Chapter 0515

Zach’s smile froze. “What do you mean? I get the ‘grab my things and leave’ part. But what do you mean by ‘don’t come back?’”

Winter replied, “You heard me. I’ve told you that I don’t get tangled up with men I’m working with. After last night, it’s clear we’re too involved. The only solution is to stop working together.”

Zach slowly sat up straight, staring at her with a dark, unreadable gaze. “I wasn’t drunk last night, and judging by your reaction, you weren’t either, right?”

“That’s right.”

They were both fully sober when it happened, so they couldn’t claim they were drunk as an excuse.

Zach chuckled bitterly. “So, we just slept together, I’m still sitting here half-naked, and you’re ready to kick me to the curb, huh?”

Winter’s lips twitched at his words. “You chose not to wear clothes; that’s on you. And if you want to be kicked to the curb, I won’t stop you.”

“Like hell I do!” Zach’s voice rose. “Winter, do you even realize how you sound right now?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Like a player who just lured a virgin to bed and now refuses to take responsibility!”

Winter was flabbergasted and took a second to reply, “Are you the virgin in this scenario?”

Zach was at a loss for words.

“Don’t act like you’re the victim here. Last night, we were both willing participants. We’re adults—stop acting like some innocent young man."

“You’ve slept with more women than I can count, Zach. Did you take responsibility for every single one of them? No?"

“Then why should I take responsibility for you? Why demand something from me that you’ve never done yourself?”

Zach had never believed in karma, but at that moment, it hit him square in the face. “Who the hell said I need you to take responsibility? It’s not like I can’t find another woman!”

Winter sighed in relief. “Good, then we’re on the same page.”

Zach clenched his fists, but his face remained composed, his tone still measured. “Like you said, we’re adults. It happened, and we don’t need to dwell on it. It was just fun, nothing more."

“But what’s this about stopping our partnership? Are you seriously dropping everything? What happened to honoring our agreements?”

Winter replied thoughtfully, “When personal feelings get involved in business, things can go south fast. You know that better than anyone. Ending things now, before it gets messy, is the smart move for both of us.”

She hated complications, and she assumed Zach did as well.

Zach smirked, his lips pulling to the side. “My mom video-called us last night and saw how cozy we were. Now, you want me to tell her today that we broke up? You think she’ll buy that?”

Winter stayed silent.

“You want to end this? Fine. But you’re going to have to deal with my mom. Once you figure that out, I’ll agree.”

She frowned. “So you’re giving me conditions now?”

“Call it what you want.”

She chuckled. “Zach, do you really think I care? Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter to me. If I want to end it, I will—I can refuse to cooperate with anything moving forward, and what can you do about it?”

Zach stared at her in disbelief. “You… you’re being a jerk!” He was furious.

“Okay,” she replied nonchalantly.

“You’re worse than a player!”

“Sure.”

“You’re bullying me!”

“Mhm.”

Eventually, Zach threw on his clothes and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

He grumbled to himself, “Damn it! I’ve chased women all my life, and today I got played by one! Winter Jefferson! You’re something else! Absolutely something else!”