Chapter 235
โYannis, I feel so bad for you,โ Zinnia sighed, totally missing his hidden agenda. In her eyes, he was way more pitiful than she was.
Completely fooled by Yannisโs Oscarโworthy performance, Zinnia forgot all about his overprotective siblings who doted on him, a dad who stuffed cash in his pockets like it was nothing, and a grandpa constantly fretting over his health.
Yannis felt a headache coming on. โSeriously?โ he thought. โIโve been pouring it on about how lonely I am. Any normal person would offer to stick around by now. But all Zinnia does is call me โpoor guyโโnot a word about staying!โ
As his guiltโtripping didnโt land, Yannis cranked up the sad puppy eyes. โZinnia, have some mercy and stay with me tonight, okay? Look, youโre on your own right now, same as me. Nathanโs still MIA, and with Donald running around, itโs not safe for you to crash alone. Jackson and I would both be stressing 24/7. If Nathan found out, heโd lose his mind.โ
Yannis didnโt miss a beat with the pity play. Could anyone blame him? Heโd just gotten Zinnia back, and she was already talking about splitting. No freaking way was he letting her walkโnot after everything heโd pulled to win her over.
Zinnia had just started thinking about moving out, but Yannis totally derailed her plans before she could even start. He acted so well that Zinnia fell for it completely.
Yannis picked up on her hesitation from the silence. He leaned down, locking eyes with hers. โZinnia, you really gonna bail on me?โ
His sad gaze threw Zinnia off. She frowned, feeling like a pebble flicked against her chestโno real hurt, just a persistent twinge. Before she could shake it off, a dull ache started blooming inside.
She didnโt like seeing Yannis like this. He was born to be wild and free, not moping around. When he acted all sad, it felt wrong, and she couldnโt help wanting to cheer him up.
โWell, Iโll stay till I cure your insomnia,โ Zinnia said, her voice softening in compromise.
Zinnia often avoided meeting Yannisโ gaze. His eyes were unfairly beautiful, and when he locked onto her, their depth made it way too easy to lose herself if she didnโt look away quickly.
Yannis had dialed back the intimidation around Zinnia, playing it warm and approachable. But she wasnโt naiveโif he were really that soft, why did everyone in his life call him a walking migraine? She knew he was holding back, probably afraid of freaking her out.
Zinnia wasnโt someone who couldnโt tell good from bad. She could tell Yannisโ kindness to her was genuine. If he wanted her to stick around a little longer, sheโd do it.
โBut I need to cure his insomnia quick,โ she thought, โor what Yannis worried about might actually happen.โ
Yannisโ eyes crinkled in a smile. โDeal,โ he said, but inside he thought, โAs if thatโll happen. If insomnia were curable, I wouldnโt have suffered for years. So, she isnโt going anywhere. Even if she cures me, Iโll just find another excuse to keep her. Where thereโs a will, thereโs a way. Besides, a few sweet words, and she turns to mush. Once she softens up, sheโll do it again and again.โ
Yannis knew this too well. Just like when he was with Zinnia, he couldnโt help but cave, backing down till he was practically cornered.
Now that Nathan hadnโt returned, Yannis decided to make Zinnia stay first. If Nathan came back and took her away, Yannis would just move next door. No way was he letting her out of his sight.
Yannis always thought ahead. He knew clearly he could never top Nathan in Zinniaโs life, and he didnโt kid himself about that. They had over a decade of history and loveโa bond no one could match.
Zinnia stole a quick glance at Yannisโs grinning eyes and looked away in a hurry. โHis smile is way too bright,โ she thought. โHeโs so easy to please. I just said Iโd stay, and now heโs beaming like that.โ
โIโm gonna study,โ Zinnia said, about to leave, only to find heโd been holding her wrist this whole time.
His warm skin pressed against hers, almost hot where his fingers wrapped around her wrist. She gave a little wriggle, flustered and awkward under his hold.
โZinnia, come to the office with me tomorrow?โ Yannis suddenly asked. โIโll be swamped at work, might not get back till super late.โ
Ever since Zinnia got hurt, Yannis had been worried about her being alone at home. He started taking her to the company with him often. Even after she healed, he still wanted to drag her to work on weekends.
โNope. Tomorrow Iโm visiting Bonnie, and I need to ask about that thing you mentioned,โ Zinnia said. It was cold out, and she loved sleeping inโno way was she waking up early to play corporate lackey with Yannis.
โAlright then,โ Yannis relented, his voice dropping a notch as he let go of her wrist reluctantly. He slid his hand behind his back and curled his fingers, trying to hold on to the warmth and softness still lingering in his palm.
The next day after lunch, Zinnia grabbed her stuff and set out to see Lydia. When she pulled open the door, a man and woman stood outside. Both had that cool, professional auraโshrewd eyes and ramrodโstraight stances.
Spotting Zinnia, they greeted her politely, โMorning, Ms. Shaw.โ
โSo Yannis sent you as my bodyguards?โ Zinnia asked. Sheโd only gotten a text from Yannis that morning saying he was assigning two, and this was her first time seeing realโlife bodyguards up close.
โYep, Ms. Shaw. Iโm Emily Connor, specializing in closeโquarters combat,โ said Emily, the shortโhaired woman. She was 5โ9โ with a sharp shoulderโlength bob and rugged good looks. In her gray tracksuit, she came off cheerful and direct.
โOh my god. Ms. Shaw is so sweet!โ she screamed inwardly. After years in the military surrounded by toughโasโnails dudes and gals, itโd been forever since sheโd seen someone so darn adorable.
โMs. Shaw, Iโm Stephen Reed, specializing in ranged and close combat, driving, and counterโsurveillance,โ said Stephen.
Standing 6โ3โ with a build that stretched his shirt tight, Stephen had one of those forgettable faces that blend into crowdsโperfect for staying under the radar. Despite his imposing size, he was a quiet introvert.
Hearing their laundry list of skills, Zinnia raised an eyebrow. โYou two arenโt exactly your average bodyguards, right?โ
โMr. Perkins handpicked us from the military,โ Stephen replied.
Yannis had literally plucked them from active training yesterday. Their abilities were topโnotch; each could take down ten guys easily. Together, their strengths complemented each other perfectly.
Stephen could drive and scan for trouble. Emily was a chameleonโshe could slide into any scene, even play buddy if Zinnia didnโt want a crowd tagging along.