Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 316

The first Cozy was the cat; the second Cozy was her.

Zinnia understood, but only half.

When Yuri called her "Cozy" again, that prickly discomfort crept over her once more.

She shot Yuri Ford a warning look.

"Don’t call me that again."

Yuri raised both hands in surrender, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest.

"My bad, habit’s hard to break."

Zinnia pulled out her breakfast from the insulated bag. Only then, with the sight of food, did she realize how hungry she was.

She was in a rush for class, so she ate quickly, almost anxiously.

Yuri couldn’t stand watching her like that. He reached in, took out the carton of milk, poked a straw through the top, and handed it to her.

"Slow down. You’ve got plenty of time."

Zinnia took the milk and gave a quick thanks.

"I’m heading off. Are you free for lunch today? My treat?"

Yuri grinned and nodded.

"Of course. We’re colleagues now—lunch is a given."

Zinnia nodded and hurried off toward the main building.

Yuri stayed where he was, watching her anxious figure retreat into the distance. He shook his head, still smiling.

—

Ford Group.

Noelle hurried into the Ford Group building, her face still smarting and red from the slap Zinnia had given her.

Maybe because of last time, she didn’t dare waste a second. She was terrified the handprint would fade before she made it to Landon Ford.

This was her second time here.

But unlike her first visit—when she’d been the center of attention—this time, as she entered, everyone’s attitude shifted. The front desk staff, the other employees, all glanced at her with barely-concealed disdain.

Someone even rolled their eyes right to her face.

That was the last straw for Noelle.

"Appointment? Are you blind?"

The receptionist’s expression didn’t even flicker.

"I’m sorry, company policy. Without an appointment, you can’t go up."

Polite and graceful on the outside, she was rolling her eyes a thousand times on the inside. How had she ever been a fan of someone so fake and shallow?

Running after a man who didn’t want her, and still acting like she was special.

Noelle’s face contorted with fury, but remembering why she’d come, she forced herself to calm down.

She softened her voice.

"Landon asked me to come. If you don’t believe me, call upstairs and ask."

The receptionist hesitated—Noelle seemed so sure of herself.

But after what happened last time, she decided to tread carefully, and tentatively replied, “If Mr. Ford sent you, then why don’t you give him a call? You must have his number, don’t you?”