At the gala, many people were toasting Holden, trying to get on his good side. For someone as powerful as Holden, there were plenty of folks eager to cozy up to him. Even if they couldn’t win him over, just being seen with him was worth it.
As someone who got paid twenty million a month, being able to step in and take those drinks for her boss was just part of the job. Sarah took a few drinks on Holden’s behalf.
Holden knew her limits, so after a few glasses, he pulled her out of there.
Sure enough, as soon as they got into the car, Sarah was tipsy and soon fell asleep, leaning against the back seat.
She was wearing a hot pink dress tonight-new for this year, but the color was tacky and the style was outdated. For most people, it would’ve been a disaster, but for Sarah, it somehow looked stunning. She was like a vibrant rose in full bloom, the pink highlighting her fair skin, the fitted waist emphasizing her slender figure, and her thick golden hair cascading down, framing her delicate face.
Holden told the driver to head home. He sat beside Sarah, but with an empty seat between them. He didn’t adjust her seat, so when Sarah shifted, finding the position uncomfortable, she ended up leaning against Holden’s chest.
His face turned icy. “Why don’t you go lean on Ronald?”
Sarah, still half-asleep, nuzzled into Holden like she was being affectionate. Her body was soft and fragrant, like delicate rose petals in spring that would crumble with the slightest touch.
Holden looked down and noticed her makeup had smudged all over his black suit. His expression darkened.
Butler Ted had already prepared for the possibility that Mr. Holden might lose his temper after drinking, so he’d locked up the wine cellar and put away any valuables. But then, he saw his boss carrying the drunk Sarah inside.
Butler Ted hurried over, eager to help. “Let me take her.”
Even though Butler Ted was getting on in years, he had studied judo and knew a bit of martial arts. He could easily carry a young woman upstairs. Naturally, he thought it was his job to take care of such tiring tasks for his boss.
Holden shot a cold look at Butler Ted. “You want to?”
Butler Ted quickly backtracked. “No, no, my old bones can’t handle it. You go ahead, Young Master. I’ll get the door.”
Butler Ted, ever the thoughtful one, rushed upstairs to open the door to Holden’s bedroom. But Holden kicked open the door to Sarah’s room instead.
Butler Ted was a little surprised-it wasn’t quite what he had imagined. And then, Holden didn’t come back out of Sarah’s room.
Holden tossed his dirty suit jacket aside and went to the bathroom to grab a towel. He looked over the various bottles on her vanity, picked out a makeup remover, and dampened the towel before going back to wipe her face.
The makeup remover, scented like a rose, smelled lovely. After wiping her face clean, Holden used a fresh damp towel to go over it once more.
Without makeup, her features looked even more refined, her pale lips resembling peach blossoms.
Holden gently held her chin, examining her closely, thinking this version of Sarah was truly beautiful.
Sarah stirred and slowly opened her eyes.
“You’re awake?”
Sarah frowned, feeling uncomfortable with the way the dress was squeezing her waist. She reached for the zipper to loosen it.
Holden grabbed her hand, not wanting to take advantage of her at that moment.
Sarah gazed at Holden’s handsome face. Holden was striking, looking perfect from any angle. But he was like the moon-beautiful yet unattainable.
“It’s a little hot,” Sarah muttered, her head pounding as she tried to get up from the bed, still woozy from the alcohol. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
She wobbled and nearly fell as soon as she stood up. Holden caught her, steadying her before guiding her into the bathroom, then left her room.
Butler Ted was surprised to see Holden out and about that night. “Mr. Holden, I’ll get you some water. It’s getting late; you should rest.”
Holden had left his jacket in Sarah’s room, so he was now in just a white shirt, with his tie undone and two buttons open, exposing his collarbones. He looked a bit disheveled.
He lit a cigarette. “No need.”
The next morning, Sarah woke up early. She needed to get to the set, and since it was far away, she had to leave well in advance.
She was surprised to see Holden already downstairs. She checked her watch. It was 6 a. m. on the dot.
A billionaire CEO up at 6 a. m!
She had no excuse not to work hard. Sarah silently chastised herself, then greeted him, “Morning.”
Holden was sipping his coffee. He glanced at her and replied, “Morning.”
Sarah gulped down half a glass of milk, grabbed a piece of toast, and headed out. “Butler Ted, can you drive me to a spot where I can catch a cab? I need to get to the set early.”
Just as she was leaving, she heard Holden’s deep voice behind her, “Come back.”
Sarah turned around, confused, pointing at herself. “Me?”
Holden smirked. “Who else?”
Playing along, Sarah walked back to him and acted all obediently. “What can I do for you, boss? I’ll take care of it right away.”
“You got my jacket dirty,” Holden said. “How do you plan to make it up to me?”
Sarah recalled finding Holden’s suit jacket in her room this morning. It had indeed gotten smudged with foundation. Holden’s clothes were all custom-made by European designers who flew in just to take his measurements, and then crafted the garments specifically for him each season. So even the most unassuming item in his wardrobe was actually quite expensive.
“I’ll take it to the dry cleaners today,” Sarah offered.
“Fine,” Holden said with a grin, “but your next month’s paycheck is gone.”
Sarah’s heart sank. She was pretty sure that the original Sarah in the original story didn’t have this much trouble getting money out of Holden. The original story never mentioned any real connection between Holden and Sarah. She was just a tool for him to fend off the Smith family, and they barely interacted.
But now, it seemed like every little thing led to Holden threatening to dock her pay.
“So, what do you want me to do?” Sarah asked, trying to keep her frustration in check.
Holden chuckled, “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll see how you behave this month. If you keep disappearing like last month, don’t expect to get paid for the next six months.”
Butler Ted was shocked. It was the first time he’d seen Mr. Holden be so petty. Mr. Holden was usually generous and never wasted time on women. He was so stunned that he just stood there with his mouth open.
Sarah suddenly realized what was going on. So, the big boss thought the money wasn’t worth it and wanted her to provide some value. Either she had to make him happy or help him out with a problem. After all, twenty million wasn’t a small sum; no way he’d just hand it over without getting something in return.
But for Sarah, this wasn’t a big deal. Honestly, the money came too easily, and she felt a bit guilty about it. Besides, Holden had serious insomnia, and without someone around to help him sleep, he’d definitely be in a bad mood.
“Sure,” Sarah agreed right away. “But I’m going to be really busy with filming for the next few days, and I might even have to travel for some on-location shoots. If you can’t sleep at night, Mr. Holden, you can always come find me at the hotel.”
Right after saying that, Sarah realized her words sounded a bit off. Her ears turned red, and she quickly added, “Um, I mean, just to help you sleep, nothing else.”
Holden reached out and pinched her cheek. She hadn’t put on any makeup that morning, so her cheeks were soft and pink, smooth to the touch. “Young girl, do you really think I’m interested in you?”