Blanche's POV
The dinner was small—maybe seven or eight people, all from the school's administration.
A student injury had delayed me, so I arrived last.
The waiter opened the private dining room door, and every face turned my way.
I swept my gaze across the table and froze. Zain Jacob sat there with Desmond Grey.
Castro hadn't mentioned this was a thank-you dinner for the donation. I hadn't asked either—just said yes.
Zain belonged in Ronnie-starred restaurants and luxury hotels. The last thing I'd expected was him lingering in our small town for a meal like this.
His eyes found me too, surprise flickering across his features. Then something shifted in his expression—like he thought I'd donated just to engineer this "chance" encounter.
"Dr. Callum—please, sit down!" Castro jumped up the moment he saw me hovering.
I caught Zain's reaction to the title. His eyebrows lifted slightly.
