Chapter 16

Anna could feel the temperature around him drop sharply.

His dark, menacing eyes were fixed intently on her.

"You misheard."

She offered a quiet explanation, turning her face away to avoid his gaze.

。。。。。。。

Buzz buzz buzz...... Buzz buzz buzz......

Adrian held the steering wheel with one hand and answered the call.

"Adrian, where are you?"

The car was quiet. Anna could clearly hear the voice on the other end.

It was Chloe.

She immediately felt uncomfortable.

Adrian's expression remained unchanged. His voice was lazy. "Driving."

"Adrian, I miss you. Can you come pick me up?"

A sweet, coquettish voice came through the phone.

Anna felt goosebumps.

She stole a glance at Adrian.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes completely unreadable.

Did this approach not work on him?

Adrian had intended to refuse.

But noticing Anna's stolen glance, the corner of his mouth suddenly lifted. "Alright. I'll come find you."

He ended the call.

Anna quickly turned her head, her fingers tightening on the seatbelt.

He was going to see Chloe. Surely he would let her go now?

She ventured cautiously, "Since you're meeting someone, can I go home first?"

"No. You're coming with me."

Adrian turned his head slightly. His gaze swept over her face, devoid of any emotion.

Anna thought he was utterly unreasonable.

She stared at his profile, unable to decipher his thoughts.

Go with him to witness his sweet moments with Chloe?

She suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and found her voice. "This isn't within an Executive Assistant's duties, is it? I'm just your assistant. I don't need to be involved in your personal matters."

Adrian let out a cold laugh, his tone icy. "You haven't grasped the situation. You're my personal assistant. Your duties extend beyond work. Remember that."

His voice was a command.

Anna felt like a fish on a chopping block, completely at his mercy.

The car continued moving.

But Anna wanted to escape.

"Personal assistant? You didn't say that earlier!" She stubbornly lifted her chin, attempting to argue.

He had clearly only said she would be his assistant. When did it become personal assistant?

Displeasure flashed across Adrian's face. His brows furrowed again, a ruthless glint appearing in his eyes. "I'm your superior. What I say goes. It's not your place to question it. You will only listen to me."

Anna smiled bitterly.

Right. He could do whatever he wanted.

She never had the right to object.

In his eyes, she was just an insignificant ant he could crush at will.

Seeing her slight reaction, Adrian's lips curved faintly. "Weren't you desperate to ruin my blind date? So desperate you were willing to use your charms. Now a perfect opportunity is right in front of you. Stop pretending."

Pretending?

Anna just felt a chill in her heart.

She instinctively wanted to explain. "It was because..." But her words caught halfway.

She had indeed done those things.

Any explanation would sound weak and hollow.

Adrian scoffed. "Because of what? Why stop? Let me hear what irrefutable reason you have." His tone held resentment, as if questioning the recent events, or perhaps the events of three years ago.

Anna paused, ultimately choosing silence.

Adrian, however, had no intention of letting her off. "Don't try to explain. It's too hypocritical. It makes me sick to listen to it, you know?" His expression shifted abruptly, a violent aura erupting from him. He was like a beast ready to crush her at any moment.

She was desolate for a moment, silently looking out the window.

Quiet descended upon the car once more.

The car soon stopped in front of an upscale restaurant.

Adrian didn't look at her, getting out directly.

Anna didn't dare hesitate, quickly following.

He walked fast. She had to half-jog to keep up behind him.

"Adrian, over here!" The sweet, coquettish voice rang out.

Anna looked up.

Chloe was running towards Adrian happily.

Adrian stopped, allowing Chloe to loop her arm through his.

She leaned against his shoulder playfully, pouting. "Where did you go yesterday? You just left me all alone suddenly. I was so upset."

Adrian's lips curved. He offered a bland explanation. "There was an urgent matter yesterday. I had to leave in a hurry. Didn't have time to tell you."

Anna's heart trembled. She bit her lip.

She remembered Adrian leaving with Chloe yesterday. Did he leave again partway through?

"Alright, I'm not actually mad. But you can't do that again, okay?" Chloe cooed, though a smile was on her face.

Adrian merely gave a slight smile and said nothing.

Chloe was about to pull Adrian away when she suddenly noticed Anna following behind him.

She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

Anna's heart jumped. Before she could speak, Adrian cut in, his tone leisurely. "Chloe, I forgot to introduce you. This is my assistant."

"Assistant?" Chloe looked her over, her eyes full of suspicion. "I've never seen her before."

Clearly, she didn't believe it.

Anna didn't want to provoke Chloe. Avoiding her was best right now. "I really am his assistant. I just got hired today. Don't worry, I won't disturb you. I'll be going now." As she spoke, she turned to leave.

"You don't need to leave."

Adrian's cold voice came through.

Chloe was startled, looking at Adrian in disbelief.

He was actively asking this third wheel to stay?

This was their date. Why keep her around?

She looked at Anna again, her eyes now holding more wariness.

Anna's fingers twitched, then clenched tightly. She answered with her back to him. "Mr. Sinclair, while I am your assistant, I have my own matters to attend to."

'Mr. Sinclair.' How formal.

Adrian's eyes instantly darkened. His gaze turned cold rapidly, his tone sarcastic. "Why do you think I want you to stay? Just to have you follow us around and serve tea and water."

Anna's spine stiffened. She didn't leave.

Chloe watched Anna vigilantly, her gaze icy, as if she wished she could bore a hole through her.

But she quickly retracted her gaze, turning a sweet smile towards Adrian. "Adrian, she doesn't need to follow us. There are waiters inside."

Her intuition told her this woman was definitely not just an assistant!