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bChapter /b190

“So?” Olivia teased, feigning innocence. “What’s wrong with it? It’s just a horror film. This one’s not even that scary, Zombie Apocalypse: Season Two is way more intense”

A sly grin spread across her face. “Wait a minute. Is the great Andrew Shea actually scared of a little movie?

Andrew cleared his throat, the tips of his cars turning pink. “No,” he said, a little too quickly. “It was… my hand slipped. That’s all.”

Olivia was delighted by hisme excuse, her expression a mix of glee and mischievous schadenfreude. Noticing the faint flush on his cheeks, she leaned closer to the screen with mock concern. “Do you have a fever?” she asked, her doctor’s instincts kicking in automatically.

“Dr. Summers, your diagnostic skills are truly remarkable, even through a screen,” Andrew said dryly, rubbing his temple. “Maybe a slight one. It’ll pass.”

‘Probably the only person who’d think I’ming down with something, he mused.

“Well, remember to take something for it then,” she said, fiddling with the remote. “I’m hitting y. You still in?”

“Absolutely,” Andrew said, swallowing hard and steeling himself.

After a few more minutes of tense zombie action, Olivia spoke up casually. “That official statement from the Kingtonelle PD the other day. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“It wasn’t me,” Andrew said, his tone deliberately offhand. “That was all my sister, Eleanor. She said to consider it a thank–you for what you did for my grandfather.”

“Well, tell her thanks,” Olivia said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “But next time, tell her not to bother.”

“Why?” Andrew’s yful demeanor vanished, his voice turning serious. “Did it cause you problems?” He was genuinely perplexed. Nobody refused a favor from the Shea family. And it was just a simple request to the policemissioner. It wasn’t a big deal.

“No,” Olivia said, propping her chin in her hand and studying his pixted image. “I just don’t like owing people.”

‘And damn,‘ she couldn’t help but think, ‘he is ridiculously good–looking. It was a fact that struck her anew every time she saw him.

Andrew was silent for a long moment before replying, “I’m afraid that’s not possible. Eleanor is as stubborn as a mule and does exactly what she wants. She doesn’t listen to anyone. Except maybe Grandpa.”

“Not even you?” Olivia raised an eyebrow. “And here I thought you were the most powerful man in Kingtonelle.”

“You overestimate my influence,” Andrew said with a wry smile. “Everyone is powerless against my sister. Trust me.” He didn’t add that once Eleanor set her mind to something, she became an unstoppable force–a

10:16 Sat, bOct /b4

true force of nature in their world.

2300

Olivia supposed he had a point. She didn’t want to cause family drama. “Fine,” she sighed in resignation. “Ad it to my tab. I’ll find a way to pay you back someday.” fnafab Follow current nov?ls on F?nd-Novel/fnafab

‘Good luck with that,‘ Andrew thought, a n already forming. ‘I’ll make sure that tab never gets settled. Let her owe me. Preferably forever.‘

The movie yed on, but Andrew’s focus had shifted entirely. Olivia’s livestream incident had been a major event, yet his tform had failed to alert him. “They are utterly useless, he fumed inwardly.

That evening, a directive went out to all senior executives of the tform. The message was brief and to the point: henceforth, any and all issues pertaining to the streamer “Mystic Healer” were to be escted directly to him.

This was far below the usual threshold for bothering the CEO. ‘What’s gotten into Mr. Shea today? bthey /bwondered. ‘Personally issuing a directive for a single mid–tier streamer? Oh no. A major streamer?

Mystified butpliant, a chorus of “Received and understood” replies came in. A new priority had just been added to everyone’s list.

AD