Chapter 3 Familiar Eyes

Maurice's POV:

I sensed someone was looking at me from behind, so I suddenly stopped walking.

My assistant immediately asked, "Is there a problem, Mr. Moran?"

I frowned, looked back ahead, and proceeded forward.

I supposed I was just tired and overwhelmed that I was beginning to overanalyze things and felt that woman I just met was familiar.

In the evening, my driver pulled over my Maybach in front of the Imperial Golden Club.

I straightened my cuffs, got out of the car, and strode into the club.

"There can be miracles indeed! You're only ten minutes late, man. That's gotten to be a world record or something," Wyatt Todd smirked, playing with an adorning ring. He was leaning leisurely against the reception desk.

From the shy, red-faced look on the receptionist's face, I assumed that Wyatt had been flirting with her.

"My last meeting didn't take that long," I muttered and walked inside. "If you don't want to go to the private room, you can replace the receptionist."

Wyatt chortled and fell into step beside me. "Wow, you're awfully irritable. I didn't blame you for being late, but why are you wearing a long face?"

Used to Wyatt's brand of humor and conversation, I decided to ignore him and continued to walk inside.

Wyatt looked at me up and down and murmured, "The simulation mask is indeed different. It looks just like a real face."

I marched all the way to one of the private rooms and shut the door. Then, I asked Wyatt, "Have you found the ring?"

"I have sent a few of my men out to look for it," Wyatt answered seriously. "But I have no news for you at this time."

He poured me a glass of wine. "Haven't you found some clues at least?"

Five years ago, I had a one-night stand with a strange woman.

The next day, she vanished into thin air along with my family signet ring.

"I thought it was Gerald who did it," I said, lazily raised my glass, and took a sip. "But I found that his people were also looking for the ring. I don't know what tricks he's playing."

Wyatt put back on his bright, teasing smile and commented, "You really suffered great losses that night, my friend. You didn't only lose your ring. You also lost your virginity."

I leaned back on the sofa and flashed Wyatt a death glare.

He coughed and changed the subject.

Eliana's POV:

After work, Gabrielle and I went to the Imperial Golden Club and entered a private room.

The room was dimly lit, and the table in the middle was full of wine bottles.

A fat man was lounging on the sofa, and he was undressing us with his eyes.

I frowned, instantly feeling uneasy.

Gabrielle smiled coquettishly, approached the fat man, and sat beside him. "You're here early, Mr. Blake."

"I never let women wait. It's basic courtesy."

The so-called Mr. Blake grinned and touched Gabrielle's thigh with his chunky hand.

Gabrielle dodged his hand and waved at me. "Come on, say hello to Mr. Antwan Blake."

Antwan turned to me and beamed. He rose from his seat, extended a hand, and ushered me forward. "Come sit with me, my dear."

I took a step back and fearfully darted my eyes at Gabrielle.

"Why are you dawdling? Mr. Blake is waiting for you," Gabrielle said and put a glass of wine in my hand. Then, she leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Antwan holds the fate of our project in his hands. This is your first task. Win his approval or don't bother coming into work tomorrow."

That was when I completely understood what was going on.

I wanted to leave, but I couldn't lose my job at the Moran Group just yet. I needed to know the truth about my family's past. I clenched my fists and bit down my impulse to run away.

I took a deep breath, put on a smile, and sat beside Antwan. I clinked glasses with him and drank up.

"Wow. I didn't know you could drink, Eliana," Gabrielle cheered, clapped her hands, and filled my glass again.

I drank up one glass after another until I was tipsy.

Soon, I was no longer in control, and I dropped my glass on the floor.

I held my head and leaned against the sofa. I muttered, "No, I can't drink anymore..."

In a daze, I saw Gabrielle leave the room.

Bang! The door slammed shut behind her.

I had a bad feeling.

I tried my best to smile and politely told Antwan that I should go follow Gabrielle, but Antwan held me down.

"Let's have a good time first, sweetheart. Then we can talk about the project."

Without really thinking, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The crisp sound my palm made against his cheek echoed in the room.

I couldn't believe what I'd just done.

My slap caught Antwan off guard, so he lost his balance and slammed right on the table. "Damn it! You bitch! How dare you hit me?"

I jumped off the sofa and rushed out.

"Come back here!" Antwan roared, but I kept going.

The private room next to the one I just left was open, so I staggered in and closed the door, fearing that Antwan was close behind.

That was when the alcohol finally overpowered me. My knees buckled and I started to fall, but someone caught me.

I struggled to raise my head to look at the person who broke my fall. I didn't recognize his face, but his eyes looked very familiar.