<b>Chapter </b><b>48 </b>


    Jeffrey’s gaze grew darker.


    E


    Jason sensed the tension in the air and cautiously said, “Mr. Hanson, how about you and Reba keep drinking? I’ll step out and take a call.”


    “Mm,” Jeffrey responded indifferently.


    Jason shot a look at the others, and everyone quietly slipped out. Reba, her mind a little foggy, didn’t even notice them


    leaving.


    As soon as the door to the private room closed behind them, one of the execs whispered, “Is it really okay for us to just leave like this?”


    Jason felt more certain about his guess. “It’s fine.”


    “What about Reba?” Charles nced at the door. “Should we really leave her alone with Mr. Hanson?”


    Reba was gorgeous, and the only woman there. All they’d heard about Jeffrey were secondhand stories and rumors. None of them really knew what kind of guy he was, so of course they were a little uneasy.


    “Mr. Hanson isn’t the type to do anything shady,” Jason said quickly, withholding his guess to avoid fueling gossip. “You all go ahead. I’ll wait out here.”


    No one made any objections; they all took the hint and left one after another. Only Elmer stayed behind, too uneasy to go. He was the one who brought Reba here, and honestly, leaving a young woman alone in there was making him nervous.


    “Starting tomorrow, <i>you </i>don’t need to show up to work,” Jason told Elmer, sounding casual.


    Elmer felt his heart clench. “Mr. Smith, I-”


    “Thises straight from Mr. Hanson,” Jason exined,ying it out. “Take a break. Do whatever you want. Have some fun, if you like. Just don’t hang around the office. You’ll still get your paycheck as usual.”


    The realization finally hit Elmer. He noticed the secret tension between Reba and Jeffrey. Taking the message loud and clear, he left with a smile.


    Now, only Jason remained in the grand hallway. He considered peeking into the private room but recalled how touchy Jeffrey could be and decided against it. Instead, he pulled out his phone, determined to find out what was really going on between Jeffrey and Reba.


    Inside the private room, Reba downed her fourth drink and mmed the ss on the table. The buzz from the alcohol meant she wasn’t holding back her temper anymore, a hint of stubbornness clear in her tone. “I’m done.”


    Jeffrey lounged back in his chair, giving her a slow, appraising look.


    The alcohol had swept away most of the chilly distance and disdain from her face, but her eyes—clear and moist–were


    13:15 Fri, 19 Sept 0


    zing with anger, ring right at him. Noticing his stare, she bristled, her attitude turning, fierce.


    “What are you staring at? I said I’m done,” Reba shot back, her temper ring.


    <b>37</b>%


    +20)


    Jeffrey’s gaze drifted down from her brows to her lips, which sparkled with traces of wine. Hisrge, warm hand reached over, and with his rough thumb, he teasingly brushed away the wine from her lips.


    Reba flinched at the strange tingling sensation and knocked his hand away without thinking.


    Unfazed, Jeffrey simply looked at her while she red back at him, cheeks puffed up in anger.


    “I know exactly what you’re up to,” Reba snapped, her thoughts all in knots with nothing but booze holding her together. “You want to make my life hell, hoping I’ll beg toe back <i>to </i><i>you</i>. Well, here’s the deal. I’m not backing down.”


    Jeffrey just gave her aid–back “Mm,” and for some reason, that little response made her feel oddly triumphant.


    “You promised that if I finished this, you’d drop what happened just now,” Reba said, her hand gripping the bottle for


    emphasis.


    Jeffrey eyed her, amusement flickering in his gaze as he arched a brow. “Mm.” Even totally buzzed, she was still stubborn enough to remember that.


    “I’m finishing it now, so you’d better keep your word,” Reba said. She grabbed the bottle and poured, but her ss filled too quickly. Frowning, she switched to arger, unused wine ss nearby.


    Jeffrey furrowed his brows slightly as he watched her little stunt, eyes darkening just a bit.


