Chapter 328

The group went to a nearby restaurant and once they entered the private room, everyone tactfully left the seat next to Maverick vacant. Giselle followed behind. She was the last one to enter. When she arrived, the only empty seat was next to Maverick. She glanced at it. Then her eyes rested on Maverick. Maverick had taken off his jacket and placed it on the chair. Sitting there, he was leisurely adjusting his shirt sleeves. Giselle moistened her lips. It was just a matter of sitting next to Maverick, after all. In front of this group of people, she couldn't show weakness or hesitation. Moreover, she was here to discuss business, she had no need to evade or fret about something as trivial as seating arrangements. Giselle walked over, pulled out the chair beside Maverick, and sat down without any hesitation. Beside her, Maverick quietly withdrew his gaze from her without any outward sign. Having finished organizing his clothes, he shot Steward a glance. Steward immediately suggested, "It's a rare chance for us all to gather together, let's have some drinks." This group of people met to eat, drink, and have fun every few days, so it wasn’t 'rare' per se. But they were all savvy individuals, each very observant, that’s why they unanimously and seamlessly left the seat next to Maverick empty. Pei Shao said, "Drink, why not? It's been a while since I last drank. We must definitely let loose tonight." Steward said to Maverick Mo, "You also can't slip away tonight." Maverick Mo raised an eyebrow, leaned back into his chair, his thin lips lazily uttering two words, "Sure." Throughout the process, Giselle remained silent. But it was clear, she can't avoid this drinking either. What surprised her was that this group wanted to go all out, ordering a high proof Baijiu, their spirit for a night of drinking evident. Giselle used the excuse of going to the restroom, secretly consuming a hangover prevention candy. In her bag, this candy was a must-have. Although not greatly effective, it did provide some comfort, preventing her from feeling too uncomfortable later on from excessive drinking. When she returned, they had already started drinking. Upon seeing Giselle, Steward offered to toast, drinking unfathomably strong liquor that set his throat on fire. Giselle coughed twice. From the side, Maverick Mo just happened to glance at her. It wasn't that Giselle couldn't drink. Rather, she didn't usually drink Baijiu, let alone something this strong. After several shots, Giselle felt slightly dizzy. Taking advantage of her tipsy state, she began discussing the contract with Maverick Mo. "Mr. Hyland, can we talk now? Look..." she says, "I've drunk my wine, you can't disrespect me like this." Her tone, her rhetoric... Any one who sees this, won't think of them as once sharing a bed, a couple with intimate ties. Maverick looks at Giselle, his expression somewhat cold. Giselle meets his gaze, without avoiding, "Mr. Hyland, I came here in good faith to discuss business." Maverick's eyes grow colder. He tugs at his lip, "Is this how you usually conduct your business talks?" Giselle immediately stands up, picking up her glass, "Mr. Hyland, this toast is for you." With that said, she tilts her head back and drinks. Maverick stares at Giselle, his face becoming even more grim. Finally, he snatches the wine glass from Giselle's hand. He doesn't finish it, only drinks half. Giselle appears rather scared, "Mr. Hyland, is there something I did wrong?" Maverick suppresses his voice, "Giselle, don't play innocent!" Giselle's expression remains unchanged. She gives a polite smile with a hint of reminder, "Mr. Hyland, I'm discussing work with you." Maverick thinks he has underestimated Giselle. Ever since she returned from Frystonia, she seems to have learned to keep her composure. He was even better at pretending now than he was before. "Don't make me out to be so despicable," said Maverick, "I don't have a habit of getting women drunk." "Boss Bo is a good man." Giselle flatters with a single comment. Maverick only felt a nameless fire burning in his chest, making him annoyed. He ignored Giselle with a cold face. However, Giselle took every opportunity to whisper into his ear about contracts, projects…. It seemed like there was nothing left between them other than these topics. The meal didn’t last long. Everyone had some drinks, but weren't intoxicated enough and clamored to enjoy the night scene. Alcohol prohibited them from driving, so they called a driver. They were in silent agreement and didn’t include Giselle. She was very hesitant about whether to go along with them or not. Maverick didn't seem interested in discussing anything with her, and she didn't want to waste her energy for nothing. However, when Steward opened the car door, he pushed Giselle into Maverick's car. "You ride in his car." He then glanced at Maverick, who seemed perfectly sober. But Steward said, "He's had a bit too much to drink. Take care of him a little." After the car door was closed, Giselle finally looked at Maverick sitting beside her. They were sitting on either side, with a space in between. Maverick was leaning back in his seat, holding his forehead with his hand. He didn't look well, as if he was feeling very uncomfortable. Giselle only glanced at him once, then turned her gaze to the window. Halfway through the drive, Maverick suddenly instructed the chauffeur, "Drive to the Four Seasons Hotel." Giselle turned to him with a start, "Aren't you going to the club, Night Shades?" "No." "Then I'll get out." Maverick did not respond. Giselle was puzzled by his behavior. "Maverick, are you insinuating that we're going to book a room together?" Maverick had his eyes closed initially but opened them now. Due to the alcohol, there was a misty layer in his eyes. As he looked at Giselle, his gaze cooled, "Why the outburst?" Giselle realized she had become too agitated. She reined in her emotions and demeanor, "Mr. Hyland, I'd like to go home. Could you drop me off first?" Maverick averted his gaze. He furrowed his brows, hand on the left side of his stomach, and remarked, "Don't you want to discuss the project anymore?" At this point, using the project to corner her made Giselle connect unrelated dots. "I'm open to discussing the project, but not at the cost of my body." "So, you do have some principles." His words echoed as if he had previously thought she had none. As Giselle furrowed her brows, Maverick spoke again, "I live in a hotel. You can get off there." Giselle heaved a sigh, quite evidently. Maverick's face darkened a bit, falling silent. Until they reached the hotel's entrance. Giselle got out of the car and stood by the road, just hailed a cab when, from behind, suddenly came the worried voice of the designated driver. “Sir, are you alright, do you need help?" Giselle turned back subconsciously. At the hotel entrance, a suit jacket had fallen from Maverick's arm. Bent awkwardly at the waist, a hand clutching at his belly, even from just a silhouette visible, he was obviously in discomfort. Giselle did not get in the car, with the driver honking, "Miss, are you getting in?" Giselle glanced at the driver, then turned back to look at Maverick. In the end, she could not just sit by and watch. "Maverick, what's wrong with you, do you need to go to the hospital?" After Giselle went over, she helped support Maverick. Maverick did not decline, he even used her strength to brace himself up, "Help me up." He said. Giselle frowned, "In your state, you should go to the hospital." "No need." "You…" "Obey!" Both were startled when this 'obey' slipped off Maverick's lips.