped, her voice rising in panic. “Stop calling me!”He chuckled. “Today, you looked stunning in that emerald-green designer dress. Vera Wang, right? Bold choice with that nice red lipstick bitches like you cherish. The Mayor’s son looked impressed. And that dealership… Crimson Motors? Classy spot.”Maya’s knees nearly gave way. She staggered back, gripping the edge of the couch. “How do you know all that? Are you watching me?”“Oh, Maya…” His voice dropped, suddenly cold. “Don’t underestimate me. Or you’ll regret it. Woefully.”The line went dead.“Maya

  • ~117~

    Maya had walked into the dealership like a queen arriving at her coronation. Chin high, heels clicking confidently against the polished tiles, she imagined Zach spotting her hand-in-hand with Wilson and shrinking with shame. She pictured his expression—dull, defeated, and desperate.But what she saw was the complete opposite.Zach stood tall, shoulders square and eyes blazing with a calm authority that sent a chill down her spine. He looked and acted far from the man who once worshipped her feet.The smile that had been plastered on Maya’s lips earlier faltered as she kept staring at the door.No. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.Her phone buzzed again in her clutch bag. She yanked it out with irritation. It was the same unknown number that had been calling her nonstop for the past few days. Her nose flared.“Ugh! This damned number again!” she hissed, and pressed ‘decline’ harder than necessary.A few nearby customers turned to look at her. She noticed the raised eyebrows, the

  • ~ 116 ~

    Maya gasped audibly, her manicured fingers tightening around Wilson’s arm like claws.“That’s… that card belongs to the most elite bank in the country,” she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief.Wilson stared, mouth slightly ajar. The glint of the black card seemed to mock them all, shimmering with a quiet authority that neither his Rolex nor Maya’s designer purse could match.The sales assistant stumbled backward a step, eyes bulging at the simple, sleek card in Zach’s hand. The man in front of him didn’t wear a branded suit or a flashy watch—just a clean shirt, dark jeans, and a calm expression. How could someone so... ordinary carry the Supreme Black Card from First Star Bank?"This… this has to be fake," he mumbled.Maya regained her voice, filled with scorn. “Of course, it is! Zach’s a criminal. That card is probably stolen. He’s just using it to brag and look relevant.” She threw a cold glance at Mary. “I should have known your brother would stoop so low to prove he's not s

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