Chapter 2 A Bottle For Ten Million

Lena subtly leaned back to avoid the unpleasant odor coming from Josh's mouth. "I was under the impression this was a standard business social event. That's the only reason I came."

"A standard social event, huh?" Josh retorted with a sneer.

He released her, swiftly turning to grab a bottle of vodka from the table. "In my book, a social event involves drinking. Let's make a deal. You finish this bottle, and I'll add ten million to my investment."

Drinking heavily was not Lena's forte.

Yet, escaping this situation unharmed seemed unlikely without making some concessions.

Thankfully, she was resilient enough to withstand more than a mere sip of vodka. She wouldn't get drunk immediately after finishing the bottle.

Reaching for the bottle, Lena asked, "If I drink this, can I leave?"

"You're welcome to stay and drink more," Josh proposed, his eyes revealing a sinister intent.

Lena doubted his honesty, but she still said, "I trust you'll keep your word."

She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her, weighing her next move. Lena was counting on a slim chance.

Her hope now rested on that man.

She let her gaze drift to a dimly lit corner of the room, where a man's silhouette lingered almost unseen in the shadows. He appeared uninterested in intervening.

"Are you going to drink, or are you waiting for Roderick to save you?" Josh asked, his impatience growing.

"Roderick? Roderick Barton! All Bartons are bastards!" Lena thought to herself.

With no sign of assistance from the shadowy figure, Lena shifted her focus away and brought the bottle to her lips.

The sharp aroma of alcohol filled Lena's senses, and the strong taste of the vodka was just about to touch her lips when a calm, commanding voice interrupted the tension. "A bottle for ten million? Have you always been this generous, Mr. Wallace?"

The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it exuded a natural authority.

There were those who seemed destined to stand out, their presence effortlessly commanding attention.

Josh, who was initially annoyed at this interruption, changed his demeanor as he recognized the speaker. He managed a strained smile. "Ah, Mr. Barton. Just a bit of fun, nothing serious. In your esteemed company, such an amount is hardly worth mentioning."

With a flick, Collin Barton ignited his lighter, bringing its blue flame to a cigarette that had suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth. Moments later, the flame disappeared, leaving behind a trail of white smoke curling around a brightly burning ember.

In an indifferent voice, Collin remarked, "You seem quite daring tonight."

Josh, trying to gauge the meaning behind Collin's nonchalant tone, stepped closer with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm simply pursuing a woman I've been interested in for some time. If my actions displease you, I'll leave with her right now."

As the cigarette slowly burned, Collin's attention wasn't really on Josh.

His eyes were fixed beyond Josh. It was on Lena. "Would you like to go with him?"

The scent of the vodka still hung in the air around Lena. She promptly shook her head and said, "No, I wouldn't."

"Did you hear her response?" Collin then turned away from her, addressing Josh with a question that seemed more like a statement.

Josh, though driven by desire, was not without sense. He began to understand that Collin was interfering with his plans.

But he wasn't ready to back down. His long-standing infatuation with Lena fueled his determination to win her over that night.

"Mr. Barton, this seems a bit unfair, don't you think?" With his smile now gone, Josh's tone hardened. "You've just returned and might be out of touch with local affairs. Your elder brother usually shows me some regard. And let's not forget, the Barton Group still answers to him."