"Got it, Stephanie."


    Sullivan quirked an eyebrow at her, a teasing smile ying on his lips. "What''s wrong? Don''t trust me?"Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "Trust you? Of course. It''s Emily I''m worried about. That kid has been all over the cetely, always up to some mischief. If she makes any oundish requests, you better not indulge her, Sullivan." He responded with a nonchnt shrug. "Don''t worry, just send me the address."


    "I''m curious, though. Howe you''re free tonight, Sullivan?"


    "If I''m not out, I''m just cooped up in my hotel room anyway."


    "Well, I guess hanging in a hotel room can get pretty dull. How about ying chauffeur for Emily tonight?"


    "You know, Stephanie, Sullivan only agreed toe because I promised to cover his gas money. I''ll make sure he gets it."


    Pfft.


    Like Sullivan cares about a few bucks!


    The guy was just bored out of his mind at the hotel and decided to entertain himself by hanging out with a kid for a while. After Sullivan drove off with Emily, Stephanie returned to thefort of her vi.


    Sebastian was still buried in work in his study.


    She pondered for a moment, then raided the fridge for ingredients, deciding to whip up a midnight snack for Silver Fox.


    On the road, Emily''s eyes sparkled as she turned to Sullivan and said, "The moon''s looking pretty full tonight, huh?" "And? What''s your point?" he asked.


    She nced at his profile and blinked innocently. "Why don''t we head to the beach and watch the moon?"


    "Stephanie said no to unreasonable requests, and I intend to honor that."


    "How is a trip to the beach to watch the moon unreasonable? It''s not like I''m asking you to take me mountain climbing."


    "It''s still a no. We''re going straight to your house. Go spend time with your mom."


    "But it''s still early."


    "It''s not. It''s already ten o''clock."


    "But I usually don''t go to bed until midnight when I''m with Stephanie."


    "Keeping irregr hours is a surefire way to stunt your growth."


    "I''m a girl; I don''t need to be tall."


    "Being a short girl isn''t attractive either."


    "So being unattractive means no one will like me?"


    "That''s right."


    "What about the person you''re protecting? Is she pretty?"


    "Her? She''s the most beautiful woman I''ve ever seen."


    Whether she was dressed to the nines or not dressed at all. Whether it was the little girl of yesteryear or the mature woman she was today.


    To him, she was stunningly beautiful, an unreachable presence in his life.


    Suddenly, Sullivan''s phone rang.


    He nced at the caller ID and warned Emily beside him, "Don''t make a sound."


    "Okay. I''ll keep quiet. No need to be so serious."


    He answered the call, his voice cool andposed. "What''s up?"


    On the other end, Reba held a cigarette between her fingers,


    exa a plume of smoke as she spoke indifferently, "That bastard, still with your crew?"


    "He is."


    "I want him gone."


    Sullivan said nothing.


    "Are you listening to me?"


    "And then?"


    "You''re going to handle this for me."


    "Didn''t you learn fromst time?"


    "I''ve sent Eric abroad, to a ce Jeffrey can''t find. I will never let Ashley and that wretch off the hook."


    Sullivan frowned. "Why bother with all this?"


    "It''s not your ce to question my


    actions! Sullivan, be a good


    Defy me again or dare to t


    question


    my intentions, and you''ll suffer the


    consequences!"


    As she finished her threat, Reba heard a young girl''s gasp through the phone, "Ah! Sullivan, there''s a car! It''s going to hit us!"


    Snapping back to reality, Sullivan


    quickly turned the steering wheel and with a loud crash, the front of the car collided with the guardrail on the side of the road.