After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 48

Jeffrey’s gaze grew darker.

E

Jason sensed the tension in the air and cautiously said, “Mr. Hanson, how about you and Rebecca keep drinking? I’ll step out and take a call.”

“Mm,” Jeffrey responded indifferently.

Jason shot a look at the others, and everyone quietly slipped out. Rebecca, her mind a little foggy, didn’t even notice them

leaving.

As soon as the door to the private room closed behind them, one of the execs whispered, “Is it really okay for us to just leave like this?”

Jason felt more certain about his guess. “It’s fine.”

“What about Rebecca?” Charles glanced at the door. “Should we really leave her alone with Mr. Hanson?”

Rebecca was gorgeous, and the only woman there. All they’d heard about Jeffrey were secondhand stories and rumors. None of them really knew what kind of guy he was, so of course they were a little uneasy.

“Mr. Hanson isn’t the type to do anything shady,” Jason said quickly, withholding his guess to avoid fueling gossip. “You all go ahead. I’ll wait out here.”

No one made any objections; they all took the hint and left one after another. Only Elmer stayed behind, too uneasy to go. He was the one who brought Rebecca here, and honestly, leaving a young woman alone in there was making him nervous.

“Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to show up to work,” Jason told Elmer, sounding casual.

Elmer felt his heart clench. “Mr. Smith, I-”

“This comes straight from Mr. Hanson,” Jason explained, laying it out. “Take a break. Do whatever you want. Have some fun, if you like. Just don’t hang around the office. You’ll still get your paycheck as usual.”

The realization finally hit Elmer. He noticed the secret tension between Rebecca and Jeffrey. Taking the message loud and clear, he left with a smile.

Now, only Jason remained in the grand hallway. He considered peeking into the private room but recalled how touchy Jeffrey could be and decided against it. Instead, he pulled out his phone, determined to find out what was really going on between Jeffrey and Rebecca.

Inside the private room, Rebecca downed her fourth drink and slammed the glass on the table. The buzz from the alcohol meant she wasn’t holding back her temper anymore, a hint of stubbornness clear in her tone. “I’m done.”

Jeffrey lounged back in his chair, giving her a slow, appraising look.

The alcohol had swept away most of the chilly distance and disdain from her face, but her eyes—clear and moist–were

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19 Sept

Chapter 48

with anger, glaring right at him. Noticing his stare, she bristled,

at? I said I’m done,” Rebecca shot back, her temper

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her brows to her lips, which sparkled with traces of wine. His large, warm hand reached over, and with his rough thumb, he teasingly brushed away the wine from her

sensation and

her while she glared back at him, cheeks puffed up in

with nothing but booze holding her together. “You want to make my life hell, hoping I’ll beg to come back to you. Well, here’s

her a laid–back “Mm,” and for some reason, that little response made her

finished this, you’d drop what happened just now,”

emphasis.

as he arched a brow. “Mm.” Even totally buzzed, she was

and poured, but her glass filled too quickly. Frowning, she switched to a larger, unused

brows slightly as he watched her little stunt, eyes darkening just

with clear

here,” Jeffrey said,

him the glass. He set it aside, and then took her wrist

into his arms.

wrapped in his warm, familiar embrace, comforted by his scent. For a moment, she wanted to sink in

was speechless for a

unsteadily, fixing her gaze

booze,” Jeffrey

for the

could grab it, Jeffrey caught her wrist in his large hand. “I wouldn’t hold it against you. That’s enough. You don’t need to

the drink to force him to keep his word. “Who knows if you won’t just

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13:15 Fri, 19 Sept

Chapter 48

down, wrapping her fingers in his own. “I promise. I

huffed, “Yeah,

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her a look that was both amused and a little helpless. “When

you wouldn’t mess with me, but

do you?” Jeffrey teased softly, all patience and indulgence, even though

for five whole years, never letting her get hurt and never once speaking harshly