Chapter 32 Attending the Banquet
Elodie's POV
Seeing me frozen in place, a man who appeared to be the head designer stepped forward. He looked me over with a professional eye, then took down a lake-blue strapless gown. "Sir, this one really complements Miss Elodie's temperament and skin tone."
Nelson just glanced at it and nodded.
Several female assistants surrounded me and ushered me into the fitting room to change into the dress that seemed tailor-made for me.
When I came out, Nelson was sitting on the sofa. He looked up, his gaze lingering on me for a few seconds. In those deep blue eyes, a flash of barely noticeable amazement crossed.
Right after, a professional makeup team gathered around and started working on my face.
"Nelson," I looked at him through the mirror, "what's all this for?"
"There's a party tonight." He spoke casually, his eyes on the financial magazine in his hands. "A Council of Elders party. You're coming as my date."
Council of Elders.
Images of those dark, ruthless faces from gangster movies instantly flashed through my mind.
This wasn't some ordinary business party—it was a lion's den.
"I... I'm scared. I don't want to go."
Nelson paused mid-page turn.
He looked up, quietly watching me in the mirror. His expression was calm, but I felt an invisible pressure.
"That's fine. The Council of Elders has already arranged a date for me—a daughter from a local Chicago family. It's probably better if you don't go."
My heart clenched violently, as if someone had grabbed it with their hand.
Another woman? A woman from the right background, suitable for a family alliance?
Jealousy sprouted like wild vines from the bottom of my heart, instantly overwhelming all my fear.
"I'll go!"
Oh no, I could imagine how desperate and jealous I must look right now.
The corner of Nelson's mouth seemed to curve into the faintest smile, so quick it might have been my imagination.
He closed the magazine and stood up. "Then hurry up."
When I returned to the hotel suite looking like a stranger even to myself, I saw someone unexpected in the living room.
Vivian was sitting on the sofa, pale-faced with red, swollen eyes, looking pitiful.
She wore an ill-fitting hotel bathrobe—clearly she'd just showered.
Seeing us enter, she immediately stood up, her gaze passing over me and landing straight on Nelson.
I instinctively moved closer to Nelson's side.
He noticed my tension almost immediately. His arm reached out and pulled me into his embrace.
"What are you doing here?"
Tears welled up in Vivian's eyes again. "Nelson, I... I just wanted to see you, I..."
"I'm asking you," Nelson interrupted her, "how did you know this address?"
Vivian's face went even paler. She instinctively glanced at Rod standing nearby.
Just that one look told Nelson everything.
He whipped his head around, fixing Rod with a look that could cut glass.
Rod's massive frame trembled. His honest face turned beet red in an instant. He hung his head, his voice thick with shame and regret. "Boss, that's on me. She must've tailed me after I got her to the hospital. I'll take whatever's coming."
Nelson didn't speak, but the low pressure radiating from him almost froze all the air in the room.
He held me, his tone softening slightly. "Go back to your room first."
I nodded, knowing the scene that would follow wasn't for me to see.
But just as I turned around, I couldn't help looking back.
Nelson had grabbed Vivian's arm, using so much force that her face twisted in pain.
He practically dragged her toward the suite door.
Vivian stumbled along, crying out something continuously.
The door slammed shut, cutting off her shrill voice.
My heart felt like it was soaking in vinegar—sour and bitter.
I wanted to rush out, wanted to know how he'd handle her, wanted to hear what they'd say to each other.
But reason nailed my feet in place. I was afraid—afraid of hearing or seeing some more cruel truth, afraid of discovering they still had messy, complicated ties.
In the end, I turned around and walked back to my room in a daze.
Graham had somehow followed me in. Seeing my distracted state, her wrinkled face was full of reproach.
"Miss Elodie, I told you before—the boss is in a dangerous situation. You shouldn't have dragged him around everywhere. If you two hadn't insisted on going out yesterday, how would your whereabouts have been exposed? How would this trouble have found you?"
Every sentence felt like an accusation of my thoughtlessness.
I was already irritated to the extreme. Already feeling suffocated by Vivian's appearance, now being lectured by her, that nameless fire could no longer be suppressed.
I walked straight to the room's small bar and randomly grabbed a bottle from the wine cabinet. It was the same rosé I'd had in New York.
I didn't even get a glass. I twisted off the cap and took a big gulp straight from the bottle.
The cold, sweet liquid slid down my throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fire burning in my heart.
"You!" Graham was shocked by my behavior. She tried to stop me, but I dodged, clutching the bottle.
"Leave me alone!"
I didn't even know who I was angry at—Nelson, Vivian, or Graham who was always lecturing me. I only knew my heart hurt so much I felt like I was dying.
I hugged the bottle and slumped onto the carpet, drinking gulp after gulp.
The alcohol gradually numbed my nerves, and numbed that sour, aching heart.
The world started spinning. Graham's anxious face became blurry before my eyes.
I just wanted to get drunk. Once drunk, I wouldn't have to think about anything.
My consciousness floated and sank in the whirlpool of alcohol. My body felt light, as if it might fall apart at any moment. I seemed to hear Graham's anxious shouting, and seemed to hear the door being pushed open.
A pair of strong arms lifted me from the cold carpet. The movement wasn't exactly gentle, but carried an irresistible strength.
I instinctively nuzzled into his embrace, like a cat seeking shelter.
My body sank into the soft bed, but that scent didn't leave.