Chapter 83
After being asked to get her guardian over, Zinnia frowned. Clutching her phone, she stepped out of the office.
Maisie had already called her mom.
Standing alone in the empty hallway, Zinnia scrolled through her contacts. She wasn’t sure who to call.
She didn’t want to worry Sofia. Besides, Yosef was away on business, Timothy was busy at the hospital, and Howard had gone to another city for a competition. Her phone didn’t hold many contacts–just two names left: Perry and Yannis.
Originally, neither teacher had wanted to involve guardians, thinking the girls could sort out their own mess. But Tom was such a stubborn man. He insisted they call their guardians.
Zinnia glanced over at Betty. She stood nearby, sobbing dramatically and wailing for her mom. Zinnia frowned. Her finger drifted absently and accidentally tapped Yannis’ number.
The dial tone buzzed, snapping Zinnia back to reality. She stared at the screen, panic flashing through her mind. Her fingers hovered over the hang-up button, but before she could react, the call connected almost immediately.
“Hello?” Yannis’ clear, gentle voice came through the line. “Zinnia?”
Getting no response, Yannis pulled the phone away from his ear and checked the screen. It was definitely Zinnia. Still, there was no reply from the other end, just background noise–maybe Betty’s voice.
Across from Yannis, a group of executives held their breath, eyes wide as they stared at their CEO at the head of the table.
They exchanged stunned glances, wondering who the caller was. The call felt like magic, pulling them out of the deep freeze they’d been stuck in.
In fact, just before this call, Yannis had been tearing apart their proposals one by one. The executives were getting absolutely roasted.
The moment the call came in, the executives watched as Yannis–usually as cold and intimidating as an avenging deity–instantly softened. He cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his voice held a gentleness they’d never heard before.
The executives buzzed with curiosity, eyeing Toby, the assistant standing beside Yannis. They were desperate to know who was on the phone, hoping to curry favor with this mysterious “big shot”. Maybe the savior could bail them out next time they were in trouble.
Zinnia had no idea Yannis was in a meeting. Seeing the others who had already finished their calls, she bit her lip and asked hesitantly, “Could you come to my school?”
Yannis paused for a moment, then replied gently, “Alright, I’ll be right there.” Before his words fully registered, he was already moving. He stood up, grabbed his suit jacket, and strode out without hesitation.
He left behind an office full of bewildered faces. With the meeting abruptly adjourned and the scolding over, they exhaled in relief and slumped back into their chairs.
“We have to find out from Toby who that was,” someone said. “A real lifesaver. My heart is still pounding from all the yelling.”
“The voice sounded soft, like a girl’s. Maybe it’s Mr. Perkins’ girlfriend?” another executive guessed. “If that’s true, then we’re off the hook! Just like in those romance novels–once the CEO falls in love, he smiles all the time. Happier boss, happier employees.”
“Hey, how would you know about that?” someone asked.
“That’s what my daughter tells me,” the man chuckled.
Everyone in the room broke into laughter, the stress of the meeting momentarily forgotten.
Having finished the call, Zinnia returned to the office.
Maisie said to her, “Zinnia, my mom’s on her way. I asked her to bring snacks. Our chef makes the most amazing desserts you’ll ever taste.”
Since they were stuck waiting, Zinnia and Maisie settled into chairs in the office, William brought them both cups of water.
Maisie lounged casually in her chair, legs crossed. “So, Zinnia, who’s coming? Charlie or Jackson?” she asked, eyes bright with anticipation.
Maisie was perfectly calm, not the slightest bit worried about being scolded. Instead, she watched with great relish as Betty and her friends scowled.
Zinnia replied honestly, “I asked someone else. After all, they were all busy.”
Betty glanced across at Zinnia, lips curling into a cold smirk. She didn’t believe Zinnia could have anyone to back her up. Perhaps just Lucy or Alfred–someone like that.
None of Zinnia’s cousins in the Shaw family were on good terms with her, so there was no way any of them would come. And, Betty thought smugly, ‘Dad couldn’t care less about her, and I’ve already called Mom. She has no one left!’
She also knew the Lynns were all busy. That left only Sofia. If Zinnia called her, she would surely disapprove after learning Zinnia had gotten into trouble at school.
Sure Betty started it, but Zinnia threw the first punch. Betty knew Sofia couldn’t stand troublemakers. She would definitely hold it against Zinnia. And then, it would only be a matter of time before Zinnia got kicked out of the Lynn family.
Betty sneered. She would wait and watch Zinnia crawl back to where she belonged. This world wasn’t for her.
Betty knew Maelis had chosen her over Zinnia. A smug smile touched her lips. ‘A newcomer could never match my standing in the Shaw family. Even if Mom knew I framed her–so what? She still chose me,‘ she thought.
“Maisie Shaw, fighting at school again?” A sharp voice echoed down the quiet hallway, accompanied by the rapid click-clack of high heels. “Your dad and I paid for those taekwondo lessons so you could beat up your classmates?”
A woman who looked barely over thirty appeared in the doorway. She wore a tailored navy silk dress, her hair swept into an elegant chignon secured with a delicate hairpin.
Her refined face held a gentle, serene expression, and luminous pearls graced her elegant neck. She radiated extraordinary charm.
“My dearest mom! Finally!” Maisie’s face lit up at the sound, and she sprang to her feet. “I’m starving.”
“Maisie, you barely lasted for a week. School started less than two weeks ago, and here I’m back in the office,” Yvette said, rolling her eyes. She thrust a food container toward her. “Here, share with your friend.”
Then she turned to William, offering a polite, apologetic smile. “Mr. Baker, I’m so sorry for the trouble.”
“Mrs. Jenkins, it’s nothing serious. Please have a seat,” William said with a smile. “We’ll discuss everything once the other guardians arrive.”
“Come sit, Mom. My precious seat is all yours,” Maisie said playfully, tugging Yvette toward the chair she’d just vacated.
“Don’t tug,” Yvette refused. “I’m always cleaning up your messes. Just wait till your dad gets home–let him deal with you.” Yvette had been enjoying a lovely lunch when her troublesome daughter called. She was clearly annoyed at the interruption.
Spotting the faint scratch on Maisie’s face, Yvette frowned. “We wasted time sending you to your uncle’s military camp? You let someone scratch your face? Useless! After the SAT exam, I’m sending you right back for more training.”
“Mom, come on! It was just a girls’ fight. I couldn’t exactly use military moves on them. That’d be totally unfair,” Maisie reasoned, though Yvette still looked unimpressed. Leaning close, Maisie whispered in her ear, “Mom, my friend’s here. Cut me some slack, okay?”
Then Maisie turned to Zinnia and introduced, “Zinnia, this is my mom.”
“Mrs. Jenkins.” Zinnia stood up, her voice apologetic. “This is all my fault. Maisie only got into the fight because of me. Please don’t be upset with her.”
Chapter 84