「隠された王国の秘密」

Mr. Strecken was about to have Apollonia sit next to Ambrose when a big shot from the subsidiary company, Mr. Steer, walked over with a young and s*xy woman.

“Mr. Wise, this is Susan. I just happened to run into her today.” Mr. Steer introduced the young, s*xy lady to Ambrose while giving Susan a signal with his eyes.

Apollonia looked toward her and froze. ‘Isn’t she a hot and coming TV drama actress?’ She was indeed beautiful and sensual. Her tight black dress accentuated her curvaceous figure. She was wearing winged eyeliner. There was a hint of passion and desire in her gaze.

She was even prettier in real life than on the TV screen. Apollonia could not look away.

Naturally, Mr. Strecken could tell what Mr. Steer was up to. Unfortunately for Mr. Strecken, he was not as powerful as the director. All he could do was accept his defeat. When he turned around, he happened to see Apollonia look fixedly at Susan. Mr. Strecken felt a hint of disdain. ‘What a useless tool she is! Mr. Wise was perhaps just toying with her. Now, with a s*xy creature like Susan around, he’ll surely forget about this plain Jane!’

Ambrose gave Susan a slight nod out of courtesy and took a glance at Apollonia from the corner of his eye. He saw her gazing at the flowers on the dining table, as though she was unconcerned to what was happening around her.

A B-list celebrity with newfound fame like Susan naturally knew that Ambrose Wise was a benefactor that would only come to her once in a blue moon. Therefore, she did everything she could to butter him up with the employees from the subsidiary company. They practically treated him like an emperor.

Although Apollonia always stayed in her university, she knew enough to understand what she was witnessing. She lowered her head and started eating. She focused on the dishes on her plate and ignored the conversation around her.

‘Whatever. I’ll just treat this as a free meal,’ she thought, feeling much of the bitter and discomfort in her chest fading away.

“Mr. Wise, you must drink this glass of wine, or else I’ll be upset!” Susan said coquettishly and raised her glass to give Ambrose a toast. Her body was practically glued against Ambrose’s.

The people around them had begun urging him on. Mr. Steer’s plump face was flushed. He joined in and said with a grin, “Susan, is this how you give a toast? You should at least have a glass of cross-cupped wine with him!”

Everyone started cheering her on and shouted, “Cross-cupped wine! Cross-cupped wine!”

A commotion erupted in the hall. Everyone was very excited.

The noise gave Apollonia a headache. She snuck a glance at Ambrose and saw that Susan’s arms had already crept onto his shoulders. She was looking up at him with a bright smile on her face.

As if Ambrose had sensed Apollonia’s gaze, he happened to turn toward her. He might appear tipsy, but the look in his eyes was sharp and clear.

Apollonia’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head. All she could hear were Susan’s coquettish voice and the crowd’s bellows as they cheered her on.

She suddenly felt like she was a joke. ‘What am I doing here? Just because of one request from Ambrose Wise, I have to accompany him to this banquet and watch people put on a cheap and disgusting show?’

While the others were cheering, Apollonia seized the chance to get up from her seat and hurried toward the exit. She did not belong here. She had nothing to do with this hedonistic and decadent lifestyle!

She recalled that the server had taken her handbag for safekeeping. When she asked the server for her handbag, he smiled politely and said, “Mr. Wise has told us that we can’t let you leave before the banquet ends.”

Apollonia was utterly shocked! ‘D*mn you, Ambrose Wise! He must’ve predicted that I’ll leave before the banquet ends. This cunning old fox!’

She could not leave this place, but she also did not want to return to the restaurant. All Apollonia could do was storm toward the bathroom angrily. She could go back once they were done drinking the cross-cupped wine. ‘Why does Ambrose Wise want her to stay?!’

Perhaps he simply wanted to embarrass her!

Apollonia looked at the reflection of her own face in the bathroom mirror. Her hair was tidy. Her cheeks were fair and spotless. Her jet-black eyes were bright and clear. She did indeed seem like an innocent and proper young woman. ‘How did I end up doing a catwalk at a bikini show, accompanying a powerful man everywhere to eat with him, and witnessing a business transaction conducted through sex and seduction?’

Apollonia suddenly felt a little mistreated. The lump of sadness in her heart started spreading outward.

She stayed in the bathroom for a while to calm herself down. Then, she bit the bullet and headed back to the restaurant.

‘They are probably done with the cross-cupped wine by now!’

Apollonia stepped out of the bathroom. When she was about to turn in the restaurant’s direction, she saw Ambrose walking toward her.

He had already taken off his coat. In his light blue shirt, dark blue tie, and long black pants, he looked particularly tall and sturdy. He was staring at her with the ghost of a smile on his lips.