Brettley could not help but wonder which was the true Bethan. What were her true feelings toward him?
Brettley did not realize that he was staring blankly at Bethan, but Alice certainly noticed. Her motions became more and more aggressive.
“Ahem,”
Gavin gently cleared his throat when he noticed Alice’s change in mood.
Brettley finally came to and hastily shifted his gaze from Bethan. “Open, “
Bethan ordered again as she brought another forkful of food up to his mouth.
Brettley narrowed his eyes. “Is this how you treat someone who saved your life?”
Bethan forced a smile and continued to feed him. “If something similar happens again in the future, I hope Mr. Morrison won’t do this again. Firstly, I’m just an ordinary employee, and I don’t need the CEO to protect me. Number two, even if I got hurt, you can just give me a few days’ leave or even monetary compensation. I don’t need anyone to rescue me.”
Bethan shot Alice a glare. “I ‘d rather get hurt than be misjudged for something that wasn’t even my intention.”
Alice’s face was ashen at Bethan’s words. She frowned and was about to say something in defense when Brettley cast her a meaningful look that stopped her right in her tracks.
“I’d still save you if this happens again in the future.”
Brettley turned around and smiled at Bethan. “
Alice was right. A boss should always protect his employees, especially since you’re one of our star workers.”
He observed Bethan’s expression for a while before he added, “Although I do wish my employees could show a little gratitude toward their boss. One way of doing that would be adopting a better attitude when feeding me.”
Bethan stiffened at his suggestion. After a moment, she heaved a deep sigh and brought the fork up to Brettley’s mouth a little gentler.
Bethan knew Brettley was right. Their relationship was that of a boss and his star employee. She should have displayed more gratitude towards him instead of behaving in such a way.
They soon finished their meal and quickly made their way to the next destination of their field trip. The on-site investigations that happened thereafter went by much quicker than in the morning. They did not have much to do apart from obtaining information about the latest jewelry design concepts and fashion trends.
Although there was no longer any risk of getting hurt, Bethan received a different kind of shock that afternoon. She was perplexed and somewhat mortified by Alice’s actions throughout the whole day.
Alice had touched one of the samples on display out of curiosity and flipped through the other company’s design sketches. To make things worse, she even scribbled a few doodles on the notice board that hung outside the other company’s design department.
Since she was the CEO’s wife, Bethan did not think it was appropriate for her to reprimand Alice in public. She had no choice but to apologize to the company they were visiting and tell her off in private.
Bethan could not help but feel exasperated because of that. She knew Alice did it all on purpose. Anyone who had manners knew better than to commit mistakes like them. Therefore, the only explanation was that Alice did it purposely to get on Bethan’s nerves.
The field trip finally ended at 8pm that night. The owner of the last company they went to was an old friend of Brettley’s, so it was natural he insisted on inviting all of them for dinner. Brettley did not reject his offer, so Bethan, Alice, and Gavin tagged along as well.
As soon as they started eating, the owner of the company, Mr. Scott, raised his glass up for a toast. “
Mr. Morrison, it’s been a while since we last saw each other! “
“Mr. Scott,”
Alice interjected as soon as he finished his sentence. She chuckled and reached out her hand, stopping him from offering the glass of liquor to Brettley. “As you can see, Brettley has hurt his arm. I don’t think he should be drinking.”
Mr. Scott froze for a moment, then laughed. “Oh, well. Since Mr. Morrison can’t drink, why not Mrs. Morrison accept my toast on his behalf?”
“I ‘m sorry, Mr. Scott, but I can’t.”
Alice smiled at him. “I ‘m very lightweight. I’m afraid that if I drink too much, I might throw up and cause a scene.”
She pointed at Bethan and said, “Why not let Ms. Bethan accept Brettley’s toast instead? She’s the most important person here on this trip besides the two of us. She’s one of Morrison Group’s star employees.
Besides…”
Alice smirked. “She’s the reason Brettley hurt his arm. She should drink on his behalf to repay her debt of gratitude.”
Hearing what Alice had said, Mr. Scott immediately set the glass down in front of Bethan. “Here you go, Ms. Bethan.”
Bethan frowned and glanced at the glass of liquor but made no move to pick it up. “I ‘m just an ordinary employee. Isn’t it inappropriate for me to accept a toast from you, Mr. Scott?”
She glanced at Brettley before she added, “Besides, I don’t tolerate alcohol that well. I’m afraid that I might do something stupid after I get drunk.”
Seeing how Bethan glanced meaningfully at Brettley, Alice tightened her grip on his arm. “I beg to differ, Ms. Bethan. Mr. Morrison has risked his life to save yours, so what makes you think you’re just an ordinary employee? Besides…”
Alice glanced at the glass that clearly contained hard liquor and sneered. Then, she lied through her teeth, “It’s just one glass. How could you get drunk from that?”
