Chapter 2

On the way to dinner, I sat in the front passenger seat, while Daniel and Kimberly sat in the back of the car.

Kimberley kept acting coy the entire ride, her voice cloyingly sweet. "Mr. Carter, I really don't want to drink. I heard that Mr. Ashford is quite handsy."

Daniel tapped her nose affectionately. "What's there to be afraid of? Maggie is here. She can hold her liquor and has plenty of experience, so she can handle this kind of scene. You just need to look pretty and sign the papers."

I stared at the streets flashing past the window, my stomach twisting in nausea.

I had once been the young lady he shielded behind him. Five years ago, during the company's early days, a client pressured me to drink. Daniel had almost flipped the table in a rage, then carried me on his back for two miles to reach the hospital.

He promised he would never let me suffer again, yet now he was pushing me toward ruin just to please his new flame.

As the car turned, my bag slid onto the back floor mat. I turned around to pick it up, but froze.

In the corner of the back seat lay a torn condom wrapper and a pair of torn nude stockings. They were the spare tights that I had always kept in the car's storage compartment.

Daniel followed my gaze. There was no panic on his face. Instead, he looked at me with a hint of provocation.

"Oh, we were in a hurry yesterday, so I borrowed them. You're never interested in wearing stuff like that anyway, so you might as well let Kimmy make good use of them," he said.

Kimberley giggled behind her hand, her eyes gleaming with smugness. "Oh, Maggie, I'm so sorry. I'll buy you a new pair next time."

Instead of getting angry, I laughed. I picked up the torn stockings, rolled down the window, and tossed them out. "No, thanks. I never keep things once they're dirty."

Daniel's expression shifted, as if he suspected something behind my words. Just as he was about to lash out, the car arrived at the hotel entrance.

At the dinner, Mr. Ashford proved to be a lecher, his greasy hands constantly wandering over me. "Ms. Sinclair, you really are the gold standard in the industry. Your skin looks far too youthful for someone in their 30s."

Daniel sat at the head of the table, pretending not to notice. He was busy cutting the steak for Kimberley. He even raised his glass, smiling, while Mr. Ashford tried to slide a hand under my hem.

"Ms. Sinclair is here in earnest today, Mr. Ashford. She'll finish this drink. Please, drink as you like," Daniel said.

He pushed a full glass of 52-proof liquor toward me.

I stared at Daniel. He smiled, but his eyes stayed cold and threatening. It was as if he were saying that only by drinking would Mom's life-saving money be secured.

I picked up the glass and drained it in one go. The burning liquid scorched down my throat, twisting my insides. Mr. Ashford cheered loudly and took the opportunity to wrap an arm around my waist.

Daniel nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Kimberley. "Learn from this. This is what professionalism looks like."

I fought through the sharp pain in my stomach and pushed Mr. Ashford's hand away. "I need to use the restroom."

Even someone made of steel would have been near their breaking point by then. However, I didn't go there to vomit. Once inside a stall, I quickly pulled out my phone and sent a message to a headhunter. "I accept the offer. I'll sign tonight."

Then, I saved the full recording I had just made. It was solid proof that Daniel had forced an employee to drink with a client.

After everything was done, I splashed cold water on my face and looked at my pale reflection. I told myself that this kind of life was over.

I never expected what I would see when I returned to the private room. My bag had been thrown on the floor, and my phone was vibrating. The screen displayed "Emergency Center of Central City Hospital".

Kimberley was holding my phone, her finger hovering over the red end-call button. When she saw me walk in, a malicious grin spread across her face, and she firmly pressed the red end-call button right before my eyes.