At dusk, the principal asked her to stop by his office.
Pushing open the office door, her gazended immediately on the middle-aged man sitting in the executive chair.
The principal, standing to the side, looked especially deferential.
Gemma was sitting on a couch, a cup of tea before her, and when she saw Zoey enter, she couldn''t help but let out a snort of disdain.
Sweat was visible on the principal''s forehead; he knew Zoey came from a somewhat influential family. If it hadn''t been for Fitch specifically requesting Nn be ced in Zoey''s ss, the principal would''ve likely pulled some strings to have Nn join Gemma''s ss instead.
After all, Gemma had called him that night, and he was inclined to do her this favor.
But now, with Zoey shing with Gemma, and even Gemma''s father making a personal appearance, the situation had escted.
Though Mr. Jones held a modest position in Zion City, he was a master at building connections. A single phone call from him could mean a world of trouble for the principal.
So, upon seeing Zoey, his tone was instantly filled with reprimand.
"Zoey, as a teacher and a role model for the kids, how could you get into a fight? Just apologize to Gemma, and we can put this behind us."
Zoey''s face was stoic, her tone remarkablyposed.
"She started by spreading rumors about me. Shouldn''t she be the one apologizing to me? And Gemma''s a teacher too. Besides, Mr. Principal, what''s this? The younger one causes trouble, and the elder rushes over to save face?"
Her words instantly charged the office atmosphere with tension.
Gemma leapt to her feet, pointing at Zoey and starting to curse.
"You lowlife, what are you acting all high and mighty for?"
Fuming, she moved to grab Zoey''s hair.
The principal watched, his headache intensifying, but Mr. Jones, who had been observing from his seat, intervened, his gaze on Zoey.
There was amanding aura about him, typical of someone in his position.
Yet, Zoey didn''t like this man; Mr. Jones''s demeanor and the gleam in his eye made her ufortable.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
Gemma quickly caught on to her father''s intentions.
Her mother had passed awa
ago, and despite her father''s
phndering, he had never
remarried. Now, it seemed he had taken a liking to Zoey.
Gemma felt a surge of anger but then thought f Zoey truly married into the Jones family, any chance with Fitch would be utterly dashed She knew her father too well; even if he married Zoey, his old habits wouldn''t change, and Zoey would end up miserable. Gemma could bully her then as she pleased.
Her lips curled into a smirk, and she stopped pulling at Zoey''s hair.
"Alright, Zoey, I don''t want to keep this up. Let''s find a ce to sit down and talk this out. I was wrong
spread rumors about you. I''ll make a public apology, okay?"
Zoey was surprised by the sudden change in tone; just moments ago, Gemma had been all bravado, and now she was suggesting a truce?
But she really didn''t want to keep up the back-and-forth with Gemma, "Okay."
"Zoey, let''s head to the coffee shop next door. It''ll just be ten minutes of your time, I promise."
Zoey, having been shielded by Curtis and Miranda for four years, was oblivious to Gemma''s sinister intentions.
Following Gemma out, she hadn''t noticed the exchange of looks between her and her father, but as they left the office, she spotted Nn.
Nn pursed his lips, reaching out to tug at her sleeve.
Gemma, quick on the uptake, grabbed him and shot her father a look.
Zoey, missing the silentmunication, just wanted to get this matter resolved. Nn, still a child, struggled in Mr. Jones''s grasp, disliking the older man''s scent. Used to giving orders, Mr. Jones found the boy''s resistance irritating and pped him. "You little brat, do you know who I am? Keep squirming, and see if I don''t choke you!"
By then, Gemma had already led Zoey away, forgetting to inform her father about the boy''s significant background.