Chapter 94 Aren't You Sweltering in All Those Clothes? Let Me Cool You Down
On that particular afternoon, Ashley was brimming with resolve. She was gearing up to give Christian a taste of his own medicine, determined to turn the tables on him.She was weary of being the scapegoat, the one always embroiled in trouble, inadvertently pulling her friends into the chaos. It was far from ideal.However, Christian had a different agenda. As he hung up the phone, a warm smile spread across his face, a clear indication of his readiness for the impending showdown, much like a rooster primed for a cockfight.His audacity was astounding, welcoming a face-off at the bar as if he was oblivious to her steady ascent through the ranks over the years.Before their meeting, Christian had ensured the bar was devoid of its usual patrons. He had instructed the owner, "Ensure the place is vacant tonight; I have important matters to attend to. Any stragglers should be shown the door."Having issued his command, he vented his frustrations on the executives in his office. "Unable to secure a decent IP deal? Perhaps farming is more your speed. Get out of my sight!"At seven o'clock, Ashley and Amelia made their entrance at the bar.Amelia was the epitome of punk chic, radiating an effortless coolness. Her long legs and slender waist were accentuated by her choice of attire, and with sunglasses perched on her nose, she looked every bit the supermodel.Ashley, on the other hand, was still in her work clothes, a simple yet professional ensemble that exuded grace and intelligence.Together, their presence was undeniably formidable.Amelia was carrying a suitcase, within which lay $200,000 in cash, a significant portion of her bank savings."Ashley, are you certain about this? What if things spiral out of control?" Amelia asked, concern etched on her face."I've witnessed this scenario before, and I understand the rules of the game. Damian is a master at this, and I've picked up a few tricks from him. I should be able to handle it," Ashley assured her."Have you ever put it into practice?"After a moment's pause, Ashley laughed. "When would I ever have had the chance to try it out?"Amelia cast a glance at the sky, wondering if it was too late to back out.Upon entering the bar, it was evident that the place had been reserved for the evening. The man who had splurged on the booking was seated at the head of the table, a cigarette nonchalantly pinched between his fingers. The table was laden with at least a hundred bottles of various liquors, neatly arranged.Their eyes locked—an instantaneous connection, akin to a spark igniting dry tinder.A smirk played on Christian's lips, his intentions far from friendly. "Ashley, always the punctual one, I see."With a confident stride, Ashley moved to the seat directly opposite him. "When you have a meeting with Mr. Brin, punctuality is crucial."Despite being alone, Christian exuded the aura of a man backed by an army. Leaning forward, his eyes gleaming with cunning, he announced, "Today's the real deal, Ashley. If you want something from me, sweet words won't suffice."Seated next to Ashley, Amelia glanced at the bottles of liquor and scoffed, "Mr. Carter, what's this? A wholesale operation?"He cast a quick glance at her, her striking features momentarily capturing his attention. "Dressed to impress, sweetheart?""I'm not in the habit of baiting, especially not for sharks," Amelia retorted coolly.Christian chuckled, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across his face. "Sharks are the ones that bite, my dear. Makes life exciting."Was he attempting to flirt in such a crude manner?Amelia gave him a once-over and responded with a feigned smile. "Perhaps when you've matured a bit.""Big or not, only a trial will reveal," Christian retorted.Amelia's face tightened, and she inwardly cursed Christian's incorrigibility. "What's your game plan, Mr. Brin?"Reclining on the couch, Christian gestured expansively. "The night is still young. Let's drink."Just the two of them?Amelia was confident in her ability to hold her liquor—she just wasn't sure about Christian.As for Ashley, her tolerance for alcohol was hardly noteworthy.With a sharp clap of his hands, Christian signaled for the door to be opened. In walked a line of eight women, all impeccably dressed.Among them was Gregory.
