waking

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Chapter 156

Elaine had a rough day–she downed a ton of ice cream, followed by a super spicy barbecue. It was so intense that Jessie had to call in the doc. Flaine ended up at home, hurling and running to the bathroom, feeling like death warmed over. Once she was on an IV, she whipped out her phone and hit Naomi’s number. The payback was a carbon copy of what Elaine had dished out to Naomi, except Elaine had shown some mercy back then, unlike the femme fatale who went all out.

The line rang, and Nanny’s voice came through as coal av ever.

ever. “What’s up, boso Whats the mission this time!“

“Naomi, did you get me into this mess?” Elaine croaked, but there was a bite in her voice. “If you’ve got a beef

ef with me, spit it out. Sending someone to mess with me? You think I’m blind”

Naomi passed the phone to Shawn. “It’s Ms. Mabry. I have no clue what she’s ranting about. Seems like she’s trying to pin something on me.”

Shawn took the phone and put it on speaker. “Elaine, what’s your game now?

The second Elaine heard Shawn’s curt voice, she hung up. She could talk tough to Shawn over the phone, but now that he was in Yeonland, she claimed up. Her jabs at Naomi were because she thought Shawn wouldn’t show up here.

“Crazy,” Shawn said, handing the phone back to Naomi. “Let’s bounce. Naomi pressed her lips together and tagged along obediently

Elaine must have had a meltdown, and she was blaming Naomi for it. Shawn knew Naomi hadn’t been Miss Congeniality, but since he got here, he never brought it up. Clearly, even if he knew what Naomi had pulled, he wasn’t about to take Elaine’s side

Naomi dipped her head, letting the guy’s big hand guide her away.

Naomi wanted to head back to the Hopper residence, but Shawn was clearly ticked. “Naomi, can’t you just drop your things and hang with me for

“Mr. Fischer, you can go check on Ms. Mabry Naomi thought of Coco’s face. “Mr. Fischer, Coco still needs tending to. Since I’ve stepped in. I can’t just bail Ms Mabry’s not feeling hot, and you should go see herf

“What are you getting at, Naomi?” Shawn’s mood, which had just perked up, soured again. He yanked her into his arms. “Nhomi, since you hir Yeonland, you’ve been on edge with me. Spill, did you hook up with Alfred back in Baok! Or maybe it was Philip,

Naomi’s eyes bugged out. Then she laughed, exasperated. “Shawn, you think I’m some hot ticket that everyone’s after! I’m just a regular person with a job and a life. Should I accuse you of cheating when you network with the ladies?”

Shawn’s voice turned frosty, his brows knitted. “Naomi, I never mix business with pleasure, and they don’t get near me

Naomi was taken aback, then she shot back, grudgingly. “That’s ‘cause you suffer haphephobia. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t act this way.”

“If I were, would you be here?” Shawn pinched her chin. “Naomi, don’t forget, you’re the one who wanted to stick by me. All I did was give you the

Naomi’s eyes went wide again, realizing she was losing this argument. She had the high ground, but once Shawn opened his mouth, it all sounded

o reasonable

“Naomi, don’t be ungrateful and lump me in with those loonies, Shawn stared at her, concerned after coming all this way, yet all she could think abour was Coco and pushing him towards Elaine, the drama queen. He really wanted to get inside Naomi’s head and see what was going on.

Seeing Shawn’s temper fare, Naomi stopped provoking him, softened her voice, and started to coax. “It’s my bad. I got you wrong, but I can’t back out now, right! I’m not just Naomi. Im Shawn’s girl! You said it, so as your girl, shouldn’t I keep my word? If my rep takes a hit it’ll rub off on you too. As for Elaine, I hope you will go see what she’s up to. Before you were around. I got bullied into something fierce. Now that I’ve got backup, if 1 go with you, Elaine will for sure badmouth me. You go alone, and just your presence will shut her up, not letting her spew any lies. Mr. Fischer, will you?”

Naomi’s voice was honeyed. Shawn’s mood was a rollercoaster. Getting him on board was easy, but getting him off was a different story. She wanted to put some distance between them, but it might not be that simple.

Shawn stared at her, his gaze as sharp as a blade. In just over a month, this petite woman had gotten a lot better at hiding her feelings.