Bethan smirked and looked at Brettley. “Mr. Morrison, are you sure you want me to accept this drink on your behalf?”
Brettley smiled and lifted his head to glance at Mr. Smith. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mr. Scott.”
He had witnessed Bethan in her drunken state before, and it certainly was not pretty.
Mr. Scott refused to relent. “Mr. Morrison appears to take very good care of his female employees.
Although I guess that makes perfect sense. Mr. Morrison is even willing to put himself in harm’s way for his employee.”
With that, he shot Bethan a teasing look and added, “It appears that Ms. Bethan truly is an outstanding employee. Otherwise, why would Mr. Morrison go to such lengths for you?”
Mr. Scott’s words were borderline insulting. Bethan frowned and stood up abruptly. “I ‘in going to the washroom.”
“Bethan, ” called out Alice curtly as soon as she realized Bethan tried to flee the scene. “You’ve always insisted that nothing is going on between you and Brettley and that your relationship is just that of a boss and his employee. However, you refuse to take a drink for Brettley, and you don’t even try to explain anything when Mr. Scott has misunderstood you. “
Alice’s brows furrowed as she continued, “Are you deliberately trying to make people think there’s something going on between you and Brettley?”
Brettley’s expression darkened upon hearing Alice’s words. “Alice ! ” he said sternly. He glanced at Bethan, then turned around and glowered at Alice. “There’s no need to explain anything to people who don’t matter.”
Mr. Scott was displeased to hear this. “Mr. Morrison, what do you mean by that? We’ re about to become partners. How can you say something like that?”
Brettley’s lips curled into a smirk. “Mr. Scott, do you truly think that just because Morrison Group is about to collaborate with you, this gives you the right to comment on my personal life?”
He stood up and said, “If that’s the case, I don’t think we should sign that contract anymore.”
With that, Brettley tugged on Alice’s hand, about to head out the door.
Alice frowned and stopped Brettley from leaving, then turned to glare at Bethan. “Bethan, you cost Morrison Group a collaboration opportunity just because you refused a glass of liquor. Don’t you feel ashamed?”
Bethan narrowed her eyes. Although Mr. Scott was rude and disrespectful, the jewelry company he owned was one of the best in the market. Morrison Group had just branched into selling jewelry, so they definitely needed Mr. Scott’s help on this. However…
To Brettley, Morrison Group’s jewelry branch was just a tiny sliver of the businesses he owned, so it did not matter that much if they lost this partner at all. At the same time…
“It’s okay.”
Bethan let out a sigh, lifted her head, and met Brettley’s gaze. “Please don’t be offended, Mr. Morrison. Mr. Scott is just outspoken, that’s all. It’s only one glass. I’ll drink it.”
Bethan picked up the glass and downed its contents in a single gulp. As she did so, the pained expression on her face made Brettley’s heart lurch.
He recalled one incident that had happened many years ago. At that time, he and Bethan Peterson had just gotten married, and she liked tagging along with him everywhere. One day, he finally gave in to her persuasion and agreed to bring her to a party he had been invited to.
At that time, they had also encountered a potential client who insisted that Bethan drink. As her husband, Brettley knew that Bethan could not tolerate alcohol very well, so he got angry and wanted to leave the party.
However, Bethan was afraid that the Morrison Group would lose a client because of her, so she stood up and downed the entire glass in that instant. Brettley could still remember the pained yet somehow determined expression on his ex-wife’s face.
It looked exactly like the expression Bethan wore.
Brettley frowned and immediately lowered his head to glance at Alice, who stood right next to him. She watched Bethan somewhat triumphantly, with a hint of contempt in her eyes.
Brettley felt like an invisible hand had squeezed his heart. What happened to the Bethan Peterson he had fallen in love with? Since when did she turn from the woman who willingly drank and suffered a whole night of vomiting for him into someone who coerced others into drinking against their will?
Bethan finished her drink and slammed the empty glass down on the table forcefully. “How’s that, Mr. Scott?”
Mr. Scott stared at Bethan’s face, which began to turn red, with a hint of amusement. Then, he let out a chuckle. “Ms. Bethan finished that drink, but there’s a catch. Since you made the situation so awkward just now, don’t you think you should take another drink as punishment?”
Bethan’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Mr. Scott, I’ve told you that I’m very lightweight. If I end up doing something stupid while I’m drunk, will you take responsibility for my actions?”
Mr. Scott was delighted to hear that. He guffawed and replied, “Of course ! It’s my pleasure to take responsibility for a beautiful lady such as yourself! “
“That’s great to hear.”
Bethan smiled and took the glass Mr. Scott offered her.
“Bethan.”
Brettley’s brows furrowed. He said in a lowered voice, “You don’ t have to drink anymore.”
If Bethan had not accepted that first drink, they would have gotten out. The only reason he had stayed behind and agreed to continue working with Mr.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.