Flash Marriage Husband is an Alpha-Chapter 32: Drink & Restraint...

"When will he be coming back?" I asked with a feigned concern. "Are you sure Dad wouldn’t be angry?"

"No, he wouldn’t." She smirked. "Besides, I’m here with you."

I scoffed quietly.

Knowing James Norton, I wasn’t surprised by her response because even if he knew she might want to destroy me...he would do nothing but support her.

That had always been the case and sometimes I had wondered if he had ever felt an iota of familial bond for living with them for the twenty plus years.

"Alright. Let’s go." I smirked.

With my approval, the waiter spurned on his heels and led the way, while we both followed behind.

With a slow steady step he led us down a softly lit hallway, the muffled hum of the main lounge faded behind us as we progressed.

After a few turns, he stopped at a polished wooden door and pushed it open with a courteous bow.

"Please, ladies, you make yourselves comfortable. Mr. Oswald will join you shortly."

Phina’s gaze swept across the private lounge. Her eyes sparkled. "It seems Mr. Oswald values you... otherwise he wouldn’t have kept such a beautiful private lounge."

I chuckled softly yet offered no comment. Though the lounge was beautiful, it was just moderate compared to others I had seen earlier.

With low amber lighting, a soft leather plush sofa, a glass centre and side tables, a table sized refrigerator and an air conditioner humming quietly...it could pass for a small living room...

Phina immediately drifted toward the plush sofa and sank in. I followed behind her quietly, choosing the seat beside her with a feigned caution.

The waiter appeared again with a silver tray, bearing two glasses and a bottle of wine. Carefully he placed it down before us.

"Enjoy," he said standing straighter

"Thank you," she muttered as she grabbed the bottle of wine.

The waiter bowed and left shutting the door with a click.

Phina’s lips curled softly.

"Since, I wouldn’t be there to witness your marriage registration tomorrow...I can take this opportunity to share a drink with you." She smirked.

I stared at her for a while before I nodded. Seeing her so confident and sure, I was able to draw one conclusion. She had assumed tonight’s game was still in her hands.

Otherwise, the Phina I know wouldn’t be so gracious to share a drink with me...not for ten life times.

Without sparing me a glance, she uncorked the bottle and filled the two glasses and handed me one.

"Sister..." I started but she cut me off.

"Feel free to have a few glasses...it wouldn’t hurt you."

I chuckled softly. "I’m not a fan of..."

"Exactly the reason why Bruce chose me over you." She smirked down another glass of wine.

My gaze narrowed at her statement. "Did she just mention Bruce doesn’t love me because I don’t drink?

But why had he always objected to my suggestion of going to club all these years.

Well, it no longer matters what he thought or believed...I just hope they would enjoy their forever after.

My hand tightened around the glass, my index finger tracing the rim, pretending to be occupied while my gaze remained glued to the crystal-clear liquid as though it were contraband..

I didn’t bother lifting the glass. Phina, on the other hand, needed no convincing. She downed the first glass in a few gulps.

Then half of the second.

By the third, her laughter had grown looser, louder as she chatted nonstop.

Her eyes glistened unnaturally, and she leaned back into the sofa with an unfocused smile.

"Phina," I murmured, with a sense of unease creeping into my voice, "You should slow down..."

But she waved me off with a dramatic flick of her wrist. "I’m fine, Stella... I just need a moment... the room is so—so soft."

Her words slurred into each other, and she blinked, struggling to keep her eyes open.

My lips curled coldly. This was exactly what I wanted. I dropped my glass on the table and stood up. "Sister, I... I’ll go to the restroom. I’ll be back soon."

"Stella...you aren’t going anyway. We haven’t finished the drink....I ...I...haven’t ...toasted...to....to ...your ..."

"You will definitely toast me when I get back." I answered.

With hurried steps, I left the lounge. The door...shutting behind me with a soft click.

**************

Oswald POV

I didn’t expect Stella to make good her promise of securing Myth Technologies contract.

Though her identity had never been simple but then I had only thought she was bluffing since the identity of the Myth Technologies boss had always been mysterious.

But that changed when she sent a text requesting for the revision according to the contract specification.

By evening, I got her confirmation text but then she had another rule...she would only hand it over when she gets a video of Phina and the ten percent shares she had bargained to have her destroyed.

With my desire tied to the contract that only her could offer...I choosed to do her bidding. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

I called Phina over and every details of the shares but then I discovered the shares were part of her personal shares. I sighed with relief.

She prepared and signed, finalizing the shares transfer.

Flipping through the share transfer documents, I couldn’t help the dread creeping my heart.

The Norton’s daughter are sure weird. One was ready to lose her share just to paint her sister black while her sister was ready to buy it over.

I took a deep breath and filed the document. I called Stella hoping to arrange the meeting. but surprisingly she already had everything handled by herself —the lounge, the suit, the camera, the waiter and even several bottles of the drink to replace the one to be served.

she was meticulous to a fault. I could already imagine a spotless plot. With that I had to follow every of her step.

For the first time, I had no choice but to follow the dictates of a woman.

Once I got her text...I knew the ball was now left in my court. Lounging in the opposite room, I heard the sound of the door clicking shut.

With a deep breath I knew this was a game I shouldn’t lose.

I pushed the door of the lounge open and stepped inside clad in crisp suit, controlled expression but the next moment it crumbled into shock.

"Phina?" I called softly, her head was hung low...a clear indication she was drunk.

My mind raced even as I stared at her with disbelief because, gone was the elegant and proud first daughter of Norton.

"Phina," I repeated.

She shot upright, recognizing neither boundaries nor logic. With a sudden burst of drunken determination, she launched herself toward me and instinctively I stepped back.

"Oswald!" she cried, flinging her arms around his neck.

"Phina...wait..." I tried to steady her, but she clung tighter, her perfume hitting me in dizzying waves.

Before I could peel her off, she pressed her lips against mine

My hands shot up instinctively to push her away. "Phina, stop. You need to listen—this isn’t..."

But she wouldn’t. She only kissed me harder, desperate, uncoordinated, and oblivious.

Her cheeks flushed and rosy in the soft glow of the room. My pulse quickened. But then I had to get a clear information otherwise I might lose my chance of partnership.

I braced myself, struggling to keep her upright and at bay, my jaw tensed in frustration as her lips crashed into mine again and again.

"Phina, are you sure you want to do this?" I asked though I knew it was useless but for the sake of documentation...I had to.

"It’s hot. Hot. Please..." she slurred clinging tightly that I felt my restraint peeling away by the seconds.

"This is your agreement" I murmured for her confirmation.

As expected she nodded.

With my restraint snapped, I lifted her up and exited the room...I didn’t bother avoiding the camera...because there was no need to.