His dark hair was immaculately styled, but there was a rugged edge to him that had replaced his past easygoing attitude, a hint of danger that lingered in the set of his jaw and the calculating sharpness had replaced the past joyful next-door boy youth of his steel-grey eyes.
Those silver grey eyes—intense, unblinking, assessing—swept the room with an awareness that left everyone in his path slightly on edge, as if they were being measured against some invisible scale.
His face, though calm, held a depth of unspoken experiences—secrets he could never share, battles fought in the shadows. Yet, despite the weight he carried, there was a magnetic charm about him, a quiet power that demanded attention without ever raising his voice.
Zack didn't just walk into the room; he infiltrated it with an air of control that left no one questioning who was in charge.
The unexpected appearance of Zack was like a jolt to Nia's system.
The shock left her momentarily disoriented. He was every bit the formidable consultant she remembered from the past while working at the 'Bennetti Groups', but now he was more than just a professional connection—he was the acting CEO, the younger brother Lincoln had mentioned who would be working with her company closely.
Wait!
A younger brother?
Nia turned to look at Lincoln and then she observed the similarities in their facial features.
They both do look like brother! But--
But aren't their surnames different?
Lincoln Morrison and Zack Morris?
How come both have different surnames? What did she miss?
Nia looked at Jess in confusion and the latter shrugged her shoulder in confusion as well.
"Hey, brother! Welcome back!" Lincoln stood up from his seat and greeted his brother with a hug.
Zack surveyed the room and his eyes locked onto Nia's for a brief, electrifying moment.
There was a flicker of recognition in his gaze, mingled with a professionalism that suggested he was fully in control of the situation.
"Pl*ck my life!" Nia muttered under her breath but Jess heard and tried to cover her smile indicating that she also felt the spark between them.
Unknown to the exchange between two friends, Lincoln patted Zack with a smile. "Zack, glad you could make it. Let me introduce you to today's investment opportunity firm. This is Ms. Mirren and Ms. Carter from PixelWave. Remember, I told you about it. We're just about to discuss their upcoming game launch."
Zack offered a polite nod to Nia and Jess, his demeanour a blend of courteous formality and a hint of something more personal. His deep voice echoed in the room, "Apologies for my tardiness. Traffic was a nightmare. I'm Zachary Morris, and I'll be taking over for Lincoln while he's away on Debbie's demand! Cannot provoke a pregnant wife, can we?"
"hey!" Lincoln glared playfully at his younger brother. "You won't understand!" This considerably lightens the atmosphere.
Everyone laughed at the comment.
As they all settled into their seats, Nia's mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
Seeing Zack here, in such a significant role, was both unexpected and unsettling. The meeting had taken a turn she hadn't anticipated, and the stakes felt suddenly higher.
Jess leaned over and whispered, "If he is the same Zack, and based your reaction- it is safe to assume that he is that same Zack; babe this just got a whole lot more interesting, didn't it?"
Nia threw a glare in Jessica's direction but later snorted and ignored.
Nia turned, her gaze fixed on Zack.
The mysterious younger Morrison or Morris was now a key player in her crucial meeting, and the implications of his presence were both thrilling and daunting. Her palms were clammy.
The meeting had just become a high-stakes game, and Nia was right in the thick of it.
God, help her!
Nia's heart raced as the meeting officially began.
She took a few deep breaths to stabilize her lingering thoughts which went towards assessing Zack and his muscles and whatnot!
Her traitorous heart still thudded in her chest after so many years!
She took her seat next to Jess at the long, polished conference table, where Lincoln Morrison and the three board members waited, all eyes on them.
At the head of the table, Zack sat with quiet authority, his presence almost unsettling. It was strange seeing him here, part of this world, yet commanding it with the same intensity she remembered from their shared past.
Lincoln smiled warmly, dispelling some of the tension that had been bubbling in her chest. "Ms. Mirren, Ms. Carter, as I already mentioned I am eager to hear more about PixelWave and your upcoming game launch. You've built quite a reputation with your last few releases."
Jess and Nia exchanged a brief look of confidence before Jess began the pitch. "PixelWave is on the verge of releasing our most ambitious project yet. We've spent last year developing a fully immersive, narrative-driven game that adapts to the player's choices in a way that's never been done before. With procedural storytelling and cutting-edge AI, this game will revolutionize the genre." They played the presentation and at the same time, Zack opened the small case and put on his black-framed thick glasses.
Nia's stomach somersaulted at how sauve he looked! Now he looks the same Zack from the past just a bit more mature and muscular. Also to add serious and damn hot!
Gathering all her focus and willpower, Nia painstakingly focused on the presentation and explained the key points along with numbers.
Her voice was steady but charged with passion. "We've already secured a significant player base during beta testing, with over a hundred thousand pre-orders. There are final touches needed before the actual game launch which are in progress. What we're asking for today is funding to expand our marketing reach globally. With Morrison Group's backing, we can dominate key markets and make this a worldwide phenomenon."
Zack leaned forward slightly, his intense gaze focused on Nia. "And what makes you think this game is a cut above the competition? The market is already saturated with immersive narratives. Why will players choose PixelWave? What's is do different about PixelWave?"
Nia swallowed, the challenge in his voice striking a familiar chord. "Our game isn't just about immersion. It's about creating a world that evolves in real-time based on the player's emotional and moral decisions. The AI that is our engine behind it is more intuitive than anything on the market right now. It doesn't just react—it learns. Each player will experience a game that is unique to their choices, ensuring endless replayability."