Chapter 8
1145 Words
At first, she thought Austin was just an ordinary wealthy man, but she never expected his influence to be so immense.
If she had known, she wouldn't have agreed to that so-called equivalent exchange.
Being a mistress...
He had set a trap for her from the beginning. A man with sinister intentions.
Sheryl cursed him in her mind, shifting positions on the sofa in the hall. Lena, the maid, once again replaced her with a cup of tea and politely asked.
"Miss Sheryl, Mr. Austin's return time is often unpredictable."
The implication was clear– waiting any longer would be futile.
Understanding this, Sheryl knew that if she stayed, the staff wouldn't be able to rest.
"Well, then I'll come back tomorrow to wait for him," Sheryl said politely, standing up to leave.
Having waited for several days without seeing Austin, and with the court date approaching, her uncle was getting increasingly stressed about the lawsuit.
All because she hadn't gone to him that Tuesday night, Austin had thrown such a huge problem her way.
Petty-minded man.
When Sheryl returned empty-handed from Austin's mansion again, she suddenly remembered the unfamiliar number Austin had called from.
She quickly found it and dialed, waiting with a hint of desperation.
The call connected, and the other side remained silent.
Gritting her teeth, Sheryl cleared her throat to make her voice sound softer," Mr. Austin, it's me, Sheryl."
This voice... even she found it hypocritical.
There was a moment of silence, and then Austin's cold voice came through, "Don't know you."
"...," Sheryl was speechless.
What a psycho! What scum! How many girls had he assaulted to forget her?
About to say something, Austin's icy voice sounded again, "Before eleven, come to Summer Coast."
...
Why did he always tell people to 'get lost'?
Couldn't he say something nice for once?!
Glancing at her watch, with just twenty minutes left, "Summer Coast" was the city's most luxurious nightclub and entertainment center. He sure knew how to enjoy himself.
Entering the nightclub for the first time, the bustling crowd and intense music drowned everything else.
Sexy dancers writhed on the poles like water snakes, their thighs illuminated by colorful lights, inducing waves of screams from the audience.
The night was wild with people dancing passionately in the club.
The noise was hurting Sheryl's ears as she searched for Austin's figure.
The club was too large, and he hadn't mentioned which floor he was on.
Thinking of finding a quieter place to make a call, a middle-aged man with a"Client Manager" badge approached her, "Are you Miss Sheryl?"
Called by Austin?
Sheryl nodded, "Yes."
"Mr. Austin is waiting for you in the VIP room on the eleventh floor. Please follow me," said the client manager, leading her to the elevator.
Stepping into the elevator, Sheryl noticed the client manager holding a photo, obviously from her student days.
How did he have her picture?
Did that lunatic Austin carry her photo with him all the time?
Sheryl scared herself with her thoughts. Austin had called her by name the first time they met, and he knew her. Yet, why did she have no recollection?
Was her memory that bad?
Austin had a memorable handsome face, coupled with a ruthless and cunning heart.
If she had met him and known him, she wouldn't have forgotten him so thoroughly.
She thought for a long time but couldn't find a reason.
Exiting the elevator, the client manager opened the door to the VIP room.
The spacious room had a high-end club vibe, with around ten men and women. The men varied in age, and the women were dressed minimally.
Austin sat in the middle of the sofa, leaning back, with two beautiful women on either side of him.
"Who's so disrespectful?" The table was filled with various bottles of alcohol. The men, drunk and swaying, noticed someone entering and grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Sheryl felt like an intruder standing there, dressed in a simple sweater and jeans, looking out of place in this extravagant room.
Sheryl hesitated about whether to leave when Austin looked in her direction, a smug smile on his lips. He nonchalantly said, "My woman, come over and have a drink."
Did he think this was college? Why was she dressed so plainly?
But she wasn't stupid; she knew she came to plead with him. Otherwise, her life would be even more difficult.
"Oh, Mr. Austin's friend... Come, come, sit here." A man quickly pulled the woman on Austin's left, making room for Sheryl.
Sheryl took a deep breath, then walked over with a bright smile, introducing herself, "Hello, everyone. I'm Sheryl."
"Hello, Miss Sheryl. Hello, Miss Sheryl," said the bald man, looking towards Austin, "I wonder if Miss Sheryl's role has been arranged in the next film?"
Were they here to discuss a movie?
Then why did he ask her to come?
"My woman is not an actress," Austin responded indifferently, leaning forward.
He drew a circle in the air with his index finger on the bottle on the table and turned to Sheryl, provocatively raising an eyebrow.
Sheryl wasn't clueless; she knew he wanted her to drink. But there were at least ten bottles on the table.
Given her shallow drinking capacity, she estimated she wouldn't make it through half without passing out.
"Scared?" Austin stared at her, his eyes filled with mild intoxication."If you don't drink, then get out."
"Will you drop the lawsuit against the magazine and Nova if I drink? Including the others?" Sheryl whispered at a volume only the two of them could hear.
A clueless woman, unaware of the situation.
Asking for help but acting so self-righteous.
Did she think she was some high and mighty rich miss?
Austin didn't speak, but he didn't outright refuse either.
This jerk... Sheryl cursed internally, picking up a bottle and pouring it into her mouth. The fiery taste spread through her throat, causing a painful sensation.
After downing three bottles, everyone was astonished. They clapped, starting a rhythmic chant, "Miss Sheryl! Miss Sheryl! Wow! Miss Sheryl! Miss Sheryl!"
Sheryl's face turned rosy. She placed the fourth empty bottle on the table, her vision starting to blur.
Austin's gaze, dark and brooding, scrutinized her flushed face.
He watched as she uncomfortably closed her eyes, attempting to pour another bottle. Her delicate body radiated a fearless aura.
Time passed tick by tick.
Sheryl maintained the consistent motion of picking up a bottle, drinking, and tossing it aside. Everyone was dumbfounded.
Austin kept his eyes on her, observing as she heatedly rolled up her sweater sleeves.
Watching her suffer as she closed her eyes, tilted her head, and let the alcohol drip down from her lips to her neck and collarbone, an inexplicable temptation...
A few men on the side caught up in the atmosphere, stared at her unabashedly, revealing lustful expressions.
- Writer
