Chapter 14
After stepping out of the car, Alexander’s indifferent gaze swept across Elena and Justin.
When he looked at her, his gaze lingered for a moment before quickly returning to its usual calm.
“Joshua, what a coincidence running into you here.”
Nathan shook hands with Joshua and immediately said, “I invited Mr. Golden to dinner here tonight.”
“Mr. Golden…” Joshua’s eyes lit up at the name.
Everyone in Hupolis knew who Alexander was. Even though they didn’t live in the same city, his name carried enough weight to command recognition.
He exchanged a glance with Justin, and in that moment, both men seemed to understand each other.
After greeting Alexander, Joshua warmly suggested, “We’re also dining here tonight. Why not join us? It’ll be livelier with more people.”
Nathan had no objection. There was nothing confidential to discuss that evening, and dinners like this
often paved the way for new partnerships. Deals could just as easily be made over a glass of wine and
casual conversation.
He turned to Alexander and asked, “Mr. Golden, what do you think?”
Alexander replied evenly, “I’ll go along with your arrangement.”
He spoke casually, yet the commanding presence he radiated was impossible to overlook.
Both Joshua and Nathan smiled politely, eager to please.
Justin could feel the weight of Alexander’s authority bearing down on him.
No wonder he was the heir to one of the four most prestigious families of Hupolis. Instinctively, Justin
turned his head toward Elena, only to catch her watching Alexander.
His brows furrowed as irritation stirred within him. He shifted slightly, positioning himself between them
to block her view.
Elena blinked at him in confusion. He was being ridiculous.
She had simply been reminded of the time Alexander had helped her.
But since he clearly wasn’t going to acknowledge her, she had no intention of bringing it up.
Together, the group headed to a private room on the top floor of the restaurant. The table was quickly
filled with dishes and bottles of red wine.
After several drinks, the conversation unexpectedly shifted toward Elena.
Joshua and a few other clients praised her endlessly, calling her accomplished for her age and decisive in the way she handled business. Elena accepted the compliments with calm composure, always gracious and polite.
Now and then, she felt the weight of a sharp gaze directed at her. She was certain it was Alexander’s.
But whenever she raised her eyes, he appeared to be looking elsewhere. Perhaps she was imagining it.
Soon, the conversation drifted again, this time to Nadine.
Joshua, whose tolerance for alcohol was poor, was already tipsy after just a few drinks.
At that moment, Joshua clapped Justin on the shoulder and said with a tipsy grin, “Justin, don’t blame me
for being blunt, but that Ms. Riggs-you really shouldn’t have her handle business negotiations.
“Is she your sister? I never heard that you had one. Don’t tell me she’s your girlfriend?”
Justin’s expression stiffened. He glanced at Elena before quickly explaining, “She’s not my girlfriend, Mr.
Koch. You’ve misunderstood.”
A flicker of mockery crossed Elena’s eyes.
Of course, she wasn’t his girlfriend. They had already signed their marriage certificate, so she was clearly
his legal wife.
Joshua let out a hiccup and muttered, “Not your girlfriend? Then why are you so protective of her? Ms.
Miller worked so hard on that project, and you just handed it over to her?”
Justin forced a smile. “Mr. Koch, you’ve had too much to drink.”
His eyes sharpened with a chill that made Joshua sober slightly.
Joshua laughed awkwardly. “Maybe a little. Just kidding, Mr. Riggs. Don’t take it the wrong way.”
The topic was brushed aside, but just then a bottle of red wine slid across the table, stopping in front of
Justin. He frowned and looked up, meeting Alexander’s unyielding gaze.
“Mr. Riggs.” Alexander’s voice carried the quiet pressure of authority. His eyes were as dark as a storm.”
Care for a drink?”
Justin’s throat tightened as he stared at the bottle of red wine before him.
For some reason, an uneasy feeling settled in Justin’s chest.
Alexander didn’t seem friendly tonight.
The pressure radiating from him was almost tangible, weaving an invisible net through the private room that Justin couldn’t escape. Refusal was out of the question.
A nearby waiter stepped forward, uncorked the red wine, and filled Justin’s glass before quietly stepping back.
Steadying himself, Justin held up his glass with a smile. “Mr. Golden, to you.”
With that, he downed the red wine in one swallow.
Alexander followed suit without hesitation, draining his own glass.
Justin thought that would be the end of it, but Alexander made a slight gesture, and the waiter immediately refilled their glasses.
“Mr. Riggs, surely one glass isn’t enough to enjoy the evening,” Alexander said smoothly, swirling the red wine in his glass.
Justin’s face stiffened. His earlier suspicion was right. Alexander was deliberately targeting him, though he had no idea why.
He wasn’t about to be rattled by Alexander. After all, the Riggs family still held influence back in Slushire.
