GoodReadDowning the first glass of beer, it felt like the second and third were inevitable.
Thankfully, Dorothy had the forethought to line her stomach with some food before diving into the drinks, saving herself from the ache of an empty belly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe vibe was high tonight, and she wasn't about to be the buzzkill.
"Excuse me, | gotta hit the restroom." Feeling slightly tipsy, Dorothy figured a splash of cold water might sober her up.
As she stepped away, Ophelia sidled up to Austin, "Uncle, did you really see Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Lopez... together?" Austin furrowed his brow, "What are you up to now?" "What can | be up to? Just asking! Ms. Sanchez has been around the office for a while, but I've never seen her and Mr. Lopez as an item. Plus, let's be real—if Ms. Sanchez were Mr. Lopez's girl, | would've been canned a long time ago, right?" Austin frowned but didn't respond.
"I saw that Ms. Sanchez seems a bit sloshed today. You might wanna ask if she's got a ride home. If not, maybe you got it all wrong from the start. Mr. Lopez is the big boss of the Lopez Corporation, why would he mix business with pleasure? Or maybe he's just over her and has moved on. So why are you still treating her like royalty?" Austin shot Ophelia a look, recalling Dorothy's admission that she and Mr. Lopez had split. Still, he put on a stern face and scolded, "Don't be nosy. Get back to your seat." Ophelia rolled her eyes, "Pfft! I'm just looking out for you." Returning from the restroom, Dorothy found that almost everyone was full. She barely sat down when Austin offered a smile, "Ms. Sanchez, how about | give you a lift? It's a hassle getting a cab with everyone leaving at once. You could be waiting forever.” "No, it's fine. I'll call a cab after everyone's gone. I'm not in a rush.” "Don't you need to get back to your kids?" "Nope, they're not staying with me." Austin's expression faltered for a moment, then he chuckled, "Oh, | see. | thought you'd be eager to get back to them! But hey, my car's empty, and you seem a bit under the weather. I'll drive you home." "I'm good," Dorothy waved off, a touch unsteady. "Just a bit dizzy; I'll walk it off to clear my head.” "Don't be shy now!" "Really, I'm okay. No need." As the others began to don their coats, Austin went to settle the tab.
After paying, he turned to see Dorothy leaning on the restaurant's door handle, her cheeks flushed a deeper shade, clearly hit by the delayed punch of alcohol.
"Ms. Sanchez? Maybe I...I should just take you home after all?" Perhaps emboldened by Ophelia's words and his own probing, Austin now felt bold enough to reach out and offer support.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmOtherwise, he wouldn't dare risk it.
"I'm fine, Austin. You go on ahead.” "Don't play the hero. | can't let a colleague go home alone - not on my watch as a manager. As a leader, I've got to ensure you get home safely,” Austin said with a probing smile. "Ms. Sanchez, is there someone at home to take care of you?" nn Before Dorothy could reply, a towering figure approached, casting a large shadow under the ambient lights and enveloping her in darkness.
Her vision, blurred without contact lenses, couldn't make out his features. But the voice was unmistakable.
"Everett?" she called out.
Wasn't he supposed to be on a business trip in Liberty City?
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