Bought For A Baby, Kept For A Lifetime-Chapter 73: Stir The Drama Pot

A trace of reluctance flashed within his cold, dark eyes before Andrew finally opened his mouth, as if it were difficult for him to physically admit.

"Annelise Thompson, that’s her name, it only works when she sleeps next to me."

Shawn, whose lips had been smiling faintly, suddenly stiffened.

Annelise?

Was it that Annelise Thompson?

It had to be her; he’d seen her at the Sterling Enterprises the other day.

"What’s with that face, do you know her?"

Raising his head, he caught the suspicion on Andrew’s ever-rigid face, and he shook his head.

"Nah, the name sounded quite familiar."

In this world, everyone had their deepest secrets that they keep from their closest friends. He knew Andrew had his, and he didn’t pry into them—he had his too.

"So, this Annelise, have you proven you’re able to sleep every time she’s around?"

Andrew snorted lightly. "Only when she isn’t giving me a fucking headache."

’Annelise Thompson, open this door right now!’

A set of memories fluttered into his head.

That crazy woman was his antidote, but she was also capable of annoying him to the fullest.

Regardless, he didn’t mind having her around.

"What are your feelings whenever this woman is around?"

Andrew’s eyes suddenly narrowed on Shawn.

"What do you mean, feelings?"

"I meant, what goes on in your mind and your body whenever she’s around? We’re talking physical and mental aspect here."

What goes on in his body?

He suddenly pictured something absolutely inappropriate for this conversation and swallowed with difficulty.

What goes on in his mind was him trying to suppress the urge to fucking eat her up. What goes on in his body was him trying to tamp down the urge to feast on her.

Shrugging, he said, "Nothing much."

With a cunning look in his eyes, Shawn asked again, "Are you sure nothing happens?"

Shawn quickly retracted his question upon receiving a glare.

"Alright, next question. Under what conditions do you fall asleep with her around? Is it after an intense activity with her that leaves you physically exhausted, or the classic gentle cuddle, or do you just fall asleep whenever she’s next to you?"

"Shawn, do you realize your questions are becoming more and more perverted?"

"What’s so perverted about my questions? You shouldn’t keep anything from your doctor."

Andrew wanted to retort but had no words. In the end, he looked away and replied,

"Under all conditions."

"So you have slept with her," Shawn said, confirming.

"And if I have?"

"Then that concludes my diagnosis," Shawn said seriously.

"What diagnosis?"

"I fear after much failed medical assessment on you, my conclusion is you’re suffering from soulmate fever. Your heart and soul is yearning for your soulmate, and if you don’t have her, your body refuses to rest. Tsk tsk tsk, I’m afraid you’ll have to keep this girl, or this restlessness will become tied to you forever."

Andrew rolled his eyes and got on his feet.

"You’ve spouted enough rubbish, Shawn. It’s time to go."

"Wait, but I was here to—"

"Goodnight." And like that, Shawn was pushed out of the room by a constantly irritable Andrew.

Smiling to himself, Shawn shook his head and walked down the stairs, whistling to himself.

It seemed his friend had also fallen into that net—the net that traps a man’s heart.

He chuckled.

Andrew was outwardly rude, arrogant, and unfeeling to others, but only those who truly knew him saw the mask that covered the reality of who he was. Shawn was one of the people who knew that deep part of him and it was something he could relate to.

When Shawn descended the staircase, he didn’t expect to see a very familiar face.

What was she doing here?

"Are you avoiding me now? I just asked a question—tell me, do you have a boyfriend?" Gabriel Sterling was evidently pestering this girl.

She was quietly sitting in the same spot without moving, but the always perverted Gabriel was sitting so uncomfortably close to her.

What was she doing here with Gabriel?

This was going to spell trouble, and a very interesting drama if this reached Andrew.

In fact, why not stir up the pot of drama right now?

Chuckling with an evil glint in his eyes, Shawn pulled out his phone to type a text.

Fortunately, he loved some drama. Even though he couldn’t be here to witness it, he would love to stir that drama while on his way.

[Was just leaving now, didn’t expect to see your little sweetheart here. Heard your brother saying her name so I know it’s her. Seems she came with your brother Gabriel. I must say, your Annelise is quite beautiful. A pity Gabriel seems to be toying with her right now. Does that not bother you?]

Shawn had sent that text, but he didn’t expect to immediately hear a response coming from behind. The sound of footsteps began to come from the stairs, and he instantly made his swift escape, leaving the drama behind.

He wished he could stay, but with the important appointment he had tomorrow, he unfortunately couldn’t stay.

