Eric had no intention of hiding anything. “Yes, I met Jason in college.”
So, that was the connection between them. No wonder they had been chatting about everything under the sun just moments ago.
“Did you know from the beginning that he was the president of the branch office?” Aurora asked.
“He got in touch with me as soon as he returned to Clothville, so of course I knew he took over the branch office. Why, do you have anything else to ask? I promise I’ll tell you everything.”
Eric’s lips curled into a refined smile, making Aurora feel quite uneasy under his gaze.
“So, you’re saying you’re almost certain to get this order?”
“You could say that. Given my relationship with him, the order is as good as mine if I just ask. Of course, I’m not opposed to letting you have it if you want.”
Eric’s smile broadened, and Aurora felt increasingly that this man was unfathomable.
“I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a free lunch.”
“Of course not. I’m not against offering you the vice-president position, but I have just one condition,” he said, bringing up the matter of conditions again.
“What do you want?” She looked at him indifferently.
“I want…” Eric barely opened his lips to continue when a female voice abruptly interrupted.
“What are you doing here?” Aurora turned to see Lindsay, her face full of anger.
Eric frowned at the interruption, a hint of coldness passing through his eyes behind his glasses.
“I’m here for Grandpa Gilpin’s birthday celebration,” Aurora replied.
“Where have you hidden Julian? Today is my grandfather’s eightieth birthday. Why isn’t he here to celebrate with my grandfather?” Lindsay vented all her resentment towards Julian on Aurora.
Aurora’s lips twisted into a cold smile: “He’s not dead. How could I hide a living person? Whether he comes here or not is his own business, not mine. Please, let go of me.”
Lindsay had been restraining herself because Julian was there last time. Now that Julian was absent, why should she hold back?
Hearing Aurora speak like this made Lindsay even more infuriated. “You’re not welcome here. Get out!”
“Miss Gilpin, I’m afraid you don’t have the authority to make me leave. Whether I come or go is my choice. Please don’t throw a tantrum in front of me.”
“Look at you, all dolled up. It was you who seduced my Julian! You have no shame!” In a fit of rage, Lindsay threw the red wine she was holding onto Aurora.
The wine splashed quickly, and Aurora couldn’t stop it, staining her white dress with a ring of wine red.
Aurora was helpless. Why did she always encounter such unreasonable people?
Some of the wine seeped into her clothes, dripping down her skirt and splashing droplets like blood on the carpet.
Their actions drew the attention of the others, and Aurora quickly became the center of attention.
Lindsay looked very pleased with herself. “How dare you seduce my fiance, you shameless…”
“Have you said enough?” Aurora interrupted coolly, her voice clear and cold. Despite being drenched in wine, her face remained ice-cold without a trace of panic.
She stood proudly in the center, her back straight, overshadowing the frantic woman beside her.
Lindsay, suddenly cut off, faltered, meeting Aurora’s icy gaze.
“Of course I haven’t finished. You wench,” Lindsay couldn’t let her own fury be suppressed and continued to speak.
Aurora calmly poured the wine over Lindsay’s head, who perhaps was stunned, momentarily forgetting to react and letting the red wine slide down her forehead.
“Ah!!! How dare you… how dare you…” Lindsay finally screamed as the wine dripped onto her face.
Initially, Aurora considered enduring the insults, as she needed a favor and didn’t want to upset Lindsay, which could potentially affect matters with the Montgomery Group. However, the moment Lindsay splashed wine on her, Aurora couldn’t hold back anymore, remembering Julian’s words, “It’s just one deal; if it falls through, it falls through. You still have me.”
Times had changed.
In the past, she endured great humiliations for the sake of securing a deal. Back then, the company was just starting, and she had no choice but to endure.
Now, however, she had the freedom to choose. She was just a vice president; it wouldn’t matter if she left that position for Eric to take over. After all, there was solid evidence of Genevieve’s affair, and once the paternity test results for Ivy and Zachary were out, the truth would be revealed.
“Why should I swallow my pride for a mere order? This is intolerable,” Aurora thought. “I dare because I can. How will you respond, Miss Gilpin? Did you consider my feelings when you poured your wine on me?” Aurora stood coldly in the center of the room.
“How dare you compare yourself to me? What are you worth?” Lindsay retorted.
“Slap!”
Aurora slapped her across the face.
“You slapped me, you dare slap me? Even my mother has never treated me this way,” Lindsay, like Ivy, had been spoiled from childhood.
Now that Aurora had also slapped her, how could she accept this blow to her pride? Suddenly, she lunged at Aurora like a madwoman.
“Enough, Miss Gilpin. Is this how you treat your guests?” Eric intervened, standing between the two women.
“Who wanted her here? She is not welcome! Get out of the way.” Lindsay tried to push Eric, but his stance was as immovable as a wall of iron and bronze, shielding Aurora.
As more onlookers gathered, Aurora wanted to avoid further escalation. “Eric, I’ll leave now, thank you.” She picked up her skirt and left while Eric held Lindsay back.
“I will never let you go,” Lindsay suddenly ducked under Eric’s arm and charged at Aurora like a fierce tiger.
Aurora, hindered by her long gown and high heels, was violently pushed towards a tower of cakes and champagne.
“Be careful!” Seeing the danger, Eric quickly ran towards Aurora, but Lindsay grabbed him around the waist.
“Die, you wretch!”
Aurora’s body, already falling, was caught by someone familiar, “Julian…” Before she could finish, they both crashed into the champagne tower.
Aurora was held tightly, especially her head and face protected by the man’s hands. All around them, the sound of glass hitting the ground and muffled groans of pain mixed together, soaking both in champagne.
While Aurora was mostly unharmed except for being drenched, the man beneath her was surrounded by shattered glass. As they fell, even more glasses from above rained down on him, hitting his body and face.