Chapter 9

Shirley froze. As if her hand had been burned, she quickly pulled it back. The glass of vodka on the table toppled from her sudden movement, spilling part of its contents onto Benjamin's leg. Benjamin lifted his head, his cold gaze landing squarely on Shirley's face. "I'm sorry! Let me clean it up right away." Shirley rarely acted so clumsily. She immediately grabbed a napkin and began dabbing at his pants, trying to wipe away the spilled liquor. However, before she could do much, her small hand was firmly grasped by a larger one. Benjamin's strong grip halted her movements as he pushed her away with an air of disdain. The disgust in Benjamin's eyes was even stronger than it had been in the elevator earlier. His deep voice carried a hint of displeasure as she said, "Ms. Weiss, please mind yourself." It wasn't until then that Shirley realized what she had just done. In her panic, she'd impulsively tried to clean up the mess on Benjamin's lap. Her face turned a bright crimson as she stammered, "I-I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to." She was mortified. What was she thinking? When she glanced at Kyle, his expression was dark and stormy, and Shirley's heart sank. She had clearly messed up. Earlier, when Kyle had said he would drink first and Benjamin could take his time, Shirley had already noticed that even Kyle treated the man beside her with the utmost respect. And now, Shirley had managed to offend Benjamin with her foolishness. "Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and down three drinks as an apology to Mr. Blackwood." Nina's timely interjection felt like the sweetest sound of salvation. Shirley quickly composed herself, tidying up the table and pouring herself a glass of vodka. Holding it up, she turned to face Benjamin, her voice soft and sincere. "Sir, I deeply apologize for my rudeness earlier. Please allow me to make amends by punishing myself with three drinks." Benjamin said nothing. Instead, he calmly picked up his cutlery and placed some of Damian's favorite food on his plate. However, the child wasn't pleased. He glared angrily at Benjamin, his tiny fists clenched tightly. The boy was furious, convinced that Shirley was being bullied. "Sir." Shirley tipped the glass upside down, and a single drop of vodka lingered before sliding down the rim. After drinking three glasses, her stomach felt like it was on fire, the heat spreading through her body. Her fair, delicate skin took on a soft, rosy hue, radiating an irresistible allure. From then on, Shirley drank on his behalf every time Kyle raised a toast to Benjamin. By the end of the dinner, her head was spinning. Her steps felt unsteady, and it felt like she was walking on air. Thankfully, the meal finally came to an end. As they were leaving, Nina patted Shirley's shoulder. "Now you know who to turn to, right? The Blackwood family is hosting a banquet tomorrow night. I hope I'll see you there." She reached into her bag, pulled out an invitation, and tucked it into Shirley's hand. "This is as far as I can help you. The rest is up to you." Shirley watched Nina's retreating figure before unfolding the invitation. It was for a birthday banquet for Damian scheduled for tomorrow evening. Benjamin Blackwood? Could that man from earlier really be the infamous devil of the Blackwood family, the one whose very name sent shivers down people's spines? Just then, Brook walked in. His expression tensed as the sharp scent of alcohol hit him. "Shirley, why did you drink so much?" "I'm fine," Shirley replied softly. She attempted to slide the invitation into her bag, but Brook snatched it out of her hand. After glancing at the contents, his face darkened. "Are you really planning to attend this birthday banquet?" Shirley thought back to Damian, who had been stealing glances at her throughout dinner. A soft smile appeared on her delicate face, and she nodded gently. Since Nina had pointed the way, she had to give it a shot. Her response made Brook's temper flare instantly. "Do you even know who Benjamin Blackwood is? Do you know what that birthday banquet is really about, and you're still willing to go?" A slightly tipsy Shirley blinked at him in confusion. Her wide, watery eyes carried a hint of grievance, and her flushed cheeks made her look lovely and delicate. Faced with such an adorably delicate Shirley, Brook's anger dissipated almost immediately. He let out a long sigh and explained, "Tomorrow's banquet is just a ploy by a few bored old women. They've invited all the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes from the prominent families in Elderstone." In other words, it was going to be a large-scale matchmaking event. "So that's what Nina meant!" Although Shirley was a bit tipsy, her mind remained sharp. Samuel had broken off their engagement. Owen was still in a coma. Since Shirley's birth, Rachel had withdrawn from the public eye, spending over two decades in quiet retirement. Even if Rachel had the will to help in the company, she didn't have the capability. With their family sitting on a fortune worth billions of dollars, countless people were eyeing them like prey. Even if their current issue would be solved, who knew if another problem wouldn't pop up in the future? And Benjamin, despite his notorious reputation, had risen to dominate Elderstone in recent years. Blackwood Group now stood unrivaled. Instead of relying on Kyle to deal with a temporary crisis, wouldn't it be better to find a man who could permanently eradicate the Weiss family problem? But Shirley didn't want to sell herself into a marriage with a stranger, no matter how powerful he might be. Seeing her remain silent, Brook thought she was still set on attending the banquet. Though he hated to hurt her feelings, he felt compelled to warn her. "Your situation with Samuel hasn't settled yet. Everyone's just waiting to see you make a fool of yourself. If you go, you'll only become the talk of the town and the butt of their jokes." As the most prominent socialite in Elderstone, Shirley had always been envied for her impeccable background, stunning looks, and once-perfect fiancé, Samuel. She had been the object of admiration and jealousy—a standard that no one could touch. But now, Samuel had broken off the engagement, and Owen was incapacitated. How many were eagerly waiting to see her fall from grace? How many women were eagerly preparing to snatch her title as Elderstone's top socialite? If Shirley were to attend a matchmaking event disguised as a birthday party, it would hand those people the perfect ammunition to humiliate her. Brook didn't need to remind her of the cruel games women played. Shirley knew better than anyone about the unspoken battles fought in their circles. After a long pause, Shirley finally said, "Brook, follow me to Clay Manor." Since Owen's coma, the company's major shareholders had been relentlessly badgering Shirley and Rachel. They claimed that the company couldn't go a single day without leadership and insisted that an acting CEO had to be appointed immediately. And the one they had in mind? Wayne. Wayne was aggressive and determined to take over Weiss Group, and his tactics were utterly despicable. Two days had passed. If Shirley didn't take action soon, she feared Wayne might stoop so low as to harm an innocent child. As they walked through the hallway, Shirley's gaze landed on three familiar faces. They were Samuel's close friends. Each had a cigarette dangling from their lips, smoke curling lazily in the air. She overheard their conversation, and it seemed like they were complaining. "Why's that woman so sensitive? When Shirley was around, she never complained about us. It's just a few cigarettes. Does she think she's more noble than the top socialite in the city?" Shirley felt a sharp pang in her heart. Was Samuel so eager to introduce Sophie to his friends? Back then, it had taken Shirley a long time to fit into Samuel's social circle. He had never introduced her to his friends like this.