Chapter 6

Louisa suddenly pivoted, smiling, "It seems we can't eat this fish after all. No matter—we'll have the restaurant prepare a new one.

"Though I've heard that all the fish caught by the restaurant today are quite large. I'm afraid this plate won't be big enough. And the restaurant likely doesn't have larger fish platters."

Her implication was clear: while the Capulet Group might not be the Taylor Group's ideal choice, the Taylor Group's requirements were too substantial. Besides the Capulet Group, no other company had the capacity to handle the entire project.

This was precisely why the Taylor Group had chosen the Capulet Group initially.

Louisa's message was obvious—she had done her homework on the Taylor Group. The Capulet Group was their only viable option, so they shouldn't try to exploit the situation.

George finally relaxed. She knew what she was doing after all.

David's expression turned awkward as he forced out through gritted teeth, "Looks like you've done your homework well."

Louisa smiled in return, raising her glass. "Mr. Foster, you flatter me. Cheers!"

After that, the meeting proceeded without further complications, and the contract was successfully signed.

Louisa could feel herself deteriorating rapidly. Her stomach felt like it was on fire, burning so intensely that her face turned deathly pale. Her vision kept blurring, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead while her blouse became soaked through.

Another drink would likely kill her.

But David kept refilling her glass. His intentions were now painfully obvious.

Since he couldn't extract better terms from the Capulet Group, he would make Louisa pay with her body.

Vivian saw it through too.

She noticed Louisa's agonized expression and smiled coldly, a malicious glint in her eyes. She'd like to see how Louisa would escape this without George's protection.

With this thought, she turned to George, instantly transforming into an innocent, pitiful young woman. "George, I'm tired. The alcohol smell is making me nauseous. Could you take me home first?"

"Well..." George hesitated, instinctively glancing toward Louisa.

Vivian immediately grabbed his hand, looking at him pleadingly, her tone pure coquettish charm. "George."

George considered the situation. Louisa would probably need another twenty minutes to wrap things up—just enough time for him to take Vivian home.

David, sensing the opportunity, said to George, "Mr. Capulet, go ahead and take your assistant home. Ms. Forbes can stay and have a few more drinks with me."

George nodded coolly, saying to Louisa, "I'm leaving this to you. I'll take her home first."

Without waiting for Louisa's response, he grabbed his coat and left with Vivian.

He completely missed the triumphant look Vivian shot at Louisa when he wasn't looking—a blatant taunt: 'Louisa, I can't wait to see how you die!'

Louisa clenched her fists tightly. As the door closed behind them, she felt her blood freeze.

Couldn't George see that David had been plying her with drinks because he wanted to take advantage of her?

Damn it! Damn George!

For Vivian's sake, he truly didn't care if she ruined his project.

If that was the case, what did she have to fear anymore?

Her body had reached its limit. All her strength seemed to have been drained away, and a metallic sweetness rose from her stomach to her throat.

She forced herself to swallow back the blood.

Time was running out. She needed to save herself quickly.

But now, only she and David remained in the private room. In a direct confrontation, she had no chance of escape.

With no one else present, David no longer hid his intentions.

He approached Louisa, his small eyes leering at her as he licked his back teeth and smiled. "Mr. Capulet seems young but knows the game. He saw I was interested in you, so he's basically offering you to me."

Louisa remained outwardly calm as David approached. Her hand fell to her purse, gripping the handle tightly while she subtly surveyed the room, looking for any possible escape route.

Yet her expression remained composed, even managing a smile at David. "Yes, Mr. Capulet left, but Mrs. Foster is still here."

"What do you mean?" David didn't understand.

Louisa's smile brightened. "Don't you and your wife talk to each other? Didn't you know she arranged to meet her close friends at Dreamscape Club for dinner today? I checked for you—Mrs. Foster is on this floor, in Room D. Shouldn't you go say hello?"

Louisa had specifically chosen Dreamscape Club because David's wife would be there—giving herself an escape route.

David had married into money and spent most of his life under his wife's control and supervision.

But this time, he refused to be intimidated. He glared at Louisa. "Even if that old woman is here today, I'm still going to have you. You can't escape!"

He reached out to grab her.

Louisa quickly dodged and suddenly called out toward the door. "Mrs. Foster!"

David, conditioned by years of marriage, instinctively turned his head toward the door.

In that instant, Louisa used every ounce of her remaining strength to run for the exit.

David realized he'd been tricked and cursed, immediately chasing after her.

By now Louisa could barely stand, let alone run. She desperately prayed to encounter any staff member who could save her.

But to her misfortune, not a single person was in sight when she exited. Shortly after, David caught her.

He leered at her body with a predatory smile, licking his lips. "Bitch, let's see how you escape this time."

Before he finished speaking, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her back toward the room.

She instinctively used her other hand to desperately grip the edge of a windowsill.

But she had already consumed too much alcohol tonight, and with her stomach condition flaring up, her insides felt like they were being scorched by fire.

What little strength remained in her body was rapidly fading.

She had no strength left to resist. A sense of despair washed over her.

Her fingers gradually released the windowsill, and David, with a malicious grin, dragged her back toward the room.