Chapter 8

Lea hastily put on her shoes and stepped out of the car with Frank. The two had previously announced their business partnership, so they attended the cocktail party together without hesitation. Meanwhile, Emma trailed behind them like an outsider. To others, it seemed as if she was desperately trying to fit in. As soon as they arrived, all eyes turned to the three of them. Someone instantly teased, "Mr. Castro, you've been quite lucky with ladies lately. Not only are you working with the famous Ms. Davila, but the woman beside you is also quite stunning." Emma tried to make herself as invisible as possible. She tightened her blazer around her and quietly moved to the side. Frank was completely unaware of Emma's departure from the company and merely responded, "Ms. Davila is the spokesperson for Castro Group and my business partner. Watch what you say." "What about the woman from earlier?" Just as Frank was about to look over, Lea grinned and added, "Just because Mr. Castro and I are around the same age and standing next to each other doesn't mean you can start making jokes. I'd rather not have another rumored romantic interest." At that, everyone turned to look at Lea. When they thought about it, they realized she always seemed to spark dating rumors with her male co-stars after every movie. But who could blame her? With her stunning looks and dressed in a way that accentuated her figure, she looked captivating. The man who teased them earlier smirked. "Yes, of course. We wouldn't dare to add another scandal to your name, Ms. Davila." Meanwhile, Emma had hoped to hide in a quiet corner until the cocktail party ended so that she could leave unnoticed. But before she could settle in, a burly man holding a glass of red wine approached her with a sly grin. "I know you. You're the PR director of Castro Group, aren't you?" While everyone praised Lea's beauty, this man found himself drawn to Emma instead. Her red dress contrasted against her fair skin and highlighted her slender and graceful figure. With her delicate features and natural elegance, she carried an air of cool sophistication that was nothing short of breathtaking. The man's gaze lingered on her, sweeping up and down her body. "Mr. Castro gave me two bottles of white wine recently. How about a drink? Who knows, maybe this could lead to more business with Castro Group?" Emma's expression darkened as she looked at the glass hovering near her face. But the man was using his company's collaboration with Castro Group as leverage, and since she was still an employee, she couldn't risk tarnishing their reputation. She replied softly, "I don't have a high tolerance for alcohol, Mr. Norton. I might be unable to drink much." The man, Jake Norton, merely chuckled. "That's okay. Just drink as much as you can." She was forced to keep drinking with him. The white wine burned as it went down her throat. It was much stronger than the liquor she had with Carl. Meanwhile, Jake edged closer, and seeing that his chubby hand was creeping toward her shoulder, she bit her lip and forced herself to stay alert. She discreetly shifted sideways, making his hand miss its mark. In an instant, his smile faltered slightly. He thought to himself that she wasn't drunk enough yet and that she'd be much easier to handle once drunk. Just then, a faint voice cried out from across the room. "I really can't drink anymore, sir. Please let go of me." It was Lea. Frank had been pulled aside by some business partners earlier. Since they were important clients, he couldn't refuse. But at Lea's cries, his expression darkened with concern. He immediately signaled to the others, grabbed his glass, and strode toward her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her away from the man beside her. The man was clearly drunk. He looked at Frank and shouted, "Mr. Castro, what's the meaning of this? I was merely offering Ms. Davila a few endorsement deals because I recognized her commercial value. You should know that business deals are made over drinks. What you're doing is no fun at all!" Lea trembled in fear and hid in Frank's arms while grasping his suit. "Frank, help me." Frank's expression hardened. He couldn't afford to anger these people. Suddenly, he remembered a person. Where was Emma? She disappeared as soon as they arrived. Where had she gone? His gaze surveyed the room till he saw her a short distance away. Her cheeks were flushed red from drinking, and her stance was unstable. Meanwhile, Jake loomed above her. His stare hardened, and he yelled coldly, "Emma." Upon hearing her name, Emma instinctively turned to him, her eyes quietly seeking help. She wondered if he would save her. When Jake saw Frank's cold demeanor, he decided not to push his luck. Emma took the opportunity to flee and rushed to Frank's side. Just as she was about to thank him, his next words hit her like a slap in the face. "Lea can't drink. You drink for her." Emma's face turned deathly pale, and she looked at him in bewilderment. His eyes remained indifferent. He really knew how to hurt her at where it hurt the most. Her heart clenched painfully as she forced herself to suppress the bitterness rising in her throat. "I can't drink anymore, Mr. Castro. Please ask someone else—" Before she could finish, he cut her off with a cold smirk and said, "You didn't seem to have a problem drinking with Carl. And now, you're suddenly pretending like you can't handle alcohol?" Emma's face was completely devoid of color. Every word he said was like a dagger to her chest. "You still haven't apologized to Lea for burning her yesterday. You can make it up by drinking on her behalf." Her heart dropped. She tried to keep her emotions under control, but she was on the edge of breaking down. Frank didn't care about her at all. When Lea got drunk at her celebration party, he ignored it. But now, he was forcing her to drink this high-proof alcohol? Emma's heart twisted in agony as she met Frank's gaze. But he remained unmoved, and his eyes were cold as he led Lea away. Just as they took a step, Lea stumbled and nearly fell into his arms. "Frank, I think I might be a little drunk." Frank ignored the stares around them and tightened his grip on her hand. "I'll take you to rest." As Emma watched them walk away, her fingers interlocked, and her eyes blurred from the tears pooling in her eyes. At that point, she felt like the biggest fool in the room. Meanwhile, the business partner who had been upset earlier suddenly seemed intrigued. How had he not noticed Emma before? Compared to Lea's bold and radiant charm, Emma's cool elegance was far more enticing. Even though she came with Frank, it was clear who he truly cared about. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's drink. There's no need to be so uptight." Emma shoved him away. "I'll drink, but don't touch me."