Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 121

Christine whispered with a hint of worry, "Are you sure about this? Rupert's wine collection is no joke in terms of price, right?"

Bridget laughed off the concern casually. "Oh, Rupert takes me here all the time and always insists I help myself to anything. I don't really pay attention to the prices, but I remember once I knocked over a bottle and it was, what, around fifteen thousand? Rupert didn't fuss over the cost; he was more worried about me getting cut by the broken glass." "Wow, just casually dropping in a humble brag there. Can we all just take a moment to thank our generous hostess?" a colleague joked.

"Thanks, Bridget," everyone chimed in, half-jokingly.

"Stop it, you guys. I'm going to stop talking now," Bridget said, her face turning a bashful shade of pink, the picture of a shy young woman asserting her territory. Yet, her sideways glances were firmly fixed on Sylvia.

Sylvia, catching the glances, offered a forced smile along with her colleagues. As if she cared about Rupert's attention or about being the future boss lady.

Then, Christine sidled up to Sylvia with a grin. "Gotta admit, I'm a bit jealous of Ms. Simpson. But you, Sylvia, you probably don't care, right? Your boyfriend must treat you just as well."

"I don't have a boyfriend," Sylvia clarified.

"But your neck..."

"Dog bite."

Sylvia muttered the explanation under her breath and quickly made her way to find a seat.

When the server arrived with the wine, he made a point of introducing its variety, origin, and, of course, its hefty price tag in front of everyone.

"A 2016 bottle of Romanée-Conti, priced at thirty thousand."

gasped, their hands gripping their glasses a little more

waved her hand dismissively. "Please, don't be shy.

with a lower tolerance for alcohol were showing signs

a bit tipsy herself, said, "If he were here right now, we wouldn't be able to enjoy ourselves and drink freely like this. So, I told him to

Paradise Pavilion truly lived

If not for Bridget, Sylvia wouldn't have had

Sylvia's enthusiasm for the food, Bridget

with sweetness, "you can come

how saccharine her tone was, yet envy still shone in their eyes despite the

"I had a bit to drink,

wide with a feigned panic, glanced around the table before she covered her mouth, deciding

implications were clear to everyone, especially given Bridget's flushed appearance. Some of the singles at the table felt awkward listening

Sylvia, however, was more

dish

her meal that she didn't even notice Bridget

okay? I'm

Sylvia almost gagged.

could recover from her surprise, Rupert pushed open the door to

was as if he had

underneath, and dark gray trousers, his simple yet sophisticated attire did nothing to hide his

leaned into his embrace, she cooed, "Rupert, I'm feeling a