CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: HOW TO MAKE MR. STERLING FALL IN LOVE WITH ME

Just as their eyes met, his phone rang.

An unfamiliar number.

Sophia looked at his profile, her relaxed forehead slowly furrowing.

"My hands are dirty, help me answer it." Zane glanced at the phone next to the flowers.

Sophia let out a small "oh," carefully got up, and sat beside him.

But he took up so much space, it was impossible to avoid contact with this furnace, every touch felt like being scorched by hot coals.

His muscles were so firm, not at all like soft skin, more akin to a large rock.

Zane shifted slightly to the side, making room for her, the two squeezed together on the single sofa like a couple who’d been together a long time.

She picked up the phone, swiped the green screen, and raised it slightly towards him.

But he didn’t bother to look, completely absorbed in tending to the flowers.

[Hello, Zane.] A woman’s voice, very familiar, it seemed to be Tim Sawyer—

Sophia glanced at Zane, he ignored it.

She had an epiphany, understanding now, she recalled Ethan saying Zane wanted no involvement with Tim Sawyer, his directive to help answer was truly to help him answer.

This question, she could handle.

[Hello.] Sophia lowered her voice, trying her best not to reveal her identity to the other side.

He laughed.

The other party paused, seemingly checked their phone, confirmed, then continued speaking.

[Hello, I’m Tim Sawyer, I’d like to find Zane.] Tim’s voice was gentle, even Sophia liked it.

[Miss Sawyer, it’s eleven o’clock. What do you need with my husband? He just went to take a shower. If it’s not urgent, I’ll have him call you back later.]

[Sorry to disturb you, I’ll contact him tomorrow.] You could hear the fluster on the other end.

[Alright, then, goodbye.]

Sophia chuckled softly, before she hung up, she coyly called out, "Honey~ are you done~ I’ve been waiting for you for so long~"

[Beep—]

Zane smirked beside her, turning his head to look at her.

"How was it, my acting was pretty good, wasn’t it?!"

She boasted like a child who scored a perfect hundred.

But just as she finished speaking, Zane removed the disposable gloves from his hands, slowly leaning over to press her onto the sofa.

"Zane..." Sophia, startled, placed her hands against his shoulders, the scorching body heat searing her palms, inexplicable heat surged from all directions within her.

The phone fell to the side.

Their jumbled voices blended together.

In the shadows, his eyes were indistinct due to their proximity.

He carefully removed his glasses, placing them on the nearby coffee table.

This was only the second time she’d seen his eyes, they were classic phoenix eyes—clear, bright.

It’s completely different from his usual deep-set gaze, lacking coldness, without superiority.

Sophia was entranced, she remembered this action.

The first time they lay together, the first thing he did was take off his glasses!

He wanted...

She panicked...

Zane leaned down, pressing his head against hers, his breath heavy, like he’d drunk a couple of bottles of strong liquor.

"Wife..." His raspy voice carried a slight moan.

Sophia murmured, "The play’s over, Zane."

She extended her delicate elbow, pressing against him, but her strength was less than a third of his, her hands easily pushed to the side, the two fit seamlessly.

"We’re married, Sophia." He reminded her with a broken voice.

"But you promised to give me time..." Her face flushed.

"Kissing you isn’t the same as doing it, does this need time too? Hmm?"

Right now he was like a pitiful child, seeking her warmth.

Zane’s hand grasped her chin, his gaze was as tender as water as he studied her.

"I thought..." she shyly pursed her lips.

"Do I look like a beast?"

"Sort of..." Sophia said conservatively.

Recalling the first time at his place, he truly was a beast, clearly she’d called it to stop, but he continued on, like he’d been drugged, or it was his special skill.

"..." Zane released his grip, clearly the first time gave her a bad experience.

But she didn’t know, seeing her lying there in discomfort made him want to stop too, but the unsettling feeling left him even more uncomfortable, so afterward, he tried his utmost to be gentle.

His Adam’s apple bobbed, he reached out to brush her golden hair.

Sophia only felt a coolness slowly engulf her, he donned his glasses, stood up holding the flowers, and left the sofa.

Rejected, would he be angry again? Hopefully not, he’s really difficult to appease.

"Looks like I have to work hard to get Mrs. Sterling to willingly favor me, otherwise no meat for me, not even broth to drink, leaving me starving." His words, coming from the living room, even his provocative remarks sounded so proper.

Sophia breathed a sigh of relief.

——

Fashion week ended.

Bianca and Wyatt went first to the pre-booked restaurant, while Zane and Ethan awaited Sophia in another car.

Backstage at the venue.

Sophia chatted a bit more with Hugh, delayed for some time, then hurriedly came out from inside.

As she walked, she called Zane.

Just as it connected, she was intercepted by Tim Sawyer.

At this time, Zane and Ethan were discussing something, for convenience, he had the phone on speaker.

"Sophia." Tim’s voice was as gentle as ever.

"Ms. Sawyer."

Tim was two years older than Sophia and much more mature, her actions usually seemed calm, but this time, she seemed a bit out of sorts.

"Sophia, how old are you this year?"

"Ms. Sawyer, this is..." Sophia seemed to know what she intended to say.

"You know Zane’s married, right?" Tim asked gently.

"Of course." Sophia chuckled, understanding her intent.

Tim was a bit stunned: "Sophia, you’re only twenty-two, how can you do such things?"

"What have I done?" Sophia looked innocent.

"Your intimate actions with Zane are obvious to anyone with eyes, I advise you to stay away from him, otherwise if his wife sees you, your reputation won’t be good." What seemed like well-intentioned advice was actually pushing away an impediment.

If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t care, but Sophia, who appeared prettier than herself, she really didn’t have confidence.

"Ms. Sawyer, as you mentioned, if people knew, the reputation would be bad, but it’s all Mr. Sterling being the one taking the initiative, I’m just a small employee..." Sophia put on a pitiful look.

In the car, Zane and Ethan snickered, they had no mind to discuss things, continuing to listen to the conversation between the two women.

"Can’t you avoid him a bit?" Tim advised her.

"But I also like him..." Sophia seemed even more aggrieved.

"..." Tim felt like she was gagged with a dirty rag.

"Ms. Sawyer, you like Mr. Sterling too, don’t you?!" Sophia was getting excited.

Tim blushed, unwilling to admit it.

"Almost every woman in our company likes Mr. Sterling, your feelings are very normal, we even have a ’Mr. Sterling’s Harem’ group chat, do you want to join? We share tips on ’How to Make Mr. Sterling Fall in Love with Me’.

Zane’s lips curled into a smile, Ethan laughed uncontrollably, the plump driver in front with the translator device joined in the laughter.

"Sophia," Tim quickly stopped her: "Aren’t you afraid his wife will find out?"

"So what if she does." Sophia pursed her lips, looking at Tim helplessly: "After all, Mr. Sterling likes me, his wife also likes me, you know, I’m bothered by him, yet he keeps pursuing me, what do you suggest I do?"

"His wife likes you too?!" This caught her even more off-guard.

Instinctively she thought, Zane’s wife and Zane weren’t in good terms, Zane liked Sophia but couldn’t make it public, so the two could only keep it secret, Zane’s wife wanted to match-make them.