Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 21

The light streamed through the window, casting its brilliant glow upon Sherri’s eyes, too intense to bear. She winced and squinted. Her head felt as though it were encased in a dense cloud of cotton, causing her great discomfort.

Extending her arms in a languid stretch, she arched her back lazily, emitting a hearty yawn, and opened her eyes, only to be struck with the scene in front of her.

“Oh, shit…” she thought. “Where am I now?”

The surroundings and the furnishings of the room were unfamiliar. It was clearly not her own room.

Her mind reeled in confusion.

“Could it be possible that last night I have been taken away by a strange man, and then…”

Thinking of this, Sherri immediately threw back the covers to inspect the lower half of her body. After ensuring there was nothing wrong and finding her clothes unchanged from the day before, she breathed a sight of relief!

Involuntarily, she instinctively patted her chest.

She attempted to make a sound, but her cheeks were so sore that articulating even a single word proved difficult.

Surveying her surroundings, her gaze collided with an array of vibrant balloons, triggering a fuzzy recollection that played out hazily in her mind. She shook her head and slowly recalled a night of drunken madness. And she even kept blowing balloons all night!

“Oh my, this was not true!” Sherri couldn’t believe it. She yearned to disappear from this world!

While soothing her aching, swollen cheeks, she contemplated her next

move.

Sherri was well aware of her proclivity for drunken madness. To dissuade her from getting drunk outside and being obstreperous at home, Edward had purposely captured her intoxicated state on video as a stern warning

(Zapter 2:

Every time she contemplated indulging, she would watch the playback of

that video first.

Upon viewing it, any desire to drink dissipated, replaced only by an overpowering sense of shame that made her want to crawl into a hole.

and never come out.

Anyway, the most important thing was to get out of here first.

Swiftly rising from the bed, she tidied her attire and prepared to make her stealthy escape. Just as she tiptoed toward the front door, a voice of deep and low magnetism from the living room halted her in her tracks. “Is this how you conduct yourself, Miss Landor? Sneaking away without uttering a word of gratitude?”

caught, immediately regained her composure and feigned serenity. Straightening her stiff back, she gracefully turned. around, came back to the living room, and said to Hackett with a smile plastered on her face, “What a

a flicker of mischief concealed beneath his gaze. “Encounter? This

could I get so drunk that I followed this playboy to his residence?” she thought.

“Well, thank you for taking care of me last night, Mr. Blackwell. I must return to work

was certain that her drunken escapades from the previous night had been witnessed

only wanted to make at swift exit

her way toward the door. However, Hackett couldn’t let her go that easily. After all, she had

at this time. And last night, Miss Landor, you were quite drunk…” Hackett exposed her without

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Chapter 21

her drunken antics. She knew exactly what she looked like when she got drunk

last night was my fault… I crossed the line. I was just indulging in a bit of alcohol. Can we just put it behind us? Just tell me what to do

the cost of the 500 balloons I bought for you. Since I’ve bought those balloons especially for you, I have to increase the price a bit.

and a sharp pain flushed her cheeks, reminding her

night, Miss Landor. Sherri was rendered speechless. No wonder her lips trembled with each

been to ask for 500 balloons last night? Could it be that this scoundrel

what Hackett said, but it was true that she would go crazy after drinking.

up 500 balloons. Otherwise, you may have facial paralysis today. But it still surprised me that you actually blew

wanted to play tricks on Sherri to vent his anger, so he had forced Frank to buy the balloons, but unexpectedly, once

also had to tie up 250 balloons. His hands

Chapter 21

stayed up all night with her, tying

eyes and took a bite of her lip before saying, “Alright, how much? Cash

WhatsApp? It’ll be

want to have any further contact with him and planned to blacklist him.

and saved

didn’t tell her the price. Instead, he said with a smile, “Actually, there’s another way to let me keep it a secret. Do

you have something to say, say it. Don’t beat around the bush.” Sherri’s cheeks were so sour

I’ll keep it a secret. I guarantee that what happened last night will only be a secret between you and me, and I will never tell anyone

Hackett said, she refused without hesitation. “No, don’t even think of that. Change the terms, or you can state

look like someone who is short on money to you?”

enough for him, the son of the real estate tycoon in Athana, to play

million dollars were nothing to them. She shouldn’t

“I recorded everything that happened last night, Miss Landor. That was

Hackett had got something on her, and she could only manage to hold back her anger. “Calm down!” she said to

Chapter 21

with guilt while giving Natalie’s. WhatsApp number to Hackett.

she adds you as a friend on WhatsApp or not,

you. What if you deliberately do not let her pass