Chapter 370

The phone rang a few times before Anthony finally answered. His voice was deep and smooth, but Charlotte could hear the exhaustion in it. “So you finally remembered to call me?”
“I’ve just been busy with school,” Charlotte said, settling into a more comfortable position. The sound of his voice relaxed her, and all the tension she’d been carrying seemed to melt away.
“So well-behaved, huh?” Anthony sounded like he was smiling, his voice turning soft and gentle. “What’s up? You sound like you’re in a good mood.”
Was she? Was it that obvious?
“Nothing really,” Charlotte replied, her lips curling into a quiet smile. She lowered her voice, “You’re the one who sounds down.”
She could tell he was tired. Something must have happened. Was it someone at work, or just work itself? The thought made her chest feel a little tight.
“Lottie, you called me. That’s more than enough to make my day,” Anthony said after a pause, his laugh low and comforting. “Something came up, but I’m handling it.”
“Oh,” she mumbled, not pushing for more. Her fingers slipped into her backpack, absentmindedly fiddling with a white shirt inside. She felt restless, missing him more than she wanted to admit.
She almost never called people first, and long phone calls just weren’t her style. After a few awkward questions, she ran out of things to say.
“Lottie, stay safe at school. I’ll try to head back soon, and I’ll bring you something special,” Anthony promised.
“Okay,” Charlotte answered softly.
There was a small pause before Anthony spoke again, his tone playful. “Okay, so what else? Lottie, I’m really not in the best mood right now. I need someone to cheer me up.”
Charlotte bit her lip, feeling her cheeks get warm. With Jackson and Adonis right there, she felt too embarrassed to say much. “Cheer up,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll wait for you to come home.”
“Alright,” Anthony replied, and then she heard his low laugh through the phone. It sent a shiver down her spine.
“I’m hanging up now.”
Charlotte ended the call before things could get any more awkward, tossing her phone back in her bag as her cheeks burned.
On the other end, Anthony looked at his phone with a smile he couldn’t hide. The heaviness in his mood was gone. He needed to finish things up fast and get back to her.
“What’s going on with the B20 situation?” His voice turned serious again.
“Anthony, the other side says someone else is fighting us for the patent. They haven’t said who they’ll give it to yet.”
Someone else was challenging them? Here in Apex, did anyone really think they could take something away from X Organization?
“Keep a close eye on things. No matter what offer they get, make sure it doesn’t go through.”
In the car, Jackson and Adonis lost all composure.
Adonis couldn’t hold back anymore. He slapped the steering wheel and burst out laughing. “Oh no, is this what Charlotte’s like when she’s in love? My eyes can’t handle this.”
Charlotte shot him a look, clearly annoyed.
“Charlotte you lied to Anthony with such a straight face. Don’t you feel even a little guilty?” Adonis kept. laughing. wish Tu recorded that shootout earlier. Anthony needs to see how fierce you really are
“Shut up.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes and, fed up with his teasing, grabbed a water bottle and tossed it at him.
It had only been ten minutes since they’d left the Netherworld Casino, but Apex was already on full lockdown. There were way more checkpoints and guards everywhere.
No doubt about it, they were the ones being hunted.
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. She pulled Adonis out of the driver’s seat and took over, gripping the wheel, her voice cool and steady “Hold Were taking the mountain roads.”