Elliot Sheridan set the empty glass down on the table and raised an eyebrow. "Anyone else want to drink with Miss Thorne? I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll take her place."

...

Everyone present was once again stunned by Elliot Sheridan’s words.

It was already a rare enough occurrence for Elliot Sheridan to speak up for Georgia Thorne, but to proactively take a drink for the young woman was another thing entirely.

The president, who was known for being a germaphobe, had actually used someone else’s glass.

At these social functions, one’s image was paramount.

Georgia Thorne was wearing light makeup and a very soft pink lipstick.

It had left a print on the glass, and Elliot Sheridan had drunk from the exact spot her lipstick had marked.

’An indirect kiss?’

This was a clear sign he was interested in the young woman.

Georgia Thorne had truly had a bit too much to drink. Her head was spinning, and she didn’t notice the way everyone was looking at her.

Who would dare offer a toast to Elliot Sheridan now?

One by one, they all obediently sat back down and went to drink with other people.

Georgia Thorne knew he had helped her get out of a tight spot with those people. "Thank you, President Sheridan," she said in a low voice.

’President Sheridan. Another new way to address me.’

Elliot Sheridan found it novel. He’d known Georgia Thorne for so long but had never seen her truly drunk.

For the rest of the night, with Elliot Sheridan backing Georgia Thorne, everyone tactfully refrained from trying to get her to drink.

Georgia Thorne’s head was swimming. She sat in her chair, propping her chin on one hand, her hazy gaze landing on Elliot Sheridan directly across from her.

Under the dim yellow light, the man’s features were deep-set, his profile perfect.

She couldn’t help but recall her old art class, where the teacher had talked about the golden ratio of facial features: deep, captivating eyes, a high-bridged nose, thin, sensual lips...

Elliot Sheridan, it seemed, was precisely that type of man.

When drunk, Georgia Thorne had a habit of smiling foolishly.

She slumped onto the table, no longer looking at Elliot Sheridan. Her eyes stared at the empty glass in front of her, where she could vaguely make out her own face, smiling like a fool.

When the function ended, Elliot Sheridan was the first to leave.

Georgia Thorne’s manager found it strange. ’Logically, Elliot Sheridan should be interested in Georgia Thorne. We intentionally got her this drunk, and he’s just leaving?’

’Could it be we all misunderstood?’

Her strange gaze fell upon Georgia Thorne, who was already fast asleep.

「The next morning.」

Georgia Thorne was woken by a throbbing headache.

She opened her eyes, found herself in her own room, and let out a sigh of relief.

Today was Saturday. No work. She could finally get some proper rest.

She got out of bed, washed up, and changed into clean clothes.

Nancy Hughes had already prepared breakfast. Georgia Thorne drank some hangover-remedy tea and asked, "How did I get back yesterday?"

Her memory was fragmented. She only remembered Elliot Sheridan taking a drink for her before she passed out.

In truth, she was a little afraid that Elliot Sheridan would become entangled with her, afraid she would open her eyes this morning to find herself in his private apartment.

Fortunately, he wasn’t a dishonorable man.

Nancy Hughes said her manager had sent her home last night. She was so dead drunk that Nancy and the manager had to carry her upstairs together.

Georgia Thorne’s manager was a powerhouse of a woman who had earned her position through stellar performance.

Georgia Thorne nodded. ’As long as it wasn’t Elliot Sheridan, it’s fine.’

She spent a comfortable weekend in her small apartment.

When she went to work on Monday, her manager assigned her a new task: land the Lennox Group contract.

Georgia Thorne glanced at the contract. The Lennox Group was huge. If she landed them, she would get a five percent commission.

Five percent... She did a quick calculation. That was about fifty thousand.

It was a very challenging contract.

Before she left, the manager asked, "What’s your relationship with Elliot Sheridan?"

Georgia Thorne wanted to say they didn’t know each other, or that they weren’t close, but the manager was already speaking. "Do you know what people say about Elliot Sheridan?"

