From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 513

Anthea bought a few trinkets, then dragged Sherman along to sample some grilled skewers.

The state of the roadside stall was enough to make anyone with the faintest concern for hygiene shudder. Still, Sherman sat down with a straight face, as if nothing was amiss, and ordered a few vegetarian options.

Anyone who knew him would have been stunned by the sight-Mr. Christensen, usually so aloof and distinguished, squeezed onto a wobbly stool at a street vendor's table with the crowd? Unthinkable.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

Anthea and Sherman made their way to the airport together.

First class had only eight seats, but as the plane took off, the other six remained empty.

Settling in, Anthea pulled out a phone case she'd bought at the night market last night, planning to swap it onto her phone. As she opened the packaging, she realized there was a second, identical case included.

She looked over at Sherman. "Our phones are the same model, right?"

Sherman took his out, checking. "Seems like it.”

"Here, you can have this one, then." Anthea handed him the phone case.

Sherman accepted the case and stared down at it, clearly caught off guard. It was pink. Not only that, it was covered in sparkling rhinestones and pearls—exactly the sort of thing a teenage girl might love.

Do all women really like pink this much?

Anthea grinned. "If you don't want it, you could always give it to Mrs. Christensen.

I remember her phone's the same as mine."

"No, I like it," Sherman said, and without missing a beat, snapped the pink case onto his phone.

Suddenly, his phone looked brand new-albeit a little... dazzling.

Anthea couldn't resist teasing him, "You should change your lock screen to a pink background, too. That way it'd really match."

He just looked down at his phone, focused and

to wonder if he was annoyed, Sherman handed her his phone. "What do you

screen was an image that looked as if it belonged on a twelve-year-old's Instagram feed-soft

up in surprise. "You actually changed it?

expression was serious. "I've

Anthea gave him a skeptical

nodded, calm

look like he was lying, so Anthea could only nod and mutter,

a love for pink-no wonder he was drawn

taste was truly...

picture as his

later, the plane landed at

after

stepped out of the arrivals gate, Anthea spotted a familiar figure in

Alex Peterson?

at Sherman. "Wait here a second—I just

Anthea jogged over. "Alex!"

widened in surprise. "Anthea? You're here

head. "Just got back

here to meet someone." Alex

for me, so I won't keep you," Anthea said,

swallowed whatever else

to walk back

and his gaze

air between them

and dangerous, both

a

Gontent

Sherman looked away and turned

Anthea nodded. "Yeah."