As he strolled out into the cold night, every whooshing wind that passed by said the name of the woman tucked sweetly in the corners of his heart. And if he inhaled deep enough, he could smell her in every breath he took.

"Jasmine."

...

When Anne was leaving the office, she’d surprisingly been stopped on the road when a car parked in front of her. The tinted glasses rolled down, and she saw a familiar, kind face of an older man.

Elder Sterling!

Anne had quickly greeted the old man, who’d insisted she enter the car.

"I have yet to thank you properly for what you did. I owe you my life. So I’d like to invite you to my home for dinner."

Anne had looked for a way to politely decline. Tomorrow was a very important day. But Elder Sterling was persistent, hence she had no choice but to agree.

The car drove into a very large estate—a gigantic building that left her jaw slack.

The household staff were strictly uniformed, lining up at the entrance to greet the man upon his return.

Elder Sterling had assigned a maid to show her the living room, where she was asked to sit and served refreshments.

Anne hadn’t been able to say no to the man. For some reason, he reminded her of a grandparent she’d lost long ago.

However, a familiar face suddenly emerged—one she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Gabriel Sterling.

She’d had quite an amiable work relationship with him, which hadn’t lasted long, but nevertheless, she greeted the man with a smile.

"Oh, hey there. What are you doing here—did you come to see me?"

Anne didn’t miss the flirtation in his tone, but she remained polite, hoping he would see she had no such intentions to flirt with him so he could retreat.

"Not really, sir. I came here with Elder Sterling."

Anne hadn’t wished to see any of the old man’s grandsons when she’d been brought here. In fact, she hoped she wouldn’t see any of them—especially a grumpy-faced one.

Gabriel Sterling didn’t seem to get the hint. He came to sit uncomfortably close to her, filling her nose with a masculine scent.

"Is that so? I doubt you don’t miss me though. You stopped working for me for quite a while. Did you miss me?"

Anne couldn’t help her brow shooting up.

"At that time I worked for you, it was strictly professional."

Anne thought back to a time once before—she’d kinda idolized Gabriel Sterling because he had once caught the eyes of her teenage self, and she’d quite perceived him as a very nice person during the time she worked for him. The only annoying aspect about him was his unhinged flirtatious behavior.

"Don’t you know the saying that workplace romance is the sexiest? If you’d worked for me for some time longer, maybe there would have been moments where no one would know what goes on behind closed doors... am I right?"

Anne quickly shifted on her seat, putting distance between them. He was leaning close to her so uncomfortably.

But the man persistently moved towards her again.

"I want to ask you a question, Anne. Do you have a boyfriend?"

He whispered close to her ear, making her amiable expression turn to one of annoyance as she stood up abruptly. Without replying to the man, she crossed to the other side of the room, changing her seat.

"I’d be more comfortable talking from this much distance, Mr. Sterling."

He smirked—unavoidably handsome, yet annoyingly flirtatious—that he was beginning to cross the line of her ability to remain polite.

He suddenly stood up. He evidently saw the hint of her discomfort, but he didn’t seem to care, going over to sit on the same seat she was currently in.

Why couldn’t this man understand that she didn’t want him anywhere near her?

"Are you avoiding me now? I just asked a question—tell me, do you have a boyfriend?"

Anne shrunk away. She was in the man’s house, and she didn’t want to cause a scene, so she didn’t overreact to his obvious invasion of her personal space.

Taking on a firm look, she turned to the man with a serious gaze.

"Mr. Sterling..."

"Call me Gabriel," he added smilingly.

But Anne persisted. "Mr. Sterling, I don’t like the way you—"

Her words were suddenly cut off by a crisp set of footsteps coming her way. Her head inevitably turned in that direction to see a tall, intimidating-looking man strolling down the stairs. Her breath hitched for a moment.

He was wearing casual clothes, which she hadn’t seen him in before, but it didn’t take away even a bit from his innate arrogance and the effortless gracefulness of his steps as he came down.

Anne belatedly realized he was coming in their direction, with a storm brewing upon his face.

"Dear brother, you’re interrupting a very important moment for me right now," Gabriel spoke, but the man approaching didn’t stop.

Anne’s neck was tilted back, staring up at him as he reached where she was seated. Then, without a word, he grabbed onto her wrist and dragged her away with him.

"Andrew, I was talking to her," Gabriel called from behind, but the man pulling Anne away didn’t stop.

He was taking her towards the stairs.

"Where are you taking me?" she queried and got no reply—only a glimpse of the man’s rigid profile.

He didn’t stop dragging her until he pushed her into a room upstairs. That was when she began to protest, but he shut the door with a loud bang and pressed her back to it.

"What the hell are you doing here with him?"