Chapter 4

The moment Mindy heard that Matteo wanted Mila to drink, she panicked. "No, that won't do. Mila isn't feeling well. She shouldn't be drinking." Mindy had been the one who accompanied Mila to the business dinner when Mila suffered alcohol poisoning. She had witnessed everything firsthand and had been deeply shaken by it. The doctor even said that if Mila had arrived any later, she might not have survived. But Trent was clearly displeased. "You're underestimating Mila! Everyone knows she can hold her liquor! "Back when she went with Matt to negotiate a deal, there were 20 people at the table. She went two full rounds and was still standing. And now you're telling me she can't handle three drinks? "What? Is her drinking capacity dependent on who she's drinking with? Or is she disrespecting Penny here?" Penelope did not want the atmosphere to grow tense, so she stepped in to smooth things over. "Trent, no matter what, Ms. Wright is a woman. Don't make things difficult for her." Trent wasn't having it. "How am I making things difficult?" He even turned to Matteo for validation. "Matt, am I making things difficult for her?" Matteo looked up. His unreadable gaze brushed over Mila's face before his lips curved into an aloof smile. "No, you're not." Emboldened by Matteo's response, Trent said confidently, "See? Even Matt says it's fine. Penny, you're just too kind-hearted. Unlike Mila here, who's a seasoned veteran in the business world and knows how to play the game to her advantage." Faced with Trent's criticism, Mila did not argue. Instead, she looked straight at Matteo, as if trying to find something—anything—in his eyes. She waited for him to intervene, even if just to say "enough" or "stop messing around". It felt like a desperate, last struggle before she gave up completely. Unfortunately, Matteo remained silent, and his eyes held nothing but indifference. In that moment, Mila suddenly understood. It felt as though someone had poured a bucket of icy water over her from behind, extinguishing the last flicker of hope in her heart. A dazed, almost vacant smile touched her lips as she bent down to pick up a glass from the table. Her voice was eerily calm. "It was my mistake. I should have known better. I'll drink up." In the past, she had learned many tricks for handling alcohol during business dinners—eating something beforehand, drinking milk or yogurt before drinks, or taking small, slow sips. She had relied on these tricks to become nearly invincible at the negotiation table. But this time, she used none of them. She simply poured the liquor down her throat. One glass, two glasses, and then three. The liquor burned down her throat, stinging her nose, and sent violent spasms through her already aching stomach. Yet, she casually lifted the empty glass toward Matteo. "I'm done. May I leave now, Mr. Hall?" ... Mila didn't know whether Matteo finally nodded in the end, because she turned and left the private room before he could respond. Her stomach churned violently, and she was afraid she might vomit on the spot. Bent over the sink in the restroom, retching until the world spun, she even found herself thankful that she had taken stomach medicine before drinking, rather than hangover pills. No one was born with a high alcohol tolerance. Before joining Royal Investment, Mila had never touched alcohol. The first time she accompanied Matteo to a business dinner, they had encountered a difficult client who insisted Matteo drink. The problem was that Matteo was allergic to alcohol and could not drink at all. So, Mila had stepped forward to take the drinks for him. That was her first time drinking. Inexperienced, she choked on the first glass. But when she thought of how hard Matteo had fought for that opportunity, she forced it down, no matter how hard it was to swallow. That was the first project she had ever secured for Matteo. Matteo had called her a pillar of Royal Investment and said that once he achieved success, he would share that glory with her. Convinced by the future he painted, Mila never let Matteo drink another drop of alcohol. Whenever there were social engagements, she took his place. That was how she had built up her alcohol tolerance. But now, he used the strength she'd picked up while fighting his battles for him against her, to protect his first love—striking Mila right where it hurt. It pained her terribly, yet it was sobering in its clarity. When she left Eclipse Club, it was raining outside. Rain in late fall always came without warning. Mila, who had just finished vomiting, didn't feel any better. Her face was completely drained of color. Just as she took out her phone to call a ride, Matteo's chauffeur, Wayne Miller, spotted her and jogged over. "Ms. Wright, is the party over? Where's Mr. Hall? Did he not come out with you?" "Hm, probably not for a while yet," Mila replied, her voice faint and unsteady. The atmosphere inside was still lively. With Penelope by his side, Matteo likely wouldn't be leaving soon. Wayne glanced toward the entrance, then noticed how truly unwell Mila looked. He suggested, "Ms. Wright, why don't I drive you back first? At this hour and in this rain, it'll be hard to get a cab." Mila did not refuse. She felt awful and didn't want to push her body any further. But the car had barely gone halfway when Matteo called, asking Wayne where he was. Wayne explained honestly, saying that Mila was unwell and that he had assumed the gathering would last a while, so he sent her home first. Matteo's voice, amplified through the car speakers, sounded particularly cold. "Do you remember who pays your salary?" That gave Wayne a shock, and he immediately said, "I'll come and pick you up right away." Just before hanging up, Matteo's voice melted into warmth, completely devoid of its earlier chill. "Our ride will be here soon. It's cold out here. Why don't you wait inside?" Penelope answered gently, "Won't you wait with me, Matt?" Mila didn't hear Matteo's answer to Penelope because the call was cut off. Wayne looked like he was caught in a difficult situation. Mila spoke up first. "Mr. Miller, you can just drop me off by the roadside. I'll get a cab back myself." In this area, finding a cab was nearly impossible, let alone a sheltered spot from the rain. Feeling guilty, Wayne insisted on giving her his umbrella before she got out. Perhaps because her luck had been so terrible that night, fate took a rare moment of pity on her. Shortly after getting out, a cab passed by. Even so, Mila woke up the next day with a fever. Her body was weak from the miscarriage, her stomach issues were flaring up again, and her immune system had completely collapsed, unable to withstand even the slightest chill. But she had an appointment today with Vincent Cross from Treveur Corporation to discuss a project. It was the very project Matteo had singled out in the meeting. If it got delayed again, there was no telling what kind of cutting remarks Matteo would make. Mila checked the thermometer. 101 degrees Fahrenheit. It wasn't exactly deadly, but there was no doubt it made her feel thoroughly miserable. She could have taken fever medicine, but Vincent was a notoriously heavy drinker who loved discussing business over alcohol. With a ruthless resolve, Mila tossed the fever medication back into the drawer, picked up her files, and left the office without looking back. … Mila had just ordered the food and drinks when Vincent arrived. Seeing his favorite food and liquor already on the table put him in an excellent mood. "Ms. Wright, are you sure you won't consider jumping ship to Treveur Corp to be my secretary? Name your price!" "Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Cross, but my contract with Royal Investment hasn't expired yet. I don't have any plans to change jobs at the moment." That was Mila's standard reply. With her capabilities, there was never a shortage of people who appreciated her and wanted to poach her. Once, a partner had drunk too much and tried to recruit her right in front of Matteo. Matteo hadn't said anything at the time, but he took out his frustration on her in bed with relentless intensity that night. In the end, Mila took it upon herself to sign a long-term contract with Royal Investment to finally placate Matteo.