When the company’s finances collapsed, I stayed up for months, fighting for investments until I landed one. I even drank with clients until I got sick and bleeding from the stomach. And when I was caught in an earthquake while traveling for work, Elias rushed into the disaster zone against evacuation orders just to find me.
Even my father was surprised that someone who has high trust issue like me could trust anyone so deeply. Now, that same man didn’t lift a finger to stop Elsa’s unacceptable behavior.
I looked down at the mess on my chest, as my eyes were turning cold.
A few business partners quickly tried to smooth things over.
“Ms. Abend, that joke went too far. Ms. Torres is one of our key partners. She's not here to just get drunk.”
“Mr. Weber, it seems your employee need better discipline.”
“Ms. Torres is a talent that even our company would be dying to have. Mr. Weber, you’d better appreciate her.”
The mockery I had imagined never came. Instead, everyone was praising my professionalism.
I looked up at Elsa and smiled slightly. “Since Ms. Abend wants to drink, I’ll join her.”
I asked the waiter to bring two large glasses and filled them both with vodka. I drank mine in one go without difficulty. At that, Elsa stared at me in shock.
I pushed the other glass toward her. “I’ve finished mine, Ms. Abend. Don’t tell me you’re afraid?”
When I was three, I secretly drank an entire bottle of my father’s treasured Lafite from his wine cellar in France. This Vodka was nothing to me.
Elias glanced at me with displeasure and said quietly, “Ms. Torres, stop joking. Not everyone can drink like you do.”
The moment he said that, I knew he was trying to defend Elsa.
I put down my glass and nodded politely to the executives. “Excuse me, I need to fix my makeup.”
Yet, Elsa followed me into the restroom. “Anne, do you hate me that much? You’ve been with Elias for so long, yet you never won his heart. You’re just a cheap woman he uses for pleasure!”
I ignored her and that made her furious. She tried to push me. Out of instinct, I stepped aside and caused her to miss.
Suddenly, Elsa slapped herself!
I stunned frozen when Elsa burst into tears and ran out.
Sensing trouble, I hurried after her. By the time I reached the VIP room, she had already thrown herself into Elias’s arms.