Chapter 94

Sienna interrupted, holding up her phone. “Excuse me, who’s paying? I’ll cover it.”

George was startled, glancing instinctively at Josiah. “What’s going on?” he wondered.

Josiah smiled, exuding refinement. His tone was detached and laced with sarcasm. “You pay? Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a toy. Why would she need to pay for it?” he thought, well aware Sienna hadn’t accepted alimony, and her meager earnings from dancing at Maze were insufficient.

“Keep your paycheck. I’ll take care of it,” he said.

“I want to pay!” Sienna insisted, summoning her courage. “If you don’t let me, I don’t want this Minnie Mouse anymore!”

Josiah’s gaze softened. She can’t bear to let it go, can she? he thought, noting her captivated gaze since they’d arrived. He understood her desire for independence and to avoid further entanglement. Fine. Let her have her way, he decided. His interference had disrupted her plans; earning her gratitude this way seemed pointless.

“Alright,” he conceded, his tone indulgently playful. “You pay, as long as it makes you happy!”

Sienna brightened, missing the irony. “George, are we paying or not?”

“This way, please,” George replied, bewildered. What a confusing relationship. Oh well, I’ll just focus on my job, he thought.

“Cash or card?” George asked.

“Card,” Sienna replied promptly.

“Got it,” George said. “The original price is $13,000. The staff discount brings it down to $7,000, and since you’re a friend of Mr. Flynn, I’ll offer you the wholesale price of $5,000. Please swipe your card.”

Wait, how much? $5,000? Sienna’s mind raced. That’s an $8,000 discount! Overwhelmed, she almost wept. “Thank you, thank you so much!”

“No need to thank me,” George replied modestly. “You should thank Mr. Flynn.”

Sienna understood. As she swiped her card, Josiah caught a glimpse of the price, raising a surprised eyebrow. $13,000 for a toy! This thing! he thought. While it’s not expensive for me, no ordinary family could afford this. He chuckled. Doesn’t matter. These days, I’m doing just fine without the Flynn family. Even the alimony had been his own earnings. Supporting Sienna wouldn’t be an issue. He’d rather pay than risk a tantrum or worse.

Suddenly, Josiah touched his neck. The spot where Sienna had bitten him still stung.

Sienna hesitated. Was it really that bad? Did I bite him that hard? she wondered. She bit her lip, guilt flashing across her face. “Does it hurt?”

“If it hurts, would you feel bad for me?” he teased, smirking playfully.

Sienna instantly regretted her question.

“Humph,” Josiah muttered, feigning disappointment. “You’re the one who bit me. Is a little concern too much to ask?” He removed his hand, revealing a small, clear bite mark with a faint trace of blood.

George caught sight of it and felt envious. These rich people really know how to have fun, don’t they? he wondered. Was this some kind of after-fight pastime?

Oblivious, Sienna asked, “Do you have a first-aid kit here?” The wound seemed serious.

George glanced at Josiah, met with a sharp look that silenced him. “No. We’re not a pharmacy. Why would we have a first-aid kit?” he declared firmly. Even if we did, I’d still say no, he thought.

Sienna, unsuspecting, turned to Josiah apologetically. “Maybe we can find a nearby pharmacy!”

“Fine,” Josiah said, satisfied she wasn’t ignoring him.

Just then, the staff appeared with the Minnie Mouse toy, looking to George for instructions. “Who should we give this to?”

“Give it to me,” Sienna said, reaching out.

“Wait a second,” Josiah said, giving her a pointed glance. “What does this have to do with you?” He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

“Of course, Mr. Flynn,” the staff member said, handing over the 26-inch-high box, which Josiah carried easily.

The sight of Josiah carrying a toy box was comical, causing Sienna to chuckle.

“Huh?” Josiah looked down, eyebrows raised. “You’re laughing at me?”

Sienna stifled her laughter. “No, not at all.”

Josiah didn’t believe her, but she looked beautiful smiling, so he let it slide. “Go ahead and laugh,” he said. “You know, you look better when you smile. When you cry, you’re absolutely hideous. Don’t cry anymore, got it?”

Sienna turned her head away. Hideous? I shouldn’t care. In his eyes, only Yvette is beautiful, she thought.

Luckily, a pharmacy was nearby.

“You should let Zaid go buy it,” Sienna suggested. “I’ll just head home first.”

“Don’t you dare!” Josiah’s temper flared. “You bit me, and you want Zaid to know? That’d be humiliating!”

“Hey,” Sienna hissed, flapping her hands nervously. “Lower your voice!” It was late; he’d wake the entire street, or worse, attract the police.

She caved. “Fine. I’ll go. Happy now?”

“Humph,” Josiah scoffed. “As you should.”

Inside the pharmacy, Josiah sat while Sienna bought Betadine swabs and bandages. Returning, she gestured to him. “Unbutton your collar. Otherwise, the Betadine will stain it.”

“You do it,” Josiah stretched out on the bench, looking relaxed. Fine, I have saved $8,000 today thanks to him. I could tolerate this much, she thought. Sienna gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.

As her fingers brushed against his Adam’s apple, Sienna froze. It’s my fault, after all.

Josiah’s expression darkened, his voice dropping to a rasp. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Doesn’t he know how sensitive a man’s Adam’s apple is? he thought.

“I’m not overthinking it,” Sienna replied calmly. She opened the Betadine and leaned closer to his neck. “Don’t move. I’m disinfecting…”