How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 671

When you're trying to network, a drink or two is pretty much unavoidable.

Anticipating this, Esmeralda had the waiter prepare some mocktails for Elodie to pass off as the real thing.

Esmeralda herself, though, made the rounds with a glass in hand.

It wasn't long before the alcohol caught up with her, leaving her a little

lightheaded. "We traded a few contacts," she said, her words a little slurred but satisfied. "I'd say we made some headway tonight. Productive, really."

Elodie handed her a glass of water and patted her on the back. "It's fine. Just relax, okay? Take it easy."

Esmeralda seemed mostly fine, just rubbed her temples and muttered, "I'm going to the bathroom-be right back."

Elodie watched her go, a flicker of concern crossing her face.

She turned away, only to spot Ivan approaching from across the room.

He was still in the middle of a toast with someone, but his eyes landed on Elodie.

As Ivan started to make his way over, Elodie pretended not to notice and slipped off in the opposite direction, effectively blocking his approach.

jaw tightening. He gripped his glass so

someone asked, raising their own glass in a

Ivan

lit up with

gave an easy, careless smile,

was the new frontier,

contacts, Elodie realized Esmeralda still

the waiter who'd helped Esmeralda earlier. "Excuse me, did you see Ms. Mercer? Which restroom did she go

elmét

lounge; rest. She was feeling dizzy, so

gesture. The event had booked the entire third floor, and there was a lounge

She frowned. "Which room?"

unwell, why hadn't she called? Surely

waiter replied. His radio crackled with a new task and, with a quick bow, he hurried off before Elodie

left with a nagging sense of unease. As she made her way toward the lounge, she pulled out her phone

kept her phone on silent, so it wasn't unusual to have trouble

Elodie tried a video call instead as she walked

knocked on the

response. She tried the handle—it turned easily, and the door swung