When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 88: Again?

Chapter 88: Again?

Zinnia smiled as she moved to the counter, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Morning. I slept great, actually," she said, her tone playful. "Maybe it was all that good food."

Samuel chuckled, flipping the bacon in the pan. "I’m glad. I thought I’d make us breakfast too. Just something simple—eggs, bacon, toast. Nothing fancy like last night."

"It smells delicious," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. The warmth spread through her. "You’re really spoiling me, you know that?"

"Maybe I like spoiling you," Samuel said, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes softened as they met hers, and the room seemed to shrink, like it was just them in their little world. "Is that a problem?"

Zinnia felt her cheeks warm. She quickly looked down at her coffee, trying to hide her smile. "No, it’s... it’s nice," she said, barely above a whisper. "Really nice."

Samuel’s smile grew, and he turned back to the stove, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. He finished cooking and plated the food, setting the dishes on the table.

They ate in comfortable silence, with only the sound of clinking forks and the occasional murmur of conversation filling the room. It felt normal, yet special, like a small piece of happiness they could both hold onto.

After breakfast, Zinnia insisted on doing the dishes, and Samuel didn’t argue. Instead, he leaned against the counter, watching her as she worked. Her movements were smooth and practiced. There was something soothing about the way she moved, and he found himself getting lost in the moment, wishing it could last a little longer.

"So, what’s your plan for today?" he asked. He kept the conversation light, though he wanted to know more—wanted to know everything.

Zinnia shrugged, drying her hands on a dish towel. "I have a few things to take care of at work, but it shouldn’t be a busy day," she said. "I might finish up early."

Samuel nodded, filing that information away. "If you do, maybe we could... I don’t know, have dinner together again?" He kept his tone casual, but his eyes were hopeful.

Zinnia looked at him, surprised but touched by the offer. "I’d like that," she said softly. "I’ll let you know."

Samuel’s heart swelled, and he nodded, trying to hide how much her simple words meant to him. "Okay. I’ll be looking forward to it."

As Zinnia left the house, heading to her car, she couldn’t stop smiling. The drive to work felt different today—lighter, easier. She didn’t even mind the traffic, because her thoughts were still on Samuel and the warmth he had shown her. It was like a small, fragile hope had been lit inside her, and she wasn’t ready to let it go.

Meanwhile, Samuel watched her leave from the window, his hands in his pockets. He knew it wasn’t much, but this was a start—a small step toward something better.

The day dragged on for both of them. Zinnia stayed focused on her work, but every now and then, her thoughts drifted back to Samuel. She’d catch herself smiling for no reason, and her colleagues noticed the change, though no one said anything.

Samuel, on the other hand, found himself glancing at the clock more often than usual. He went through his meetings, reviewed documents, and handled calls, but his mind kept wandering back to dinner with Zinnia. He had already started planning what to cook, wanting to make the evening special without overdoing it.

Timmy, Samuel’s assistant, couldn’t help but notice. He watched Samuel as he kept checking the time, even during meetings. It was unlike him. "Does my boss hate my presence now?" Timmy thought, frowning. "He seems like he’s desperate to leave the office today."

As the day wore on, Zinnia received a message from Marcos, her father’s assistant. He reminded her about a brief meeting with her dad in the afternoon. She appreciated how considerate Marcos was, always making sure she was prepared. The meeting was quick, just a rundown of some upcoming projects, but it was a good chance to touch base.

When she finally finished for the day, Zinnia packed up her things and made her way to the parking lot. There was a bounce in her step. She was excited to go home, curious to see what Samuel would cook this time.

Samuel, on the other hand, was equally excited. He wanted to wrap up his last task and head home. Then, Timmy’s phone buzzed, and he quickly answered it, excusing himself to step outside.

Timmy’s expression changed as he listened to the voice on the other end. His face was serious, his eyes widening slightly. He waited, nodded, and then said, "Understood. I’ll let him know."

Timmy walked back into the office, approaching Samuel with a calm but urgent demeanor. "I’ve got a lead," he said, his voice low. "There’s a private facility on a secluded island abroad. The records show a patient who matches James’s description was transferred there years ago."

Samuel’s heart pounded. This was it—the break they had been waiting for. A private island? His mind raced through the implications. If James had been hidden there, it meant someone with immense resources had orchestrated this entire cover-up. Revilo? Walter Cain? The board members? Or someone even more powerful?

"Are you sure about this?" Samuel asked, his voice tense but controlled. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he couldn’t help it. "This could be our only chance."

"I’m sure," Timmy replied, meeting Samuel’s eyes. "The information is solid. But it’s not going to be easy. Whoever set this up, they knew what they were doing."

Samuel nodded, his mind already working on a plan. He had to find out the truth, no matter the cost. If James was out there, hidden away, he needed to know why. And he needed to know how it was connected to everything that had been happening lately.

"Book the next flight," Samuel said, his voice firm. "We’ll head out tonight. I don’t want to waste any more time."

Timmy hesitated for a moment. "What about Zinnia? Are you going to tell her?"

Samuel’s expression softened, but his resolve didn’t waver. "I’ll tell her when I’m back," he said. "I don’t want to worry her until I have something concrete. Right now, she deserves to have a little peace."

Timmy nodded, understanding. "I’ll make the arrangements."