“Mr. Hanson and Mr. Baker, please take a seat here,” Mr. Hunter, manager of the game department, enthusiastically said. After all, they were his bosses.


    Jeffrey gave a slight nod, nced at Reba, and pulled out his phone to text her: [Do you want to sit next to me?]


    Reba replied without hesitation: [No, thanks.]


    Jeffrey didn’t push any further. He and Gregory sat down, instantly bing the center of attention.


    As expected, the dinner was a never–ending cycle of ttery. The game department’s top brass fawned over Jeffrey and Gregory, while everyone else buttered up the leadership.


    The drinks were already making their rounds before the dishes hit the table.


    “Come on, let’s all raise a ss to Mr. Hanson,” Manager Hunter said, holding up his ss with practiced ease. “Under Mr. Hanson’s brilliant leadership, the Hanson Group has reached new heights.”


    Reba reluctantly raised her ss.


    Reba couldn’t tell if this setup was Jeffrey’s n or just bad luck. The only thing on the table besides liquor was coffee; not a drop of in water in sight. She had zero chance of faking her way out of drinking.


    E leaned in close, quietly stuffing a few napkins into Reba’s hand and said, “Later, try pouring the drink onto these, or just take a sip and spit it out; just don’t let it hit the floor.”


    The entire floor was covered in carpet. If any liquid hit it, the stain would be painfully obvious.


    It was fine for their own team of Primey Technologies crew. But with all these big shots from the Hanson Group’s gaming division and a bunch of tech gurus who were giving them technical guidance, getting caught here would definitely get awkward.


    “Thanks,” Reba whispered.


    Jeffrey caught every sneaky move they made, but he just yed along and kept quiet.


    Even if Jeffrey wasn’t drinking, those game department veterans who were used to business socials would still pull everyone else in for a round; ostensibly to boostpany spirit, but really to show off and grab the spotlight.


    Sure enough, after a simple first round, another executive chimed in, “Honestly, in this whole industry, nobody has the vision and capability of Mr. Hanson. Just for that alone, he deserves another toast. Mr. Hanson, I’ll finish mine; you drink as you like.”


    One by one, the department heads jumped in, eager to show their loyalty. The rest of the crowd could only follow suit. After a few rounds, even with all her little tricks, Reba had to drink a few mouthfuls.


    “Most folks would kill for a shot to work alongside Mr. Hanson,” the exec from the game department said, setting his sights on the Primey Technologies crew. “So don’t waste this chance.”


    “Yeah, we understand,” they replied, all smiling just to be polite.


    The exec shot them a look, hinting, “Shouldn’t you show it, with a toast, maybe?”


    The Primey crew just awkwardly stared at each other, speechless.


    E55 vouchers


    Normally, their get–togethers were no more than department dinners; those who wanted to drink did, and those who didn’t weren’t pressured. Dealing with this kind of formal drinking ritual was a first for them.


    E stood up and said politely, “Mr. Hanson, on behalf of Primey Technologies, I’d like to toast you. We really appreciate your support and guidance. We’ll give it our all working with you.” With that, she knocked back her drink in one gulp.


    Manager Hunter ignored her mention of Primey Technologies, coughing softly to signal others. The quiet room let all catch the cue. Soon, the rest of the Primey crew, feeling the pressure, stood <i>to </i>speak politely and toast. Reba didn’t get spared.


    Everyone kept clinking sses, and the drinking went on for more than an hour before people finally started winding down.


    Jeffrey stood up when he saw that Reba had nearly reached her limit. He turned <i>to </i>the Primey team and said, “That’s it for tonight. Once you’re finished eating, make sure to head back to the hotel and get some rest; we’ve got work tomorrow.”


    “Okay,” they responded in unison.


    Jeffrey and Gregory headed out, with all the Hanson Group execs escorting them to the car.


    Now that Jeffrey had left, the game department execs became the top dogs at the table. Like most leaders, they loved nothing more than lecturing everyone; they kept talking to Reba and the others about their past glories.


