Chapter 273
69%
The cigarette he’d smoked was mild, and the expensive perfume in the car should have masked the smell, yet she still kept wrinkling her nose from time to time.
“Well, if I smell too much smoke, it irritates my airways and I might feel lightheaded,” Zinnia murmured nervously, pressing her lips together. Just then, the car jerked to a harsh stop.
“Yannis, maybe you should brush up on your driving skills,” Zinnia teased as she jolted forward, only to be yanked back by the seatbelt.
“Zinnia, how could you not tell me something this serious?” Yannis glared at her through gritted teeth. She was just brushing it off. He thought, ‘If she couldn’t even stand the smell of smoke, why didn’t she say anything?‘
Without hesitation, Yannis pulled over, parked the car, and guided Zinnia out. He immediately called Toby and said, “Send over a smoke–free car right.
away.”
He thought, ‘Even if Zinnia is just a little uncomfortable, there is no way I let her stay in that car. If she feels uncomfortable because of the smoke, I’ll never forgive myself.
“Can’t stand the smell of smoke? Why didn’t you say something before getting in the car?”
Yannis looked down at Zinnia beside him, immediately pulling the cigarettes from his pocket and tossing them into the trash. Without hesitation, he even threw away his jacket, which still reeked of smoke.
Zinnia wasn’t too bothered, since he hadn’t smoked much. “You didn’t smoke much–it’s bearable. I’m not really uncomfortable, just not used to the
⚫smell,” she said.
“Zinnia, you have to tell me if you feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable, okay? Your health comes first. From now on, let’s avoid anywhere people are smoking,” Yannis said, his tone full of concern.
He was relieved he’d never smoked in front of her–if she got sick because of that, he’d regret it. She got dizzy just from the smell of smoke. He thought,
‘thankfully, it isn’t too serious yet!
Zinnia nodded obediently. “Okay.”
“Did you buy this flower?” Yannis asked, noticing the slightly wilted flower in her arms after a whole day.
Zinnia hugged the sunflower closer and smiled. “Lydia gave it to me,” she said.
“That deskmate of yours–the girl who sent you out, right?” Yannis mused, recalling the quiet, reserved girl he’d just seen. Her whole presence radiated calm gentleness, and her eyes were as tranquil as still water.
Zinnia nodded eagerly. “Yeah, that’s her–the super smart one I told you about.”
“What’s her last name?” Yannis wondered, unable to immediately place where he’d seen those eyes. Few people ever made enough of an impression on him, and he was certain he’d never met that girl–yet those eyes stirred an odd sense of familiarity.
“Hollis,” Zinnia answered. Yannis silently mouthed the surname to himself, trying to place where he’d heard it before. But before he could make sense of it, Toby pulled up in a luxury car, Bugatti La Voiture Noire.
“Yannis, your cars are seriously awesome!” Zinnia’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the car, its dark metallic finish shimmering like starlight. “This is so
cool!”
She remembered when she lived in the small town, she had seen such a beautiful car just like this in the phone of a friend.
She’d run home to show Master, saying, “One day, when I make it big, I’m going to buy a car like this.” Master just chuckled and said he’d get her one when she grew up.
1/2
15
Chapter 273
She thought Master was totally bluffing. Her friend told her that cars like this were insanely expensive–so expensive that even if she sold herself, she still couldn’t afford one.
“Do you like it?” Yannis asked, his eyes gleaming as he heard her praise.
“It’s gorgeous,” Zinnia nodded, her eyes shining. She thought the car was truly stunning—just the kind that only a real handsome man like Yannis could pull off.
Yannis smiled and said softly, “I’ll get you one when you turn eighteen.”
2/2