Naomi gritted her teeth and took the imisible pressure. After a bit, Shawn pulled back his piercing gaze. “You’ve got one hour”

“Thanks, Mr. Fischer, Naomi quickly agreed. An hour was more than enough to tend to Coco’s face, barring travel time

Before Naomi could rejoice in secret, Shawn’s cold voice cut in again. “By the way, I’ve never been to the Hopper residence, so show me around.

Naomi’s body tensed for a moment, then she plastered on a smile, “Sure thing! Ms. Hopper and Coco are actually a breeze to be with, and they treat me great. I’d love to introduce my friends to you, but considering you aren’t a fan of women getting too close, that’s why I haven’t brought anyone around you.”

11:18 AM c d ·

Chapter 156

Shawn didn’t say a word, just took her hand and got in the car. “Head to the Hopper residence.

“Yes, sir.” Chandler drove a Bentley. The Fischer Group had its own operations in Yeonland, Shawn had a hefty portfolio here villas, mansions, luxury cars. And it seemed like Shawn had a thing for Rolls–Royce and Bentley. When he was in Atopan, those were his go–to rides.

Naomi wasn’t up on cars, but she’d quietly looked up prices online. A few of Shawn’s wheels weren’t just pricey; they were the kind of global limited edition, custom–made models that weren’t just about having deep pockets.

The luxury car was the bomb. Naomi got in and soon dozed off against Shown. The past month had been a grind–classes by day, dealing with Elaine’s antics, and multiple trips a day to the Hopper residence to treat Coco’s face. She’d dropped weight and spent her nights hunched over herbs, barely clocking more than five hours of sleep, but it paid off Chen’s face was healed, her studies were on point, and she’d managed to dodge Elaine’s jab. The one thing she didn’t see coming was Shawn showing up in Yeonland. She’d made up her mind to keep her distance, but in the familiar surroundings, breathing in the familiar cool scent and feeling that sense of security, all her exhaustion hit her, and she couldn’t fight the sleep, dozing off naturally against Shawn. Even if Naomi didn’t want to cop to it, she’d gotten used to truly chilling by Shawn’s side.

Shawn shifted her to a more comfortable position, then told Chandler to dal back the AC to a cozier setting. Then he studied her closely

Their early morning meetup had been a rush, no time to really take her in. Now, up close, he noticed Naamus’s chin had gotten sharper.

She was out like a light, breathing steady and soft, her cheeks and lips a bit pale. Her hair, as dark as seaweed, was tied up in a casual braid, hanging down naturally, giving her a fragile vibe.

Shawn frowned. The weight he’d managed to put on her back in Aropan was gone in a month here, Damn Elaine, what kind of care was this? “Chandler, swing back to the villa and call Bridget. Tell her Niomi’s not coming home tonight”

“Yes, sir” Chandler drove, connecting to Bhuriooth and dialing Bridget’s p phone.

To keep from waking Naomi, Shawn had him raise the partition.

After the call. Chandler drove straight to Shawn’s villa. Before they got out, they saw Elaine sitting at the entrance with an IV drip. Seeing Shawn carrying Naomi out of the car, Elaine popped up. “Shawn, Tve got the lowdown. It’s Naomi who took a swing at me on purpose.

Shawn glanced at her. “So what?”

Elaine was fuming. “You just let her treat me like this”

Shawn still said. “So what?”

Elaine couldn’t believe it “We go way back, and I’m the one your mom gave her blessing to. You just let Naomi mess with me like this.”

Naomi, in Shawn’s arms, frowned lightly, then slowly opened her eyes, and then she heard Elaine’s question. She looked up, first catching Shawn’s sexy Adam’s apple, then his chiseled jawline. She shifted her gaze and saw Eline hopping around with an IV in her hand. Seeing Elaine so worked. up and image–less was a side she’d never seen before.

“Naomi, why’d you send the goons after me at the bar? Elaine hollered, “Was it to get back at me for the ice cream and then the spicy barbecue, so you had them force me to cat fifty ice creams, then chow down on the spicy barbecue! Do you know I was up all night hurling and on the can. didn’t catch a wink? I was so dehydrated from the runs. That witch even claimed it was on Shawn’s orders. Shawn would never pull a stunt like that!”

Elaine’s rant made Naomi’s eyes pop, then she smirked. She was dying to know which shero pulled it off and wanted to say “Job well done!” But facing Elaine, she kept her cool as always, speaking deadpan and calmly: “Ms. Mabry, I didn’t do it. Don’t pin this on me

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