Josie’s tolerance for alcohol had been improving. She didn’t even need a hangover remedy anymore. When Laura went to pick her up from the convenience store downstairs, she was carrying a bag of yogurt, only to see this woman, who said she needed a place to stay, walking over calmly.
“Didn’t you say you were drinking?” Laura asked.
“I’m not drunk.” Apart from her hair being slightly tousled by the wind, Josie looked incredibly good.
“I thought I could drown my sorrows in alcohol,” Laura said with a disdainful glance at the yogurt, before. leading her upstairs.
Inside the elevator, Josie teased, “There’s no man hiding in your room, is there?”
Laura casually showed her the watch. “At this hour, if there was a man here, I wouldn’t even let you in.”
The two people looked at each other and both smiled.
“I heard you met Zach today. Did he give you a hard time?” Laura opened the door..
“Your information is becoming increasingly accurate.”
-Josie’s casual remark made Laura pause for a moment, then she smiled and said, “Regardless, I am now
the favorite in front of Mark.”
Josie somehow produced a pack of Marlboro, the slender cigarette elegantly held between her long fingers, a pleasing sight to behold.
She tried to imitate Dexter’s way of smoking but ended up choking and coughing for quite a while.
Suddenly, Laura said, “Heather holds ten percent of the shares, and Dexter intends to help her acquire
more.”
Without realizing it, Josie furrowed her brows, unexpectedly recalling the words Heather had mentioned not long ago. Celebration gifts?
She let out a sigh, and by the time she came back to her senses, Laura had already fallen asleep on one side.
The phone was extremely quiet.
Suddenly, a vibration sound rang out, lasting only a second. It was from an unknown number.
She picked it up and glanced at it, then dialed back, but no one answered.
She tried calling again, but the other end had turned off their phone.
Before leaving, Laura left an invitation for Josie the next day, “If you still want to compete for that project, you can go there on my behalf.”
Upon opening it, Josie saw the name “Laura” prominently written as the host of the charity dinner.
She lazily lifted her eyes. “Laura, when you persuaded me to set up the studio, you were more pa*sionate than you are now.”
O
1/2
Laura paused in her actions. Without turning back, she said. “I am being pushed forward by reality. As for the irrational dreams, you can fulfill those for me.”
The banquet was held in a quaint antique hotel. The event kicked off with a charity auction. After exchanging pleasantries with Peter, Josie focused on Arthur.
Right then, Laura called and said, “Since it’s for charity, bid on anything you like, and put it on my tab.”
Josie laughed helplessly. “You’re truly extravagant.”
Dexter wasn’t present that day, but Heather was. She was dressed in light colors, resembling a white magnolia in summer. Every move she made carried an enticing fragrance. In a short span of time, several gentlemen had taken turns occupying the empty seat next to her.
She was not as delicate as before. Her demeanor and image were completely different from the girl next door who was making soup when Josie first saw her.
It was clear that she didn’t want to live an easy life anymore, which was why she had been actively getting out and about.
A charity dinner was scheduled for later, but Josie didn’t plan on staying long. After being in a confined space for an extended period, she felt a certain discomfort in her chest.
Wherever she was, she could always hear whispers and see unfriendly glances, like thorns in her back. Josie was under tremendous pressure, but she was surrounded by familiar faces from Wavery’s upper- cla*s society.
Unexpectedly, someone dared to come forward and cause trouble. The person clinked his gla*s with hers and said, “Ms. Warren, I’m glad to finally meet you.”
Josie smiled politely and tilted her head slightly. “And you are?”
He was a young man.
“My name is Zachariah Shaw.” He handed over a business card.