A hint of a smirk played on Amelia's lips. Gregory had been all talk at the office, spouting off about reaching for the stars, yet here, in Christian's presence, she was reduced to a mere number.Gregory, blissfully unaware of the evening's agenda, had primped and preened, changing her outfit after receiving the call. She had assumed Christian would be escorting her to another networking event, but upon spotting Amelia and Ashley, her face flushed with embarrassment. She tried to fade into the background.Christian, with a casual wave of his hand, declared, "I'm a grown man; it would be unfair to drink with you ladies alone, right? After all, yo u're all women, so that's fair!"He threw a suggestive wink at Amelia, insinuating, "You want the role, don't you? See this? They want it, too. Whoever's tough enough to make it 'til the end will get it."His implication was crystal clear: the last one standing tonight would win the role. It was a blatant display of humiliation, treating people like mere playthings for his amusement. Gregory fidgeted with his fingers, unable to meet Amelia's gaze. She had just declared earlier that day that the role was hers.Amelia flashed a knowing smirk. "Keep blowing hot air, sweetheart."Ashley, maintaining a straight-backed posture, crossed her long legs. The lighting cast an eerie glow on her face as she retorted, "Drinking contests are so low-class, something hicks can muster. It's beneath us and certainly not worthy of our esteemed Mr. Brin. If we're going to play, it should be something sophisticated, something challenging."Christian propped his forehead with one hand, his gaze nonchalant and defiant. "What do you have in mind, Ashley?"Amelia, seizing the moment, grabbed a suitcase, placed it across the table, and snapped it open, revealing a cache of eye-catching pink bills.Christian chuckled, sharing his amusement with a few misses. "You think I haven't seen money before? Trying to disgust us with something so banal?"The girls tittered in response.Gregory, considering himself superior, finally spoke up. "Amelia, is this your first rodeo? You think you can bribe Mr. Brin with such a trifle?"Ashley caught a glimpse of Gregory, her mind replaying the fierce battle she and Christian had on the mountaintop that night. Her disgust doubled. "The amount isn't grand, but whether Mr. Brin can take it home is another story."Christian, intrigued, asked, "You want to bet against me?"Ashley patted the stack of bills. "Exactly. These are my chips, twenty grand a pop. If you win, you can have your way with me. But if you lose, the role goes to Amelia."Christian twirled a finger through his hair, cautious due to past lessons learned. "What's the game?"Ashley tossed a deck of cards onto the table. "Simple. Three cards each, the highest hand wins."Despite the odds, Ashley's posture and tone had completely bowled over Amelia.Dang! Her girl was tough as nails!Christian unpacked the deck, rifling through to ensure no foul play. "Quite the variety you've got," he remarked to Ashley."With no special skills up my sleeve, I wouldn't dare challenge Mr. Brin—but let's see if he's got the guts," Ashley replied.The provocation method always succeeded with Christian.The role distribution was a trivial matter to Christian; his real aim was to trip Ashley up.But his pride? That was something he couldn't afford to lose.For the first round, Christian directed one of the girls, "Draw, and let's see if you can keep up with our eminent lawyer, Damian."The woman, nervously contemplating her future stakes, quivered as she faced Christian. "Mr. Brin...""What's with the shaking? Just pick a card," he dismissed the cowardice before him.She revealed her hand: ten and two sixes—not strong.Ashley showed her cards: a jack and two eights—modest, but enough to win.At that moment, the girl looked like she might burst into tears.Amelia's blood pressure soared as she eagerly clasped Ashley's hand. "Hold the fort!"Ashley chuckled. "Mr. Brin, let's keep it serious, don't let me down now."Christian said, "Ladies first, right? Where's my chivalry?"He chuckled to himself.In the second round, Christian let another girl draw the cards but still lost to Ashley.By the fifth round, it was finally Gregory's turn.Gregory's palms were slick with sweat, his face glistening with nerves. "Mr. Brin... I've never played this before."Christian, with a stern face, nodded towards Amelia. "You, come here."Ashley cheered her on. "It's okay, just pick any card. Winning or losing doesn't matter."Even if she lost once or twice, she could still make a comeback.Christian added with a neutral tone, "I've heard Amelia has a reputation for stepping on newcomers at the office. Joe, as a senior star, that's not very kind! If you lose later, you'll owe three drinks as an apology."Before Amelia could respond, Christian added, "Aren't you hot wearing all that? After we're done, peel off a couple of layers and cool down."
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