Chapter 42 Show Some Respect
Seeing this, Queenie took the drink, "Morgan, Pearl really can't handle alcohol. I'll drink in her place."
Morgan was not pleased, "That's not good enough."
Queenie was immediately embarrassed. She lacked social experience and didn't know how to handle the situation gracefully. She was nervous, afraid to make a mistake, and thereby timid.
"Pearl, Morgan cannot have your subordinates drinking for you."
Being relatively young and less assertive, both women made Morgan more audacious in his approach, his words less courteous, "You're representing President Oscar. He would drink with us, so how can you not? Since you're here, you have to blend in with us. That's the spirit."
"Here, let me fill your glass. Let's have a good time tonight."
Others joined in, egging her on, "Pearl, don't ignore Morgan's request. If he tells you to drink, just drink. Stop making excuses!"
"Don't dampen the mood. If President Oscar finds out you've mishandled the situation, you'll be in trouble when you report back to him!"
Pearl disliked such occasions.
Even though Oscar could drink, it didn't mean he would be forced to do so.
They treated Oscar with respect and wouldn't coerce him into doing something he despised.
Frankly, they saw her as a woman and wanted to take advantage of her.
Pearl endured much injustice at work, but she refused to tolerate this kind of humiliation.
Morgan extended a glass of red wine to her lips, "Pearl, come on and drink!"
Queenie felt they were disrespecting Pearl, and her eyes reddened, "Pearl."
Pearl turned her head away to avoid them, not giving them the satisfaction, "I said I don't drink!"
Morgan's face twisted angrily, and he slammed the wine glass onto the table.
He was so forceful that the glass shattered with a loud snap, spilling the rich red wine across the table and onto the floor.
Queenie was frightened by the outburst.
"Pearl, what high and mighty act is this in front of us!" Morgan's eyes flared red with irritation under the influence of alcohol, "Whatever President Oscar can offer you, we can too. How much money do you want? Is this enough?"
He threw a stack of money on the table. "This should be enough for your drink, right?"
Then Morgan laughed menacingly, "Here's another stack if you kneel and lick my boots!"
He pulled out more cash and scattered it in front of Pearl.
The others laughed louder, making crass remarks, "Pearl, you're just President Oscar's secretary. We've been respectful because of him, but now you're getting ahead of yourself! No matter how capable you are, you're just something pretty for President Oscar's amusement. Do you think you're some noble lady?"
Pearl was being insulted.
They had no respect for her.
In their eyes, a woman's worth didn't come from her capabilities but from her ability to seduce men.
"How about it, Pearl? No need to pretend, right? You came here to join us for drinks, didn't you? Is this money enough?" Morgan said with a sneer.
Pearl took a deep breath, trying to be rational. Facing so many people, the two of them stood no chance. She needed to avoid a direct confrontation.
She stood up and faced the group of men who looked down on women with a cool tone, "Since Morgan is not interested in a pleasant dinner, then there's no need for me to stay. I'm taking my person and leaving. Enjoy your evening!"
She attempted to leave.
But Morgan wasn't willing to let her go, grabbing her arm, "Leaving? Where do you think you're going without having a drink with us?"
His touch repulsed Pearl, and she could not stand it. She shook him off, "Morgan, please show some respect!"
"Can't you show any respect? You're just Oscar's little fling. Who knows how many times you've been with him. We're giving you a chance to have a drink with us—that's us being generous. Don't bite the hand that feeds you!" Morgan spoke with a predatory glint in his eye, having run out of patience with her repeated rejections, and he lunged at Pearl, "Everything Oscar gave you, I can give you too. I'll set you up with a mansion. You'll never have to worry about a thing—be my mistress, and you'll have it better than you ever did with Oscar..."
"Get lost!" Pearl couldn't hold back and forcefully slapped his face, "Don't touch me!"
Morgan was struck, his eyes reddened with fury as he glared at Pearl, "You little tramp, daring to hit me, let's see if I don't finish you!"
Queenie was scared out of her wits.
Pearl feared for Queenie's safety, too.
Luckily, sitting near the entrance, she was the first to push Queenie away, "It's dangerous here, go now!"
Queenie was terrified, "Pearl, what about you?"
Pearl herself was shaking with fear, but she insisted, knowing someone needed to get out and seek help, "Once you're out, call for backup. Listen to me, don't hesitate!"
Queenie, timid by nature, still took Pearl's advice.
"Run, you think you can run, you wretch!" Morgan chased after them, grabbing Pearl's hair.
Pearl's styled hair came undone as he yanked hard.
Her scalp numbed with pain, and then, she was slapped across the face.
The slap left her face burning, her orientation blurred.
When the dizziness subsided and her vision cleared, she found herself pinned down on a table by Morgan, his belly pressed against her waist, the stench of his boozy breath assaulting her nose.
Disgusted to the point of nausea and overtaken by fear, she tried to keep calm and struggled, "Get off me. Don't you dare touch me. Oscar won't let you get away with this!"
Morgan's laughter grew louder, looking at Pearl as nothing more than a plaything, with only contempt and possessiveness in his eyes, "Oscar and I are business partners. Why would he ruin our deals over a woman like you? Don't kid yourself. Even if you scream, no one's coming to save you today!"
Hot tears filled Pearl's eyes, washing down her cheeks as her heart turned cold.
Morgan was partially right. Oscar was a businessman who always weighed the pros and cons; he might not come to her defense.
Feeling utterly hopeless and not wanting to face the humiliation any longer, Pearl slumped, her will to fight draining away.
She wished for death.
At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to die and escape the disgrace.
Pearl's arms fell limp, her eyes closed tightly.
Just then, as despair engulfed her, the weight pressing her down suddenly lifted.
Hearing a piercing scream, she opened her eyes, but everything was blurred through tears.
It wasn't until a warm piece of clothing was draped over her and a familiar, crisp scent lingered at the tip of her nose that her unease dissolved...
Her emotions surged, and tears fell uncontrollably. She felt so fragile at that moment that a mere touch could shatter her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and, almost out of control, she cried out, "Oscar!"
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