"Cold, ruthless. Everyone by his side is someone he can use. You’re fresh out of school; he wouldn’t help a rookie for no reason. I thought he was interested in you, but he didn’t lay a finger on you after you got drunk." The manager’s analysis was very thorough.

Georgia Thorne lowered her eyes. "His niece is a classmate of mine. He only took that drink for me for his niece’s sake."

’Last night, Elliot Sheridan hadn’t given face to anyone, yet he’d made an exception for her. There had to be a reason.’

The manager simply said, "I see," and told her to go and focus on her work.

Georgia Thorne worked diligently all day, researching the relevant materials.

"I really thought Elliot Sheridan was interested in Georgia Thorne! Turns out there was a story behind it."

"What story? Spill the details!" The two voices were full of gossip.

"Elliot Sheridan has a niece, and Georgia Thorne happens to be her classmate. That’s why he took the drink for her last night!"

"Oh, so it was for his niece’s sake. And here I was, really thinking he was into her!"

"What did you expect? Georgia Thorne isn’t even that pretty and has no distinguishing features. Why would Elliot Sheridan ever be interested in her?"

The story that Georgia Thorne knew Elliot Sheridan’s niece—and that they were good friends—spread quickly through the company.

It instantly drowned out the previous rumors about Georgia Thorne.

He wasn’t interested in her; he was just looking out for a junior.

Georgia Thorne knew what was happening. She had only told her manager about this.

The manager must have been the one to leak it. Speaking of which, she really had to thank her.

Being seen as a junior was much better than being seen as his lover. The latter would more easily make her a thorn in everyone’s side.

Once she officially started working on the Lennox Group contract, Georgia Thorne was completely swamped. That, combined with an upset stomach, left her feeling utterly drained by the time she got home.

She filled a hot water bottle, placed it on her lower abdomen, and was drifting off to sleep when a call came from Hayley Sullivan.

"Georgia Thorne, you will come home this Friday."

"Don’t think I can’t do anything about it if you refuse. As long as your last name is Thorne, I am your mother in name."

"And let me tell you, you’d better give up any ideas about Jean, and fast. It is absolutely impossible for the two of you to be together!"

Hayley Sullivan spat out a vicious tirade. Annoyed, Georgia Thorne just replied, "I know."

After hanging up, Georgia Thorne couldn’t get back to sleep.

She finally just sat up and watched some TV.

’The letter I mailed to Breccon... I wonder if he received it.’

’Maybe he hasn’t gotten it yet. Otherwise, why hasn’t he written back after all this time?’

’But he didn’t leave anything behind.’

’His old phone number is already out of service. It will never connect again.’

After a day of rest, a re-energized Georgia Thorne went to work.

As luck would have it, she ran into her manager waiting for the elevator.

She said "thank you" to her.

The manager glanced at her. "Nothing to thank me for. I don’t want my employees’ work efficiency to be affected by outside factors."

She stepped into the elevator in her high heels.

’The manager had always given her a cool and aloof impression. Back then, Georgia had thought she didn’t stand a chance, but somehow, the manager had taken a liking to her.’

"What are you spacing out for? Get in!" The manager held the button and looked at her.

"Thank you, Manager!" Georgia Thorne hurried inside.

"How are things with the Lennox Group?"

"Not yet. I’ve been organizing the materials for the past two days."

"Mm, you need to hurry. Their employees’ personal insurance policies are about to expire, and quite a few companies have their eyes on them. Work hard."

"Okay!"

Back at her desk, Georgia Thorne immediately called someone at the Lennox Group.

Whitlock, the company Georgia Thorne worked for, had only been established for twenty years and was considered a small insurance firm in Portmire.

The person on the other end heard the name "Whitlock" and hesitated, sounding as if they’d never heard of the small company.

Georgia Thorne immediately launched into a lengthy explanation, talking until her mouth was dry. The person in charge simply said, "I understand. I’ll think it over," and ended the call.

She sighed. ’Thinking it over just means no.’

’But thinking about the fifty-thousand commission, she couldn’t bring herself to give up just like that.’

Georgia Thorne decided to pay a personal visit to the Lennox Group.