Chapter 4

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache.

I forced myself out of bed and went to the office anyway.

Pierre and Bella didn't show up until noon, walking in one after the other.

They were still exchanging secret, flirtatious glances in the hallway.

A few minutes later, Bella pushed my office door open without knocking.

"There's a business dinner tonight," she said demandingly. "Pierre wants you there."

I didn't even look up from my laptop. "I'm not going. You only remember me when you need to close a deal?"

Bella stomped her foot and immediately dialed Pierre's number on speaker:

"Pierre, Ellis is refusing to work with me again! She says she won't go to the dinner tonight!"

"I'll handle it," Pierre's voice came through, and he hung up.

The next second, Pierre slammed my door open, yelling:

"Ellis! When Bella gives you an assignment, you do it!"

He ignored Bella, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me into his private office.

I struggled to pull away, but his grip only tightened, bruising my skin.

He slammed the door shut, locking us inside.

He rubbed his temples, his face still red with anger.

"This client is crucial for the company."

"If you help me close the deal tonight, I'll consider your terms for the divorce settlement."

"Isn't that what you want? Money?"

I looked at his familiar yet completely foreign face and slowly nodded.

"Fine."

Pierre, this is the last time I will ever help you.

That evening, we arrived at the private dining room. Pierre and the client, Mr. Johnson, were already seated.

As I went to sit next to Pierre, Bella pushed past me and took the seat right beside him.

She gave me an innocent look. "You don't mind if I sit next to Pierre, do you, Ellis?"

I smiled politely. "Not at all." I sat down next to her instead.

The dinner started with the usual fake pleasantries. When Pierre introduced us, he only gave our job titles.

Mr. Johnson's assistant, Collins, smiled warmly at Bella.

"Oh, Mrs. Nicolas, you and Pierre look so perfect together!"

"We wish you both a happy and long marriage!"

Bella froze for a second, glancing at Pierre. He didn't correct Collins.

Seeing his silence, Bella blushed and leaned into Pierre, playing along.

I kept my mouth shut. I thought I didn't care anymore.

But seeing him let another woman take my place, allowing everyone to humiliate me, still made my chest ache.

Throughout the dinner, I focused entirely on presenting our business proposal to Mr. Johnson.

When Mr. Johnson and Collins offered Bella a drink, Pierre stood up with a laugh, blocking it.

"Hey, you have to go through me before you buy my girl a drink!"

After a few rounds, Pierre was looking tipsy. Bella looked at him with fake worry, then turned to me with a venomous smirk:

"Mr. Johnson, our Ellis here is a legendary drinker! She's the real star of our company."

"You shouldn't leave her out of the fun!"

Mr. Johnson and Collins immediately started pouring me shot after shot. For the sake of the deal, I had to swallow them down.

After being pressured into drinking far too much, my head felt heavy, and my limbs felt like lead.

When the dinner finally ended, the others left.

Only Pierre, Mr. Johnson, and I remained in the room.

Pierre helped me up with one hand while holding Mr. Johnson with the other.

Through my hazy vision, I saw Pierre slip a black hotel room key card into Mr. Johnson's hand.

Mr. Johnson let out a creepy laugh, patting Pierre’s hand.

"Don't worry, Pierre. I'll take good care of Ellis tonight."

My brain went completely white. Panic surged through my veins.

I tried to break free, but my body was completely numb and powerless.

Pierre leaned in close, whispering in my ear:

"Be good, Ellis. Do this, and you'll get your divorce papers tomorrow."

"Help!" I screamed with everything I had.

Since I couldn't break free, I threw myself onto the floor, refusing to let them drag me.

I clung to the carpet. No matter how hard Pierre pulled, I didn't budge.

Finally, the hotel security and staff noticed the commotion and ran over.

My face was flushed, tears streaming down my face. "Help me... call the police!" I gasped.

Hearing the word "police," Mr. Johnson panicked. He threw the key card on the floor and bolted.

Pierre didn't care about me anymore. He let go of my arm and ran after Mr. Johnson, trying to apologize.

I couldn't go back to that house. With the help of a kind hotel staff member, I checked into a room and locked the door behind me.