Chapter 93
When Zinnia returned to the private room, she found it still buzzing with laughter and chatter. Seeing her friendsโ cheerful faces, she couldnโt help but smile.
Maisie waved her over. โZinnia, youโre back! What took you so long? Are you full? Weโre getting ready to leave.โ
Zinnia walked over and said, โIโm full.โ
Everyone had just finished eating and was getting ready to leave. After gathering their belongings, the group stepped out of the private room.
Yosef was nowhere to be seen, and Zinnia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
โYou guys go ahead,โ Maisie said. โIโve arranged cars for everyone outside. Iโll take care of the bill.โ As it was getting late, Maisie arranged rides for everyone to get home.
โThanks for the treat today, Maisie. The food here was seriously amazing,โ someone said.
โYeah, itโs pricey, but totally worth it! Once I get more allowance, Iโm definitely coming back here.โ
โIโll definitely hold my birthday party here.โ
Everyone chimed in.
By the time everyone had gone downstairs, Maisie went to pay the bill, only to learn that Zinnia had already done it.
โZinnia, I told you itโs my treat,โ Maisie said, giving her a mock-disapproving look.
With the way things are for Zinnia in the Shaw family, Maisie thought they would not give her so much money, but now she spent so much.
Zinnia said with a soft curve of her lips, โYouโre like my sis, so weโre family. What difference does it make who treats whom?โ
โOh, you,โ Maisie said with affectionate exasperation, gently pinching Zinniaโs cheek.
โMaisie, Iโm really happy today,โ Zinnia said, leaning into Maisie and letting her pinch her cheek. She silently thanked Maisie for giving her a sister and parents.
โZinnia, just because of the Shaw family, donโt ever think that no one in this world loves you. Youโre so adorable. Everyone loves you.โ
Maisie looked at Zinniaโs smile, feeling sad. She gently stroked Zinniaโs hair and thought, โZinnia, you know, itโs not just the Shaws who can give you love. There are so many others in this world who care about you.โ
โYeah,โ Zinnia replied softly.
After leaving the restaurant, Maisie was about to call a cab when she remembered Zinnia lived alone. Grinning, she asked, โMind if I crash at your place tonight?โ Zinnia smiled and replied, โOf course not! Iโd love the company.โ
Zinnia checked her phone and said, โMaisie, Yannis just textedโheโs asking where we are and says heโll come pick us up.โ She showed Maisie the message, timestamped ten minutes ago.
โSince when is Yannis this nice?โ Maisie leaned over to read the message: [Zinnia, are you done eating? I will come pick you up.] The words sent a shiver down her spine.
Even though she knew Yannis treated Zinnia differently, seeing him send such a gentle message still made her tremble. She couldnโt help but think, โIs this really the sharp-tongued, cold-hearted Yannis?โ
โI guess so,โ Zinnia replied, not really sure why Maisie said that. The first time Zinnia met Yannis, he seemed a bit of a rogue; the second time, a little goofy; the third time, he gave her a gift.
Zinnia thought he was actually quite caring and loyal. The fourth time she met him, he cooked for herโhis cooking was pretty good, so she figured heโd definitely be a sweet husband.
And today, the fifth time, he stood up for her. Honestly, she really thought he was a good guy.
To be honest, she never expected Yannis would actually come to the school. She was genuinely grateful he showed up. Sheโd already braced herself for him to say noโafter all, they werenโt that close.
โZinnia,โ Maisie teased with a playful nudge, โI think Yannisโs really got a thing for you.โ
Zinnia blinked in confusion. โHuh?โ
Maisie said, โYou have no idea. Yannis may seem all smiles on the surface, but honestly, heโs ice-cold inside. Very few people ever truly get through to him.โ
Maisie explained, โHe may smile a lot, but most of those smiles donโt mean much. Today though, that smile of his was totally genuine.โ
โReally? Maybe itโs because Jackson asked him to take care of me. Since heโs been entrusted by Jackson, he canโt exactly put on a cold front, right?โ
Zinnia thought, โHad none of those smiles been genuine? But every time I saw him, even if his smile was faint, I never sensed any chilly vibe from him.โ
Then she realized, โHe must be treating me so well because of Jackson.โ
Maisie rested her hand on Zinniaโs shoulder, thought for a moment, then nodded seriously. โYeah, maybe. Yannis is ice-coldโwalking next to him feels like standing in a freezer.
When he actually smiles, you know troubleโs coming. You two havenโt known each other long, so maybe heโs only playing nice because Jackson asked him to help out, and heโs holding back his true nature.โ
Maisie nodded again, her tone earnest. โIf itโs because of Jackson, it makes sense. After all, he and Jackson get along pretty well, so Yannis would at least do him this favor out of respect.โ
โThen how should we reply?โ Zinnia asked, holding up her phone for Maisie to see.
Maisie nodded. โCome on, itโs a free ride in Yannisโs carโmight as well take it. His car is seriously comfy.โ
โAlright, Iโll say okay to him,โ Zinnia said with a nod.
The reply came almost instantly: [Iโll be there in ten. Find somewhere comfortable to wait.]
Seeing messages like this again, Maisie just shruggedโshe was already used to it. Zinnia was so lovableโeven Yannis had been won over by her. โImpressive,โ Maisie thought.
[Okay.] Zinnia texted back.
Maisie and Zinnia took their time, waiting outside in no hurry.
Soon, a sleek black Bentley glided to a stop before them. The window descended, revealing a face so strikingly handsome it was almost unrealโhis profile all smooth lines and effortless elegance, illuminated by the soft interior lights.
It was impossible not to think that the universe had truly played favorites with him.
Zinnia glanced over and thought to herself, โDamn, heโs gorgeous. No matter how I look at him, that face is just flawless. Honestly, I wish I could keep him in a giant golden cage and stare at him all day.
But then she shook her head, โNo, I canโt lock up someone this beautiful. If I caged him, heโd lose that radiant energy that makes him so captivating.โ
โItโs his liveliness that makes him truly stunning. Even if I couldnโt have him all to myself, just sneaking a glance every now and then is enough to make my eyes feel in heaven.โ
โZinnia,โ Yannis murmured with a slight smile, unable to ignore the way her eyes were fixed on him. Her gaze was pure admiration, never unpleasant, but there was something else beneath it, like yearning for something precious yet hesitating to claim it.
โYannis,โ Maisie said like a good girl.
โHi, Yannis,โ Zinnia greeted, snapping out of her thoughts.
โGet in,โ Yannis said with a nod to them.
โWell, Iโll take the front seat,โ Maisie said after glancing at the seats. She thought, โIโd rather not sit next to Yannis and endure his icy demeanor.
โWith Jackson looking out for Zinnia, heโll behave himself, but if I sit beside him, Iโll probably just get the cold shoulder.โ Maisie knew Yannis all too well.
Yannis made no comment.
โMaybe I should take the front seat,โ Zinnia offered. She couldnโt help but notice that Maisie seemed a bit intimidated by the gorgeous man. But then again, theyโre familyโif anyone should sit up front, it should be her.
โZinnia, I call shotgun. I love the front seat.โ Maisie blurted out, already yanking open Left with no choice, Zinnia had to sit beside Yannis. the passenger door and hopping in before Zinnia could respond.