    Reba raised the wine ss, now brimming with clear liquor, her tone defiant. “Wanna check if it’s water?”


    “Come here,” Jeffrey said, his <i>voice </i>deep.


    Obediently, Reba walked over and handed him the ss. He set it aside, and then took her wrist and gently drew her


    into his arms.


    Before she knew it, she was wrapped in his warm, familiar embrace,forted by his scent. For a moment, she wanted to sink in like old times, but halfway through, she pulled away.


    Jeffrey was speechless for a moment.


    Reba wobbled unsteadily, fixing her gaze on him. “You still haven’t checked.”


    “Already checked. It’s booze,” Jeffrey humored her.


    Reba reached for the ss again.


    But before she could grab it, Jeffrey caught her wrist in hisrge hand. “I wouldn’t hold it against you. That’s enough. You don’t need to drink anymore.”


    “Like I’d trust your promise,” Reba retorted, her words slurring but her suspicion obvious. Determined, she still wanted to finish the drink <i>to </i>force him to keep his word. “Who knows if you won’t just find some other excuse to mess with meter?<b>” </b>


    <i>??? </i>


    13:15 Fri<b>, </b>19 Sept


    Jeffrey let his hand slide down, wrapping her fingers in his own. “I promise. I won’t.”


    Reba huffed, “Yeah, right. Liar.”


    0 N ??? 37%–


    +20)


    Jeffrey raised an eyebrow, giving her a look that was both amused and a little helpless. “When have I ever lied to you?”


    Reba shot back, “You said over at Harmony Estate you wouldn’t mess with me, but look at you tonight, still making things hard for me.”


    “You really have no idea what ‘making things hard‘ actually means, do you?” Jeffrey teased softly, all patience and indulgence, even though he knew she was tipsy and wouldn’t listen to a word of reason.


    He’d been taking care of her for five whole years, never letting her get hurt and never once speaking harshly to her. If she ever said she was in pain, he’d drop everything just tofort her, no matter what.


    Maybe he’d spoiled her too much. She didn’t really understand how the world worked. If it had been anyone else tonight, she’d be in serious trouble. If Jeffrey wanted to make things hard, she wouldn’t be arguing; she’d be worse off.


    “No, I’m not mistaken,” Reba insisted stubbornly. “You totally did that on purpose.”


    Jeffrey let out a helpless sigh, basically surrendering. “Alright, what do you want me to do?”


    “I’ll finish this drink, then you swear you won’t mess with me anymore,” Reba said.


    Even drunk, she refused to let him ruin her life. “One drink, and we’re even. I won’t call you out for lying, and you promise


    not to give me a hard time at Primey Technologies.”


    Jeffrey’s eyes stayed <i>fixed </i>on hers.


    Reba pressed, “Well? Are you gonna give me a real answer or not?”


    Jeffrey hesitated, wanting to say something, but his gaze ended up fixed on that full ss of liquor. If she actually tried to drink all that, there was no way she’d handle it.


    “Alright.” He relented.


    “You said it yourself,” Reba said stubbornly, reaching for the ss. “Don’t you dare go back on your word.”


    Jeffrey’s bottomless gaze lingered on her cute, stubborn face. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and then he finally answered,


    “Mm.”


    Relief swept over Reba; just knowing she’d be able to get through work peacefully from now on made her feel like everything she’d just endured was worth it.


    Just as Reba was about to bring the ss to her lips, Jeffrey called out, “Wait.”


    Reba turned to look at him, puzzled.


    Jeffrey got to his feet, took the ss from her, and said, “I’ll check it again. Don’t move.”


    Reba thought he was such a weirdo, but the booze had her so mellowed out that she just stayed put, not daring to


    13:16 Fri, 19 Sept


    move.


    A 3/<b>%</b>2


    +20


    Jeffrey slipped behind her and, seeing her stand still, quietly emptied the liquor ss. He then poured the same amount of water into a fresh wine ss.