But landing on Alexander’s bad side would serve him no good.
With a practiced smile, Justin raised his glass again and said, “How could I refuse your generosity, Mr.
Golden?”
With that, he downed the red wine once more.
When he set the glass down, his brow furrowed, and his complexion turned grim.
He actually disliked red wine. Every time he drank it, it made him uncomfortable-not physically, but psychologically.
Elena knew this well.
In the past, whenever a business dinner required him to drink, she would take the glasses in his place.
No matter how much was poured, she took it all in his place. Even when others frowned on her for doing so or tried to make things difficult, she had shouldered it all.
She would drink until she was nearly incoherent, then still smile at him and say that as long as he wasn’t
uncomfortable, it was worth it.
But tonight…
As the waiter leaned forward to pour him another glass, Justin turned to look at Elena, only to see her calmly sipping the soup in front of her. She had no intention of intervening on his behalf.
Justin felt worse than he ever had while drinking red wine before. And Alexander kept pressing him, glass after glass.
After several more drinks, he felt like he was reaching his limit, and the alcohol was starting to hit him.
His tolerance wasn’t great. The beer was fine, but the red wine was stronger, and he couldn’t handle it.
As the first bottle emptied, the waiter opened a second one.
Justin was close to losing it.
Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, he said, “Mr. Golden, I heard you just acquired a piece of land in Kaginia…”
“Mr. Riggs.” Alexander didn’t even let him finish. “Tonight we drink. We don’t discuss business.”
Justin’s fists clenched at his sides, but he held back. There was no reason to offend Alexander over something so trivial.
After several more glasses, he was barely holding on. Instinctively, he looked at Elena, only to find she hadn’t spared him a single glance.
She even got to her feet and said quietly to the others, “Excuse me, I’m heading to the restroom.”
With that, she walked out.
As he watched her leave, Justin felt the red wine he had just swallowed lodge in his chest, suffocating him.
Elena stood at the sink, washing her hands calmly. She didn’t know why Alexander was pushing Justin to drink, nor did she care.
She noticed how often Justin looked to her, clearly seeking help. But the Elena who once put him first, the one who was willing to give everything for him, was long gone.
She turned off the faucet and dried her hands with a paper towel.
Just as she stepped out, a shadow fell over her.
She frowned slightly and was about to look up at the person in front of her when, suddenly, she was yanked into an empty private room nearby.
The door slammed shut behind her with a loud thud. Her back hit the wall, and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She tried to call out, but a hand covered her mouth.
“Don’t scream. It’s me.”
It was… Alexander.
Her heartbeat gradually steadied. Though the situation made no sense, she somehow trusted that he wouldn’t harm her.
She looked up.
The man in front of her was indeed Alexander, but his cheeks were unnaturally flushed, and his gaze was both unfocused and restrained. Something was off about him.
Elena tried to struggle. A muffled noise escaped her as she fought to free herself.
Alexander finally released her and stumbled back a few steps, collapsing into a chair behind him.
“Mr. Golden, are you okay?” Elena took a couple of steps toward him.
“Don’t come closer!” Alexander warned. His eyes were bloodshot.
He was breathing heavily. He suddenly yanked at the collar of his shirt, tearing off two buttons that
clattered to the floor.
“Mr. Golden, could it be…”
Elena’s eyes widened as a realization struck her. “Did someone tamper with your food or drink tonight?”
Judging by his condition, someone had likely drugged him.
“Yeah.”
A drop of sweat slid down Alexander’s forehead, strangely tinged with a certain allure.
However, Elena had no desire to admire it-her mind was already on high alert.
She trusted Alexander’s character, but under the influence of drugs, anyone could act in ways beyond
their own control.
“Mr. Golden, I’ll go get someone to help you.”
She was about to walk away when Alexander grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a searing embrace.
Elena exclaimed, “Mr. Golden, let me go!”
He held her tight, refusing to release her.
“Alexander!” Elena panicked, even thinking of biting his wrist to break free.
Then Alexander’s low, restrained voice cut through. “We don’t know who drugged me yet, don’t alert
anyone.”
Elena immediately understood.
They still didn’t know who had drugged him or what their plan was. There was no way she could let that
person know he was here.
By the look in his eyes, it seemed like he still retained some control.
“So now…” Her voice faltered as his heated breath brushed against her neck, sending shivers through her body.
Having drunk quite a bit, he carried a faint scent of wine, but it wasn’t unpleasant. If anything, it had an oddly seductive edge.
Elena’s eyes met his. In that instant, she saw a shocking intensity in his eyes, a raw desire that made her pulse race.
His trembling fingers traced the corner of her eye, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed against
the force of his own uncontrollable longing.
“I need you… Help me…”
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