Gina tensed, her eyes widening as she observed Zaros’s features shift from surprise to angry. His eyebrows knit together and his lip peeled upward in a snarl. The CEO glanced toward his dinner guest and winced, then muttered, “Please stay here. Long story short, this situation is… violence from aggressive competition. Many want their hands on our procedures and formulas. Some go to great lengths, like this, to get them.”

He ignored Gina’s dubious stare and waved his hand, ...