Chapter 209

The remnants of a dinner party lingered in the air.

Susan, adorned in a vibrant red evening gown, was a vision of fiery elegance. Her cheeks were flushed from the wine, her radiance rivaling the intensity of a flame. Her usually cool countenance now rested lazily against the car window, a rare charm emanating from her.

Yet, humans are not machines; they are susceptible to fatigue.

A wave of indescribable exhaustion began to rise from the depths of Susan's being. It was the thought of her daughter, Olivia, that fueled her to persist.

The shrill ring of her phone pierced the silence, an unwelcome sound to her throbbing headache.

"Susan, I'm at the restaurant with Mr. John. We need you here," her business partner's voice echoed urgently from the other end.

"Weren't we not supposed to meet him tonight?" Susan pinched the bridge of her nose, the room spinning as the alcohol took effect.

"I was entertaining other clients at the restaurant and ran into Mr. John. It took some convincing, but he agreed to join us."

"You go ahead and entertain him. I've had a bit to drink and I'm not feeling well."

Susan had encountered Mr. John on several occasions. He was a sleazy man, always looking for an opportunity to exploit others, and his reputation was less than stellar. She felt particularly vulnerable in her inebriated state.

"Mr. John specifically requested your presence. If you don't show, he'll leave. Please hurry."

Susan's reluctance to attend only grew.

"I..."

"Think about the commission on this deal, Susan. It's two hundred thousand! And if you forget the commission for a moment, consider your KPI; we haven't met our target for the month. I understand your concerns, but I'll be there to watch out for you. I have a feeling we can seal the deal with him tonight."

Pressured to meet her KPI, Susan bit her lip and reluctantly agreed, "I'm on my way now."

Upon entering the private room, she found Mr. John's gaze fixed on her, his eyes gleaming like a wolf that had just spotted its prey.

"Susan, you look absolutely stunning today."

Accustomed to seeing her in professional business attire, the sight of Susan in a red evening gown stirred something within Mr. John. She seemed to ignite a fire within him, his body responding with an eagerness he could hardly control.

At thirty, women like Susan, who usually carried themselves with an air of aloofness, were especially alluring. The thought of such a woman transformed into an object of desire was thrilling. Mr. John was determined to ply Susan with drinks.

Susan was cautious, managing to dodge some of the drinks but inevitably consuming several glasses. When she turned around, her business partner had vanished without a trace.

Alarm bells rang in her head, and she considered making an escape, but the drinks had taken their toll-her body felt too weak to fight. Mr. John forcefully escorted her out of the private room.

"Mr. John..." Susan protested, her words slurring, "I... I need to get back home."

"My daughter is waiting for me."

"You have a daughter?" Mr. John paused momentarily but did not release his grip on her.

"Yes, my daughter is three years old." Susan gasped, hoping this revelation would deter Mr. John, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Perversely, Mr. John was more excited by the idea of a married woman with a child-it made the chase even more thrilling for him.

"It's late, don't go home and wake the child. I have a room upstairs. Let me take you up so you can rest."

"I... I don't want to go, Mr. John..." Susan's resistance only seemed to excite him more. "Susan, you're such a temptress."

Driven by his desperation, Mr. John lunged to kiss her.

"Mr. John, stop it, let me go..." Susan tried to dodge him.

That's when two burly men suddenly appeared, pulling Mr. John off her.

"Who are you guys? What do you want?"

"Do you know who I am? You dare interfere with me. Hey, where are you taking me?" Mr. John's shouts turned into whimpers after he received a punch and was dragged away without further resistance.

Staggering, Susan found herself tumbling into the arms of a stranger.

Through her hazy vision, she caught sight of a man's deep blue tie.

A familiar, crisp scent infiltrated her senses, causing her heart to flutter erratically.

Could she be so intoxicated that she was hallucinating his scent? Surely, this had to be a figment of her imagination.

With a slight lift of her delicate eyebrows, she peered upwards apprehensively, as though she had been struck by an unexpected blow.

The man before her, with a sharp jawline as refined as a portrait and features as cold as ice, had eyes that mirrored the frozen tundra.

It was him.

Caleb Eilish.

A gasp escaped Susan's lips. After a moment of shock, she began to squirm, attempting to extricate herself from his hold. "You... release me..."

"Release me!"

She was akin to a small creature, desperately trying to escape.

Caleb's expression turned even frostier.

This was their first encounter in four years, and the first words she uttered to him were "release me."

So be it!

"Release me, I... I think..."

"Susan, if you vomit on me, I will..."

"Mmm-" Susan emitted a guttural sound, followed by a violent retch.

She found herself in the restroom, gripping the toilet bowl, her insides roiling like a washing machine on overdrive.

"Cough, cough..." Susan coughed violently, her eyes red and swollen, as if bloodshot from the intensity.

It was a feeling of utter misery.

Strangely enough, Susan's mind was remarkably clear at that moment; the fear had chased away the alcohol, and memories began to resurface in her mind.

Caleb.

Susan's nightmare.

She had managed to avoid Caleb at the Eilish Group event but hadn't anticipated running into him here. Was this the inevitable disaster she couldn't evade?

Susan bit her lip.

It was all in the past. Four years ago, after she had uttered those words to Caleb, they were finished. Susan would never entangle herself with a married man!

Having regained her composure, Susan wiped her mouth with a tissue and exited the restroom.

Caleb had discarded his shirt and was now clad only in his black dress pants, a blend of wild and gentlemanly. A tall man, nearly six feet three inches, he was built like a beast.

A blush crept onto Susan's face, and she quickly averted her gaze in embarrassment.

Caleb noticed this detail, and a sneer formed within: A woman who couldn't forget her past lovers, what kind of purity was she pretending to possess?

"Caleb, I'm sorry for staining your suit. I'll cover the cleaning costs..." Susan began.

"You remember me? Huh, I thought with all the men you associate with, you'd have forgotten who I am."

Associating with a multitude of men? Since when does a single man count as a multitude?

Susan felt as if she had consumed a cup of strong espresso, the bitterness in her heart indescribable.

"I'll take care of the cleaning bill. Here is two hundred dollars..."

"A million-dollar suit, and you try to dismiss it with two hundred dollars?"

"It'll still be wearable after it's cleaned."

"I don't want it once it's been soiled," Caleb said, his tone icy.

Susan understood the underlying message; it was intended to belittle her.

It wasn't the suit that was soiled-it was her, Susan.

"That's your prerogative. I'll just leave the money here." Susan placed two hundred-dollar bills on the coffee table and turned to depart.

"You've sunk so low as to entertain old lechers now? With all your men, can't even one take care of you?" Caleb's words were as harsh as a whip lashing across Susan's heart.

"I can take care of myself," she retorted indifferently, looking up to meet his gaze with a hint of mockery, "And how can you be so sure I'm not doing it willingly? Maybe I like older men."

When had she become so sharp-tongued?

Caleb frowned deeply. "Who was the one struggling and screaming 'no' just now?"

Susan smiled faintly, "Ever heard of role-playing? That's what it's called-foreplay."

Quite the "foreplay" indeed.

Caleb advanced a few quick steps and seized Susan by the arms, forcing her to retreat until her hands were pinned above her head.

His grip was firm, almost lifting her entirely off her feet, pressing her back against the wall.

"Bang!"

Susan panicked, instinctively struggling and crying out, "Caleb, what are you doing? Release me!"

However, the man wouldn't listen, his rough hands reaching for her skirt, lifting it up...