"Do you really think a few guards can keep me here?"
"Thereās been a misunderstanding. Your people asked us to arrange some food for you for your welcome. Please join the VIP suite to have some rest."
Off to the side, Derrick couldnāt believe his eyes. The world-renowned Dr. Bell was in fact a strikingly beautiful and poised young lady. His heart surged into a rapid beat.
So young, yet already earned the esteemed title of Dr. Bell.
She was completely captivating.
Rosemary made her way into the VIP room, only to find Horace, legs crossed, lounging on the bed munching on potato chips.
"Ah, Boss, youāve arrived?"
At the sight of Rosemary, Horace, his cheeks still puffed out tooting chips, urged with excitement: "These chips are divine. You should have some."
The bodyguards in the room gazed at Rosemary with deep respect. After all, she was the savior who had saved their boss Seanās life.
"Boss, is the surgery done? Seanās still alive, isnāt he?" Horace queried.
"What do you think?"
"With Boss up to the task, of course he is! Hey!" Horace laughed, pressing a chip into Rosemaryās lips.
"They said we canāt leave until Sean comes around, right? Come sit by me. Iāve saved some special snacks just for you."
Rosemary was speechless.
Horace tore open another bag of chips and tossed it to the side. The bodyguards darted forward with bowls at the ready. Rosemary could tell Horace had his amusements; he had them working up a sweat even in the chilly winter.
The passage of time went unnoticed.
One of the guards took a call and, after a whispered exchange, guns were suddenly drawn on Rosemary and Horace.
Horace, lording over the guards just a second ago, was now utterly dumbfounded as he found seven or eight men surrounded him and Rosemary. "Whatās the meaning of this? You dare point guns at your boss Seanās life-saver?"
The lead bodyguard responded with deference, "Boss Seanās awake. Heās requested to see you."
Horace hadnāt expected such a turn of events from Sean. With only two pieces of snacks left, he quickly popped one into Rosemaryās mouth and took the other for himself before moving to the VIP room
next door.
On the hospital bed.
Sean lay half-reclined, his commanding allure and rogue charm as strong as ever, his intimidating presence unwavering.
He seemed not like a man fresh out of surgery, but rather like someone awakened from a restful sleep,his demeanor calm and collected.
He smiled, looking at the pair before him, while all the bodyguards aimed their guns at them.
"Shall we talk now?" Sean asked Rosemary with a playful edge. "Why were you digging into Sam? And why are you so interested in that island?"
"You backstabber." Horace was astounded. Sean was reneging on their deal. After all, Boss Rose had performed the surgery, and now Sean was double-crossing them.
"Allās fair in love and war," Sean quipped with a more sinister smile, as if schooling a naive subordinate.
However, Rosemary too, formed her lips into a knowing smile. "I seem to have forgotten to mention, the prescription I gave your men earlier should have seventeen ingredients. But I listed only sixteen."
Seanās smile stiffened abruptly.
Steward and the rest of the bodyguards were taken aback, not expecting the girl to have an ace up her sleeve.
"As for the seventeenth ingredient, Iāll let you know once weāre safely out of here," Rosemary continued smoothly.
Sean scoffed, "How do I know youāre telling the truth?"
"Right now, you donāt have much of a choice but to trust me, do you?" Rosemary shot back.
The operation was her doing, and without her insight for the follow-up treatment, how swiftly and how fully Sean would heal were all in her hands.
Sean gestured his men to open the door for her, and the whole room observed as Rosemary and her entourage left unobstructed.
"Rosemary, youāre incredible," Horace looked at Rosemary with undisguised admiration. "No wonder you said after the surgery, youād have a way to get me out."
Rosemary was the epitome of reassurance!
In the hospital room.
"Sean, once she gives us the seventeenth ingredient, I swear Iāll bring her back," Steward pledged,anxious to soothe any potential anger from Sean.
"Itās been a while since Iāve met someone this interesting," Sean reflected, lips curving broadly into a smile. "Donāt you think sheās about the same age as Serena, but far more intriguing?"
"Sheās nothing like Serena." Steward jumped to Serenaās defense.
"No, sheās decidedly more fascinating than Serena."
Shortly afterwards, Steward received a phone call and his expressions turned quickly to awkwardness.
After a series of beeps signaled the end of the call, he turned to Sean with a look too complex for words.
"Sean, the caller just informed us thereās no seventeenth ingredient. The prescription contains only sixteen."
In other words, they had been played by the young lady!
Seanās smile widened; The young lady really did play by her own rules.
Although she wasnāt his cup of tea, an idea came to himāit wouldnāt be bad to have her as a little sister. At the very least, life would never be dull.
"Sean, do you want me to fetch her back?"
"Thereās no need," Sean replied, displaying no interest in capturing her, on the contrary, feeling somewhat excited about their next encounter. He wondered what kind of surprise this young lady would
bring him.

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