Gerard asked, "Are youing along?"


    Calvert replied, "Wherever Vespera goes, I go."


    Gerard was speechless for a moment before responding, "Alright. Let''s go, then."


    Vespera, Gerard, and Calvert all piled into the car. Gerard passed the party address to Calvert, who was in the driver''s seat. Then, the car left the vi. Not long after, Dominic went out as well.


    The party was held at a club. The atmosphere was very lively, but Vespera felt drained. On any other night, she would have effortlesslyworked with colleagues from the branch office.


    However, something felt off, though. It was as if her whole body was rejecting the atmosphere. She grabbed a drink and exchanged a few words here and there, then slowly drifted toward a corner. Even there, several male colleagues stopped by to chat with her.


    As Vespera stood still with a ss in hand, she looked stunning. Her facial features were exquisite, and her simple ck dress was fashionable. The way she appeared distant made her even more captivating.


    At first, she gave polite responses, but after a while, the conversations started to wear on her. The conversations got on her nerves, and her breathing quickened as a low burn spread in her stomach.


    Then came a particrly chatty male colleague who talked continuously for ten minutes and suddenlyughed loudly.


    That was all it took for Vespera. She said apologetically, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."


    She then left for the restroom. In the restroom, she tried to breathe through the growing difort.


    By the time Vespera came out of the restroom, she went straight to grab some food. She picked up some food and grabbed a bottle of red wine. After that, she slipped out onto an empty balcony.


    Meanwhile, Gerard was still inside, deep in conversation with a woman with blonde hair. So, Vespera couldn''t tell him she wanted to leave early.


    Sitting alone, Vespera alternated sips of wine with bites of ham. Unbeknownst to her, Calvert was sneakily snapping pictures of her like a paparazzi. He sent all the pictures to Dominic.


    Dominic, who was in the middle of discussing business, kept receiving notifications on his phone. There were pictures of Vespera chatting with male colleagues, disappearing into the restroom, and sitting alone on the balcony, drinking wine and eating.


    Dominic thought, "Isn''t it freezing out there?"


    Across the table, a man spoke up, "Mr. Reid, you seem rather well-informed." The man, in his early fifties, was from Regalia and was the Earl of Norsen. Dominic looked up and responded, "It caught my interest after I looked into it." The Earl of Norsen replied, "Why take such a roundabout route then? With your connections and status, I imagine doors open quite easily for you."


    Dominic smiled calmly and said, "Londarion is the headquarters. Besides, I prefer a little mystery."


    The Earl of Norsen nodded and said, "There''s aworking event this Sunday. It''ll be carried for two days. It''s for people who want to get in. Someone will reach out to you soon."


    Dominic replied, "Alright, thank you very much."


    After the conversation ended, Dominic rose from his seat and bade farewell.


    ...<fnee2f> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find·novel</fnee2f>


    Back at the party, Vespera was still sipping wine with bites of ham. She didn''t know that she had drunk more than she could tolerate. She slouched over the small table, motionless.


    After some time, amotion sounded from inside. There were excited voices. Vespera tried to turn her head and see what was going on. Through the blur of disco lights, she saw a familiar figure.


    She knew that man. Those sexy muscles under his shirt must look very good.


    While thinking of that, she huped.


    Then, the man''s voice sounded. "It''s time to go home."


    The man, Dominic, took off his jacket and draped it over Vespera''s shoulders before scooping her up in his arms from the chair.


    Vespera let out another hup andzily flopped her hand in the air. "The ham..."


    Dominic looked over. There were two half-eaten slices of ham still sitting on her te. He asked, "Do you want me to pack it up for you?"


    "No," answered Vespera, still waving her hand.


    Then, out of nowhere, Vespera smacked Dominic''s mouth and covered it. She said, "It''s for you, foxy. Eat it! You love meat."