Devon's brow pinched in shock at Aaron's audacious demand.
"Aaron, are you insane? How can I make someone fall in love with me against her own will? It's impossible and even if it were possible, how do I go about it?" Devon said.
"C'mon bro, why do you speak like a novice? Do you want me to teach you how to do that? You're a master at seduction; you get all the girls you want. This shouldn't be hard for you," Aaron said as he reclined in his seat.
A frown appeared on Devon's face as he got up from his seat and shoved his hands into his pockets. He walked towards the window and looked down at the passing cars below on the streets.
"It's not about whether I can or cannot do this. The issue is that doing it is unprincipled, and I would never want to do it."
Aaron laughed.
"Principles and playboys like yourself rarely go together, my friend." After all, you're not pushing her. Simply use your charm to sweep her off her feet and then let nature take its course."
Devon sighed in frustration.
"You make it sound so easy. Zara is unique. She's not like the ladies I've previously chased. She's astute and determined, and she sees right through my typical ploys."
Aaron's grin expanded even further.
"Well, Devon that just adds to the intrigue, doesn't it? Consider the victory if you achieve."
Devon shook his head, still unsure.
"What if I don't? What if she discovers this silly wager and it ruins everything?"
Aaron leaned forward, his countenance solemn.
"Anyways, what's your gain in all these?" Devon asked.
Aaron shrugged, his impish grin returning.
"Aside from the pure entertainment value? If you succeed, I'll give you a large amount of shares in my company."
"How large?" Devon asked curiously.
"30%?" Aaron answered
Devon cocked his brow.
"And what if I fail?"
Aaron's grin remained unwavering.
"You give me your 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. Deal?"
Devon sighed, feeling hemmed in.
"For how long?" he asked.
"Just 10 months," Aaron answered.
"Deal, I'll play your stupid game but it's to prove to you that my mojo hasn't been taken away from me," he said.
Aaron walked towards the window and shook Devon's hand.
"That's what I'm talking about! You have nothing to be worried about, my friend. I absolutely think you're going to surprise yourself."
So the dangerous game began.
Devon couldn't help but feel a mix of grit and worry as he thought about the challenge he had taken on. He deliberately increased his interactions with Zara during the coming weeks. He always found a reason to talk, whether it was at coffee breaks or about things connected to his job.
He carefully crafted his chats to suit her preferences based on his observations of her interests, preferences, and dislikes. Devon also tried to pay more attention to Zara's requirements. When she appeared agitated, he took notice and offered to lend a sympathetic ear or a helping hand. On particularly busy days, he would surprise her with her favorite coffee.
Devon even began to do the one thing that nobody thought he could do.
For her part, Zara discovered that she was pulled to Devon's mysterious charm more and more. Her past experiences and convictions remained unwavering, despite the attraction she felt. She was suspicious of his advances since she thought he might be interested in her for other reasons. She couldn't help but relish their discussions and their true moments of connection.
Devon knew he was moving forward because his charm was working its spell. He was approaching Zara and removing the barriers enclosing her heart. He noticed that she was starting to let her guard down. She actually sparked his interest, not only as a conqueror but also as a person.
As time went by, Zara noticed that her heart was betraying her own vows as she found herself gradually starting to fall in love with Devon. She struggled against the wave of feelings and the constant pull that tried to tie her to him. Every lingering touch, every shared joke, and every stolen gaze only stoked the fire within of her.
Weeks passed and the relationship between Zara and Devon grew stronger. They cooperated effectively, their ideas fusing together like a dance of the minds. Every time they brainstormed, the energy between them energized the atmosphere in the conference room. Zara nevertheless kept her distance, concealing her emotions behind a front of formality.
Devon, meanwhile, struggled with his own feelings. He was taken aback by how deeply he felt drawn to Zara. He was smitten by her commitment, playfulness, and the way her eyes lighted up when she spoke passionately about their initiatives.
But he was adamant about hiding his emotions. He couldn't afford to endanger their working relationship or the success of the business that they had both invested their hearts and souls into. Seeing that her feelings for Devon only grew stronger the more she saw him, Zara decided to leave the company.
Everyone, including Devon, was shocked by Zara's choice to leave the organization. The announcement reverberated throughout the workplace, breaking the eerie calm. Devon's thoughts raced as he watched her pack up her possessions, unable to comprehend the tremendous emptiness that had landed over him.
He pretended that everything was OK. He faked smiles and engaged in discussions while dealing with internal agony. His heart yearned for her presence, and he missed the ease with which he could converse with her. But he kept those sentiments deep within himself, afraid of the problems they would bring.
However, pretending can only go so far. As the days passed without Zara, the facade began to unravel. His once-firm determination to hide his feelings was fraying. He understood he couldn't keep ignoring what was going on inside of him.
He couldn't take it any longer and decided to look for her. He needed answers, closure; anything to take the agony out of his chest. He understood that he didn't want to let her slip away from his life the more he thought about it. The thought of her absence becoming permanent was excruciating.