Chapter 3

Night fell over the Never Sleeps Grand Hotel, its lights blazing.

Inside an exclusive private room in the back, men and women crowded together.

"Blake, you sure Kingsley's actually coming tonight?"

Blake nodded, glancing at Tristan Hall, who sat drinking with a sexy woman draped over him. "Don't worry. There's something interesting happening tonight."

At FitzRoy Group's executive floor, Rowan stayed in the lounge until well past office hours, listening quietly as the voices of various executives reporting to Kingsley gradually faded away.

Even the light seeping through the door crack slowly went dark. The entire building was left with only scattered emergency lights.

Finally, Rowan hugged her shoulders and emerged from the lounge, wearing clothes that barely covered her. She headed straight to her own office.

Thanks to Kingsley, she kept spare clothes in her office year-round.

After changing quickly, remembering the phone call from that afternoon, Rowan bit her lip. She gave herself a smile in the mirror, then turned and walked out.

"Kingsley, you're finally here. I thought you were gonna stand us up again."

In the hotel's private room, Blake finally welcomed the late-arriving Kingsley.

"Kingsley, let me tell you—I've prepared something spectacular for tonight. Wanna see?"

Kingsley brushed the hand off his shoulder with distaste, picked up a drink, and walked straight to the innermost seat on the sofa.

"You guys have your fun. I'm not interested."

Blake had expected as much. He exchanged a look with Tristan and slipped out of the room.

"Call and ask where she is. Why isn't she here yet?"

"Relax, I already called. She wouldn't dare not come."

The two men, perfectly in sync, exchanged a glance and returned to the room.

Less than ten minutes after they sat down, a soft knock came at the door.

Blake's eyes lit up. He nodded at Tristan.

"Come in."

Tristan's gaze flickered subtly toward Kingsley, who sat in the shadows, only his expensive leather shoes visible.

The door opened. Rowan entered in a red evening gown.

Her eyes stayed fixed straight ahead, focused only on Tristan sitting on the sofa.

As for everyone else in the room—she didn't care. Didn't want to care.

After the Lavien family went bankrupt, these people's lives had nothing to do with her anymore.

"Ms. Lavien, punctual as always."

"Mr. Hall, I'm here. What do you want me to do?"

Tristan—the youngest son of the Hall family. A spoiled playboy through and through.

"A hotel's for drinking, obviously. Finish these drinks, and I'll give you another year on the Lavien family's debt to the Hall family."

Rowan stared at the ten glasses of high-proof liquor lined up before her.

She hesitated, squeezing the small purse in her hand. Her allergy medication was still inside. Good.

"Fine. I hope you keep your word."

"Of course. As long as Ms. Lavien can finish these drinks, I'll keep my word. But—if you can't finish, for every glass you leave, you take off one piece of clothing. I'll still give you that extra year. How's that sound?"

This wasn't a bet anymore. It was humiliation.

But—

Rowan looked around at everyone present, her gaze finally landing on the man in the corner. Even though she couldn't see his face clearly, she recognized him instantly.

Kingsley. He was here too.

She laughed bitterly at herself. When someone stopped loving you, they really stopped loving you.

"Rowan, as long as I'm here, no one will ever make you drink again."

She remembered once, when she didn't know she was allergic to alcohol and accidentally drank a glass, ending up hospitalized.

Kingsley had been so heartbroken. He'd made her that promise.

But now—he was right there, yet that promise had turned into bone-deep hatred.

Self-destructive thoughts flooding her mind, Rowan picked up the glass of high-proof liquor and downed it.

The burning sensation spread through her mouth, making her cough.

"Good! Ms. Lavien's got guts. Keep going!"

Rowan's misery only served to entertain the crowd.

"First glass down. Continue!"

Blake, watching Kingsley's expression the entire time, called out the count loudly.

Rowan gritted her teeth, picked up the second glass, and downed it.

After five glasses, Rowan could already feel bumps forming on her skin. Some areas were starting to itch.

She knew she didn't have much time.

At this rate, she'd pass out from the allergic reaction before finishing.

Rowan shook her head, which was already seeing double, forcing herself not to look at the man in the shadows.

She picked up another glass. Continued.

"Go, go, go! Four more glasses, Ms. Lavien. Do you even have four pieces of clothing left?"

Tristan grinned smugly, his sleazy gaze dropping to Rowan's chest, desire burning openly in his eyes.

Supposedly, this Ms. Lavien had never been with another man. He was determined to be her first.

He could have Rowan and make a good impression on Kingsley. Win-win.

Seventh glass. Eighth glass.

In one breath, Rowan downed the remaining drinks, swaying as she looked at Tristan.

"Mr. Hall, I did it. I hope you keep your word."

Tristan's face darkened. He'd planned to watch Rowan make a fool of herself, but somehow she'd actually won.

Victory had been right there. Gone just like that?

Unacceptable.

"Fine. Ms. Lavien can go."

Rowan nodded, turned, and staggered toward the exit.

Right now, she needed her medication.

Rowan stumbled out of the private room and made her way down the corridor to the restroom at the end. She leaned weakly against the wall, hands trembling as she pulled out her allergy pills and swallowed them with water.

"Fuck. Had it all planned out, and she got away. Damn it—well, well. Ms. Lavien, can't bear to leave? Missing me already?"

While waiting for the medication to kick in, a dark shadow fell across Rowan. The heavy smell of alcohol surrounded her.

"Mr. Hall, going back on your word?"

She looked up, meeting Tristan's predatory gaze. Panic flashed in Rowan's eyes.

"Rowan, you're not some rich girl anymore. I don't need a reason to fuck you."

Tristan stared at her face, flushed pink from the alcohol, and her curves barely contained by that red dress. Lust surged through him instantly.

He didn't care about anything else. He'd thought his prize had slipped away, but fate had turned in his favor. Just stepped out for some air in the bathroom, and here she was.

Heaven was good to him.

"Tristan, you—get away from me!"

"Sure, I'll get away. Come on, let's get away together—in bed!"