When Love is a Question Mark-Chapter 100: Lingering thoughts

As they finished their meal, Zinnia pushed her plate away, her stomach finally satisfied. Samuel leaned back in his chair, a content smile playing on his lips. "So, what’s for dinner tonight?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Zinnia raised an eyebrow, feigning disbelief. "We just had lunch, and you’re already talking about dinner?" She couldn’t help but grin at his eagerness.

Samuel chuckled, shrugging as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "What can I say? I like to plan ahead. Besides, it gives me something to look forward to." He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "So, what do you crave?"

She pretended to think hard, tapping her chin. "I don’t know... maybe some sushi? Or Italian?" Zinnia teased, enjoying the playful banter between them.

"Pizza, then," he declared with a dramatic flair. "We’ll keep it simple. How about we order in and watch a movie? A perfect way to end the day."

"Pizza and a movie sounds great," she replied, her heart fluttering at the thought of spending more time together. "Just don’t expect me to share my favorite slices."

"Hey, no one should ever share pizza," Samuel said, smirking. "It’s a sacred rule." Zinnia laughed, feeling the weight of the day’s earlier stress slip away.

After finishing their drinks, they stood up from the table. Zinnia glanced around the café one last time, soaking in the cozy atmosphere before heading back outside. "Thanks for waiting, by the way," she said as they stepped onto the bustling sidewalk. "I know it wasn’t easy knowing how busy you are with work."

Samuel shrugged, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "It was a nice little break. Plus, I got to enjoy the view," he said, nodding toward her with a playful grin.

Zinnia rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smile. "You’re incorrigible, you know that?"

As they walked side by side, the warmth of the afternoon sun wrapped around them. They chatted casually about the rehearsal, the upcoming scenes, and Samuel’s work. It felt effortless, like they were two friends reconnecting after a long time apart.

Soon, they arrived at Lopez Digital Studios, its sleek glass facade reflecting the vibrant city around them. Samuel stopped just outside the entrance, his expression softening. "Well, this is where I leave you," he said, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Zinnia turned to face him, her heart sinking slightly at the thought of parting ways. "Thanks for today, Samuel. I really enjoyed it."

"Me too," he replied, meeting her gaze. "Let’s do this again soon. And don’t forget about dinner, okay?"

She nodded, feeling a flutter of excitement. "I won’t forget. See you later, Sam."

"Take care, Zia," he said, watching her enter the building. As the door closed behind her, he felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. He had enjoyed their time together more than he expected.

Samuel turned to head back to his car, parked just a short distance from the studio. The Lucas Realty Group’s main office was only a fifteen-minute drive away, so he had chosen a café within walking distance of Zinnia’s workplace, hoping it would make things easier for her.

Earlier that day, he had actually planned to wait at the entrance of Zinnia’s company. But knowing that it was a media company, he wanted to avoid any unwanted gossip. Instead, he had decided to wait at the café, ordering the food first so Zinnia could enjoy it as soon as she arrived.

But when he had waited for over an hour without hearing from her, concern crept in. Zinnia had always been punctual, and her absence felt unsettling. He pulled out his phone, sending her a message, but there was no reply. Worry gnawed at him, so he called Timmy.

"Can you check what activities are going on at Lopez Digital Studios today?" Samuel asked, his tone clipped with urgency.

"Sure, I’ll find out," Timmy replied before hanging up. Moments later, he returned with information that Zinnia was caught up with work and hadn’t taken her lunch yet. Samuel’s heart sank, but he felt a surge of relief knowing she was okay.

"Guess I’ll stick around for a bit longer," he muttered to himself, sinking back into his chair. He couldn’t shake off the worry, but he needed to be there for her.

As he waited, he went through some work emails on his phone, trying to focus on business matters. But his mind kept drifting back to Zinnia and the chaotic pace of her rehearsals. He could only imagine how stressful it must be.

Time passed slowly, and as the clock inched closer to 2 p.m., Samuel’s worry grew. He glanced at the time on his phone again, hoping for any sign of a message. Finally, when Zinnia’s reply popped up on his screen, his heart raced with happiness.

"I’m so sorry! Rehearsal ran late. Are you still around?" she texted, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"No worries. I’m at a café nearby. Come join me if you’re free," he quickly replied. His heart lightened, knowing he would soon see her. But as he waited for her to arrive, his thoughts raced. Should he tell her about the incident with James?

The night before had been chaotic, and part of him felt she deserved to know. The other part realized how tired she was from work, and he didn’t want to add to her stress. Maybe it was better to keep it to himself for now. Luckily, when Zinnia arrived and they had lunch, she hadn’t really asked about it; otherwise, he didn’t know how he would respond.

Back in the present, Samuel leaned back in the driver’s seat of his car. His mind was still swirling with thoughts of Zinnia as he pulled up the message he had received earlier while he was with her. His heart raced as he read Timmy’s response regarding the investigation into Marlo.

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Author’s Note:

Wow! I didn’t expect this to be my 100th Chapter of this story. Thank you, Little Flowers, for continuing to read up to this point. A special thanks to those who bought my privileged Chapters. I finally reached Tier 1 with 320 unlocks now in Win-Win. I appreciate your support and hope you continue reading until the end. Thank you so much!