Chapter 116
Sterling's gaze settled on her.
Willow tensed, afraid he might bring up last night.
After a moment, Sterling's deep voice broke the silence. "Insomnia. Can't sleep."
Willow secretly sighed with relief.
"Where were you?" Sterling examined her critically. "Why didn't you respond to my message?"
Willow kept her eyes downcast. "I went out for dinner. Did you message me?" She didn't want to tell him about her meeting with Charles.
Sterling stared at her with an unreadable expression.
"Uncle Sterling, if you can't sleep, you could try getting a prescription for sleeping pills," Willow casually changed the subject. "A drink before bed might help too."
Sterling's eyes darkened. "You know why I can't sleep."
Willow lowered her head, unable to respond. According to Sterling, only she could cure his insomnia. Before, she might have played dumb and helped him feel better. But after last night, she couldn't allow any further contact with Sterling.
While Willow was frantically thinking of a graceful escape, Sterling spoke again. "I saw your job applications."
Willow looked up in surprise. Seriously? She'd only sent her resume out recently. How did Sterling already know? She'd assumed someone of Sterling's position would take longer to notice such things, if he noticed at all...
"I don't make a habit of mixing personal matters with work," Sterling said evenly. "Our relationship won't affect your position at the Lancaster Group. You don't need to resign."
Willow opened her mouth, wanting to say she knew Sterling wouldn't make things difficult for her professionally, but that she herself couldn't handle it.
Sterling, however, seemed to read her mind. "With your abilities, going to another company would be a waste. No other company would pay you as well, either."
Willow was left speechless. Sterling clearly understood exactly what she needed. She needed money and opportunity.
She realized Sterling wasn't here because of insomnia at all. He'd seen her job applications and had come specifically to say this.
"I understand," Willow felt genuinely grateful. "I'll stay. Thank you, Mr. Lancaster."
Sterling studied her for a moment. "It's late. Go get some rest. If you need anything, call the number I messaged you from this morning."
With that, he instructed his driver to leave.
As the driver started the car, Willow suddenly remembered something important. "Uncle Sterling..."
Sterling turned back to look at her. In the darkness, his sharp features gave an illusion of gentleness. Willow found herself momentarily stunned.
"What is it?" Sterling asked in his deep voice.
Willow snapped back to reality. "Last night, I only ate the skewer you gave me and drank from the glass of water Gloria handed to you."
She stopped there, knowing Sterling would understand her implication.
Someone had drugged her last night. Since it wasn't Sterling, it had to be Gloria. And that water was originally meant for Sterling.
"I know," Sterling's response was what she expected.
Still concerned, Willow pressed, "Then your engagement with Gloria..."
Sterling gave her a meaningful look. "Are you hoping I'll break off the engagement?"
Willow pressed her lips together and answered sincerely, "I just don't want you to be deceived by her."
If she hadn't discovered it in time last night, Sterling would have been the one drugged. What might have happened afterward was easy to imagine.
Sterling asked, "You're worried about me?"
Willow didn't understand his meaning, thinking perhaps he found her concerns unnecessary. "I know you're too perceptive to be easily fooled. I just worried that given the relationship between the Lancaster and Brown families, you might find it difficult to refuse."
Sterling narrowed his eyes, slowly withdrawing his gaze from her. "I've already had Henry inform her that the engagement is off."
Willow felt relieved. "That's good." She couldn't help smiling as she spoke. She'd been worried about this for so long. Now knowing Sterling wouldn't be tricked, she could finally put her mind at ease.
Though... the price she'd paid was rather steep.
Sterling glanced at her smile before instructing his driver to leave.
On his way back, he received a call from Henry inviting him for drinks.
When Sterling arrived, Henry was already waiting in a private room.
Seeing him enter, Henry instructed the manager, "He's here. Send them in."
Moments later, several stylishly different young women followed the manager inside and lined up in front of the two men.
"Mr. Lancaster, Mr. Brown, these are new to our establishment. They've all been trained and are beautiful and well-mannered. They'll make sure you both have a good time!" the manager introduced with a smile.
Then, turning serious, he instructed the women, "Hurry and offer Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Brown some drinks!"
The women stepped forward, each pouring drinks. Sterling looked at the cautious women in front of him, then at Henry.
"What is this?" Sterling asked, displeased.
Henry calmly accepted a drink from one of the women. "Like I said, sleep with more women and you'll realize they're all basically the same."
He then addressed the women in front of Sterling, "It's Mr. Lancaster's first time here. Be proactive and make him happy. There'll be something in it for you."
The women glanced at each other, all intimidated by Sterling's aura, none daring to approach.
The room was filled with the women's perfume. Sterling's headache, which had just subsided, began to throb again at his temples.
"Get out," he said, frowning without looking at anyone.
The women looked helplessly toward Henry. Henry, sensing his friend's anger, finally waved his hand. "You can go."
Only then did everyone gradually leave. The perfume scent, however, lingered in the room.
Seeing Sterling's bad mood, Henry poured him a drink. "Don't like the women here? I can call some daughters from prominent families. There are plenty in Majestic City whose parents would be eager to send them to your bed."
He offered the glass to Sterling, who didn't take it. Instead, Sterling poured himself a fresh drink.
Henry knew Sterling was truly angry now. After a few seconds of tense silence, Henry lost patience. He downed the drink himself and slammed the glass on the table.
"I'm only trying to help you! Making me, the CEO of the Brown Group, act like some pimp—you think I enjoy this? It's bad enough you're going after someone else's wife, but your own nephew's? What will people say about you?"
He took a deep breath before continuing, "You might not care, but I don't want my best friend being criticized! What kind of spell has Willow cast on you that you're so obsessed with her?"