    The more they talked themselves up, the more they clinked sses and threw back drinks.


    When Jeffrey was present, they held back a little since they knew Jeffrey disliked such drinking–game nonsense. But with him gone, they dropped their pretense, savoring every moment of being the center of attention and ttery.


    “I always thought the senior execs at the Hanson Group were like Jeffrey; not really into this whole drinking culture,” E muttered in Reba’s ear. “But turns out they’re just like our director.”


    Reba was already fairly drunk. She could hear E well enough, but her mind felt fuzzy and her thoughts couldn’t quite keep up.


    “What’s going on with you?” E asked, noticing something was off. “Are you drunk?”


    “A little,” Reba replied. Her face usually only turned red after she’d been drinking for a while, so as long as she kept herposure, no one could really tell.


    Just as E was about to ask if Reba wanted to hit the restroom, the game department execs started another round of drinking.


    Jeffrey had already guessed what was going on. As soon as he got in the car, he told Gregory, “Give those guys a heads–up; no more of that nonsense in front of Reba and her team. Anyone who doesn’t listen gets demoted.”


    Gregory immediately made a call.


    Eric Hunter was just about to raise his ss for another round when his phone rang.


    Seeing it was Gregory calling, Manager Hunter didn’t dare waste a second. He put down his ss and answered, “Mr. Baker…”


    “It’s just dinner, don’t turn it into some business deal,” Gregory said before Manager Hunter could anything, hisid–back toneing through the line. “Sip the booze, don’t go crazy.”


    “Sure thing,” Eric answered, and forced a smile, shooting a nce at Reba.


    say


    Manager Hunter thought to himself, ‘Gregory had only said Reba was someone special to Jeffrey, never what her deal was. Chances were, she was exactly Mrs. Hanson. But… Why would the boss’s wife pop up at Primey and act like she’s just some casual acquaintance?‘


    “Once they’re done eating, send the Primey team back. They’ve got work early tomorrow,” Gregory said, knowing exactly how these guys roll. If Gregory didn’ty down the rules, they’d turn this into an endless drinking marathon.


    Eric got the hint instantly and said, “Got it.”


    As soon as the call ended, the guys around him grabbed their sses, ready for another round. Manager Hunter shot them a look and whispered, “Knock it off. Are you looking to get demoted or something?”


    The game department execs all stared back, baffled. Just a moment ago, everything was perfectly fine.


    “Gregory just called,” Manager Hunter murmured to the others. “If you don’t want Jeffrey calling you out in front of everyone at the next headquarters meeting, you’d better cool it with the drinking.”


    One simple sentence was enough. After that, they never mentioned drinking again, just ate and boasted. The Primey team finally rxed and enjoyed their meal. With E looking after her, Reba managed to eat a little, even as her head still spun.


    It was half an hourter before the dinner finally wrapped up.


    E hailed a cab and headed straight back to the hotel. She was nning to ask the front desk for some hangover soup, but as soon as she got out of the cab, someone stepped in front of her, blocking her way.


    “Mr. Baker?” E recognized him as the top dog who’d been glued to Jeffrey’s side at dinner. “Is there something you need?” asked E.


    “Let me take Reba,” Gregory said, not bothering with her identity as Mrs. Hanson.


    E blinked, totally baffled.


    E instinctively shielded Reba behind her, ring at Gregory like he was about to try something shady,


    and asked, “What do you want with her?”


    “Mr. Hanson wants me to bring her upstairs,” Gregory exined. “He’s got something important to discuss with her.”


    E nced at Reba, who looked totally out of it, and shot back with bare hesitation, “No way, she’s wasted. There’s no way you can talk to her right now.”


    Gregory stood his ground, while E refused to back down.


    Finally, Gregory retrieved an official document from his pocket, opened it, and held it out for E to see. “Reba is Mrs. Hanson. This is their marriage certificate,” said Gregory.


    Gregory thought to himself, ‘Mr. Hanson had told me that if things could be settled with words, there was no need for this, but with Chloe eyeing both of us as if we were crooks, I had to show this.


    AD