After knowing Who She Is They Kneeled novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Adrian Winthrop

Annelise didn’t see the man’s face, but she was a doctor, and her nose knew herbs

The second the window slid down, she caught a faint whiff of herbs.

She knew the classics by heart, and she remembered long–term patients couldn’t stand bright

light.

Tommy prompted, “Mr. Corey, wanna check on Mr. Adrian?”

Corey’s attention snapped. He turned to Annelise. “Wait right here. Don’t wander off, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Annelise nodded.

He dashed off toward the car.

Tommy held out a card. “Thanks for saving Mr. Corey, Ms. Caldwell. Please take this

“You know my last name? So you know exactly who I am.” Annelise’s smile turned teasing. eyes curving. “This doesn’t feel like a thank–you. More like you’re paying me to stay away.”

Tommy’s fingers froze. “You’ve got it wrong.‘

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“Whatever.” She glanced over at Corey. “Tell him I left when he gets back.

Then she stood up in one smooth motion, long legs straightening, and walked off without a single look back.

Tommy let out a quiet sigh of relief. For a second, he had worried she might cling to Corey

Sunset glow wrapped Annelise as she walked off, black bag in hand, hair pinned up with a hairpin–cool and gorgeous.

In the Maybach, Adrian glanced out just in time to see her go. He rullled Corey’s hair, amused. “That’s the girl who saved you?”

“Where? Where?” Corey sat upright, then yelled, “Why is she gone? Tommy!”

Tommy hurried over and bent down. “Yes?”

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Chapter 8 Adrian Winthrop

20% wothers

“I didn’t even get her number! She said she’d wait!” Corey looked mad. “Did you drive her away?”

Tommy went rigid. “No, I…”

Nobody in Brookford dared to upset Corey.

He was nothing like other kids. Only four, but he was full of tricks, knew how to fake it, and had a cold streak.

Only when Adrian was around did he act sweet.

The rest of the time, even the staff walked on eggshells.

He never let anyone get close.

So seeing him stick to Annelise freaked Tommy out.

But Tommy knew his job. He took the scolding and kept his head down. “She has got a bad rep. I figured she might be after something, so I-”

“She doesn’t even know me! What could she want from me?” Corey snapped, voice icy. “You lost me, and I blacked out on the sidewalk from heat stroke. Without her, I’d be dead or snatched. And you-”

“Corey.” From the back seat, Adrian cut him off. His black suit fit so perfectly that it looked glued on, not a single wrinkle. His smooth wrist was circled by a string of rosary beads, giving off a cold, dangerous glint. “Quit the crap.”

Corey knew Adrian was furious. He only used his full name when the fuse was lit. He pressed his lips together, buried his face in Adrian’s chest, and muttered sulkily, “I finally got you a girl, and now it’s ruined. She’ll never like me.”

He had played the sweet, perfect kid so well just now in front of Annelise.

Adrian sighed and lifted his chin. “My love life isn’t your project, got it?”

While he talked, he glanced up and told the driver to go.

Slowly, the rearview mirror showed a stunning face–sharp nose, pale skin, light lips. He was a bit sickly yet breathtakingly handsome.

Only Adrian, the legend in Brookford and the CEO of the Winthrop Group, looked like that.

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