THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW

~ 8 ~

The air in the banquet hall shifted abruptly as Maya’s assistant, Lena, who had been trailing behind them, let out an audible gasp.

"Lena, what is it?" Maya turned sharply, her annoyance evident.

Lena hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “The Crest Villa—the most expensive villa in the city—it’s just been assigned a new owner. The new resident is moving in today!”

Maya froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Crest Villa? That can’t be true!”

Luke frowned. “Impossible. No one’s ever been able to meet the bank’s standards for that place.”

Lena held up her phone, scrolling rapidly. “It’s all over the Internet. First Star Bank announced it officially a while ago. People are speculating who the new owner could be.”

Luke and Maya exchanged a stunned glance. The villa was a legendary property, owned by the bank and symbolizing ultimate power and influence.

“Who could it be?” Maya murmured, her mind already racing.

Luke scoffed. “Whoever it is, they must belong to a family so influential that we should try to get acquainted with them once we move into our new villa.”

Standing nearby, Zach smirked. “Don’t bother. The villa’s owner might not want to get to know you.”

Maya’s head snapped toward him, and she burst out laughing, loud and mocking. “You? Zach, don’t tell me you’re suggesting you know the owner!”

Luke joined her, his laughter echoing through the room. “This guy’s lost it. Let me guess, Zach—you’re claiming you’re the new owner?”

A few people who had overheard the exchange began to snicker. One observer, a middle-aged man in an expensive suit, sneered.

“The Fitzroy family, one of the wealthiest in the city, tried to acquire Crest Villa but were rejected because First Star Bank believed they didn't have the qualifications for residency. And this guy thinks he has a chance?”

Another bystander, a woman with a diamond necklace, smirked. “He must be dreaming. Maybe the announcement triggered some delusions.”

The mocking laughter grew louder. Luke leaned toward Zach with a smug grin. “You’ve really hit rock bottom, haven’t you? Talking like this will only embarrass you more.”

Maya added with a sly smile, “Zach, maybe you should see a doctor. It’s sad to see you clinging to such fantasies.”

Zach’s gaze remained calm, his lips curling into a faint, mysterious smile. “You should save your breath,” he said coldly. “Some truths are better left unsaid.”

The laughter around him grew, with one arrogant couple shaking their heads. “What a joke. This guy thinks he’s Crest Villa material.”

“You know what they say,” the man added smugly. “When someone’s at their lowest, they cling to ridiculous dreams to cope.”

Zach ignored them, his mind miles ahead. He didn't want to exchange more words with them. It was utterly pointless.

Luke, still grinning, patted Zach mockingly on the shoulder. “Good luck with your ‘truths,’ Zach. Meanwhile, we’ll be over here living in reality.”

Maya chuckled, slipping her arm through Luke’s. “Let’s leave him to his fantasies, darling. He’s clearly not worth the energy.”

Zach watched as Maya and Luke sauntered away, their laughter still ringing in his ears. The sound stung, but Zach’s faint smile remained. He stood still, his eyes focused on them, and after a moment, he spoke, his voice calm but confident, carrying weight that was hard to ignore.

“I’m capable of owning Crest Villa,” Zach said, his words cutting through the air with surprising clarity.

Maya halted mid-step, her laughter dying in her throat. She turned back, a mocking grin plastered across her face. “What? You? Owning Crest Villa? You’re broke and crazy, Zach. I think you’ve lost it.” She cackled, shaking her head in disbelief.

Luke sneered. “It’s a joke, Maya. I feel poor just hearing this. Someone as miserable as Zach claiming to own Crest Villa. Unbelievable.”

Maya pretended to wipe away fake tears, her voice dripping with mock reverence. “Oh, Zach. The mighty man with dreams far too big for his reality. How I admire your... delusions.”

Zach’s lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn’t fazed. The mocking words didn’t strike him as they once would have.

The reality of the situation hit home when the conversation turned to the power dynamics in play. First Star Bank was the largest bank in the city. Not only did it hold an unshakable grip on the city’s finances, but it also had business dealings that spanned the entire nation, reaching across international borders. Its influence far surpassed that of any local top family. Even a name like Fitzroy, known for its wealth and status, had no real power in front of such a financial giant. The idea of someone like Zach, a name they’d discarded, daring to claim ownership of a villa that even the richest families couldn’t touch was laughable to them.

Maya chuckled, her laughter full of scorn. “First Star Bank may hold the city in its palm, but that doesn’t mean they’ll hand you a villa like Crest. You're dreaming, Zach.”

Zach didn’t bother to argue. The mockery wasn’t new to him, but he knew what he had. He understood the game better than they did.

Then, Luke, growing more smug with every word, added, “You know what’s even more laughable? The fact that your sister, Mary, has been passed around by so many people. What a slut.”

The words hit Zach like a slap to the face, and his eyes flashed with anger. His fist clenched at his side, but he stayed still, his jaw clenched so tight it could have cracked. He knew the line had been crossed. This wasn’t just an insult to him anymore—it was an attack on his family.

Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Zach stepped away from the scene, his body tense with barely contained fury. 

Maya and Luke’s cruel laughter echoed behind him as they continued mocking him for “running away in shame.” But Zach didn’t look back.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone with a steady hand. His mind was already made up, and there was no turning back. He took out the card that Laura had given him earlier and dialed it without hesitation.

"Hello, Laura," Zach said when the call connected.

"Ah, Master Zach," Laura’s voice responded, warm but professional. "I’m glad to receive your call. Are you in any trouble?"

"No," Zach replied, his tone cold and controlled. "I want you to carry out an assignment for me."

"Of course, Master Zach. What is it that you need?"

"I want you to revoke the Harrington family’s participation in the investment project hosted by First Star Bank," Zach said, his words deliberate. "Make it happen."