Chapter 130

Anna Ross stood at the center of the stage.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Cheers washed over her like waves.

Yet her mind was elsewhere.

Sophia Roscente's phone kept ringing unanswered.

Anna finished singing two songs.

She bowed hastily and left the stage.

She needed to find Sophia immediately.

Anna hurried through the crowd.

Lights flickered around her.

The music was deafening.

She looked down, searching for her phone.

She nearly collided with someone.

Anna fumbled to steady her phone.

Her breath caught when she looked up.

Adrian Sinclair stood before her.

His black suit was impeccably tailored.

It starkly contrasted with the bar's atmosphere.

His gaze locked heavily onto her.

"My executive assistant refuses my sugar arrangement."

"Turns out it's because of this wonderful job."

He deliberately emphasized the last three words.

Anna tightened her grip on her phone.

She knew he intended to humiliate her again.

But she had no time for games now.

"I enjoy this job very much."

"I can support myself."

"I don't need anyone's sugar arrangement."

She tried to step around him.

Adrian caught her wrist.

His grip was firm and unyielding.

Anna stopped moving.

She simply looked at him.

A rare flicker of emotion showed in his eyes.

"I had to leave suddenly that morning."

"It was an urgent matter."

"I wasn't deliberately avoiding you."

Anna paused slightly.

So he thought she cared about that.

She found it almost laughable.

"You're overthinking it, Mr. Sinclair."

"I didn't give it a second thought."

"Certainly not going to cling to you."

She pulled her hand free.

Adrian's expression darkened instantly.

Anna continued, "I have an emergency right now."

"Sophia is missing."

"Her phone keeps going to voicemail."

A cough escaped her.

Adrian stepped closer.

"Who's missing?"

His brows furrowed deeply.

"How do you know Sophia has disappeared?"