My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 156: Does He Even Know How to Treat a Lady?
Ariana Grant was confused for a moment, but she quickly figured out what was going on.
"Oh, you mean the brooch. Do I need a special occasion to give you something? I saw it, thought it would look good on you, and bought it. What do you think? Do you like it?"
Ariana Grant’s tone was natural and casual, no different from usual.
Stella Sterling nodded. "I love it. I love anything you give me."
Ariana Grant went along with it and chatted about recent goings-on for a few minutes before hanging up.
The gift and the phone call put Stella Sterling in a great mood.
Her relationship with Ariana Grant... how to describe it?
They were best friends, but not the kind who needed to talk every single day or be attached at the hip.
They each had their own lives. When they were together, they were inseparable, but when they were apart, there was no awkwardness. Their bond wouldn’t fade just because they hadn’t talked for a day or two, nor would it weaken because of distance.
It was a comfortable and reassuring kind of closeness.
After Stella Sterling hung up, Ariana Grant immediately turned and dialed another number.
But whoever was on the other end didn’t pick up; she wasn’t sure what they were doing.
Ariana Grant wasn’t worried. She hung up and waited.
’He’ll call back when he’s free.’
Sure enough, twenty minutes later, Ryan Shaw’s call came through.
Ryan Shaw didn’t beat around the bush. As soon as Ariana Grant picked up, he said, "I sent her a brooch. Don’t let it slip."
Ariana Grant chuckled. "By the time you got around to telling me, it would have been too late. Stella Sterling already called me. Good thing I’m quick on my feet."
"Yes, yes, Miss Grant is the quickest of them all. Name your price. By the way, I met a few tall, handsome soldiers on my last mission. Want me to introduce you?"
"Heh," Ariana Grant sneered. "Are you asking for a death wish?"
After the teasing, Ariana Grant said, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Stella Sterling is married now. Don’t go breaking up a happy home."
Ryan Shaw clicked his tongue, his mood souring. "Way to hit me where it hurts."
With that, he unhappily hung up.
He sat alone on a rubber tire on the training grounds, phone in hand, gazing into the distance.
A few guys from the Third Squadron looked at his back. "You know, say what you will, but Captain Shaw is in seriously good shape..."
One of them framed him with his hands like a camera. "If Captain Shaw became a celebrity, I bet he’d be just as popular as those ’little fresh meat’ idols."
Speaking of which, it reminded them of a rumor that had been circulating around the detachment recently.
"Hey, did you guys hear? I think some actress is coming to our detachment to train for a role. I heard she’s going to be in Director Gordon’s new movie. Guess who it is?"
"I hope it’s Catherine Linden. Catherine Linden is gorgeous and a great actress. If she comes to our detachment, you think I can get her autograph?"
"Pfft, even if she does come to the detachment, it’s no use if she’s not assigned to our squadron. Actresses are busy. We might not even get a glimpse of her."
"If you ask me, you guys have no ambition. Does Director Gordon need any extras for his movie? I’m available!"
"Hey, you can’t even beat me at pull-ups. If Director Gordon was looking for someone, he’d definitely pick me first!"
Ryan Shaw had no idea what the group of hot-blooded young men behind him was arguing about, but he found them incredibly annoying.
’Can’t I find a single quiet place in this whole Special Police Detachment!’
Tsk!
So annoying!
When Ryan Shaw introduced Catherine Linden to the men of the Third Squadron, their eyes went wide and their jaws dropped, and they couldn’t seem to close them.
A few of them even had drool trickling from the corners of their mouths.
Ryan Shaw silently rolled his eyes. "Since Miss Linden is here for training, I expect you all not to go easy on her. More importantly, don’t let ’taking care of her’ interfere with your duties. Otherwise..."
Ryan Shaw shot them a warning look before turning and walking away.
Catherine Linden was supposed to arrive in the morning. If things had gone smoothly, she would have joined the team for their morning training session.
But for whatever reason, she showed up just as the detachment was breaking for lunch.
And so, there she was. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Catherine Linden was ushered into the detachment’s cafeteria like a queen, surrounded by gawking members of the Special Police Detachment as she sat down to eat with the men of the Third Squadron.
Catherine Linden glanced around and quietly asked an officer next to her, "Isn’t Captain Shaw eating with us?"
Catherine Linden was extremely famous. To have someone you’d only ever seen on TV suddenly appear beside you... the officer felt like he was dreaming.
She also had a pleasant fragrance, which felt like a breath of fresh spring air in a detachment otherwise filled with testosterone.
The officer blushed and said, "Captain Shaw must be busy with something. To be honest, he just arrived recently himself, so we don’t know him that well either."
Catherine Linden nodded. "Oh, I see."
Catherine Linden acted very approachable and friendly, without any airs. Over the course of a single lunch, she had already gotten familiar with the members of the Third Squadron.
Thanks to Catherine Linden’s arrival, the Third Squadron found themselves the focus of the entire detachment’s attention.
The feeling was like they had just received a commendation, making them puff out their chests and stand a little taller, as if they’d finally made it.
But before they could enjoy the feeling for too long, a sharp whistle from Ryan Shaw summoned them to the training grounds.
"We’re starting now. A five-kilometer run."
"..."
Ryan Shaw had already changed into his training gear. One look at him and everyone knew he was going to run with them.
’He’s treating everyone equally...’
...so they couldn’t even find a reason to complain about him.
Another whistle blew, and the members of the Third Squadron took off running.
Catherine Linden remained where she was, putting on what she thought was a sweet smile and looking at Ryan Shaw with an innocent expression.
Ryan Shaw’s brow furrowed. "What are you looking at me for? You plan on running five kilometers on my face?"
The smile on Catherine Linden’s face froze. It was only then that she understood.
"I... I have to go with them?"
Ryan Shaw stated it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Aren’t you here to train?"
"..."
’Well, yes, but not... entirely...’
Ryan Shaw looked at her with disdain. "If you’re just here to put on a show, you don’t have to stay in my Third Squadron."
With that, Ryan Shaw clicked his stopwatch and took off.
Leaving Catherine Linden alone, unsure whether to stay put or start running.
After a moment’s thought, Catherine Linden finally bit her lip and ran off, chasing after Ryan Shaw’s footsteps.
The men from the other squadrons watched from a distance, shaking their heads.
’That Ryan Shaw. Does he have any idea how to treat a lady?’
