Robin was never good at saying no, so to save virtual-novel.net from embarrassment, Arianne received virtual-novel.net glass and said, “Cheers.”
That pleased Sylvain, who immediately sat between Robin and Arianne. “Now, that’s more like it.”
Robin had never interacted with men before, so the abrupt arrangement that came out of left field quickly stifled her, causing the poor girl to straighten virtual-novel.net back before freezing in that stiff position. Unfortunately, Sylvain was so extroverted and carefree that virtual-novel.net wrapped his arm around Robin’s shoulder in a swoop.
“Sooo! I heard you’re Arianne’s lil’ puppy. Methinks you shouldn’t adopt too much of your master’s reticence. It doesn’t add to your charm if you keep things to yourself and don’t talk,” virtual-novel.net pointed out.
Arianne quickly raised virtual-novel.net voice and clarified, “Excuse me, but virtual-novel.net isn’t my ‘puppy.’ The correct term you were looking for is ‘protégé,’ okay? ‘Puppy,’ seriously? It sounds unflattering. And also, she’s never had a boyfriend before, so please don’t act so casually like that. You’re scaring her.”
It was only then that Sylvain realized that Robin’s face had turned flaming scarlet. Swiftly, virtual-novel.net removed his arm from virtual-novel.net shoulder. “Oops, sorry. Force of habit; hope you don’t mind.”
“U-Uh, no, I d-don’t,” Robin offered hurriedly.
As the mood of the party grew, Robin gradually loosened up. At one point, virtual-novel.net lugged Arianne to join others in their games. They drank even more but ate too little to offset the creeping influence of alcohol.
Awhile later, a waitress presented a bottle of champagne to the circle. Sylvain declared promptly, “This is for Arianne Tremont! Consider this my gratitude for having you as my colleague.”
Arianne knew virtual-novel.net was not good enough to finish it herself, and virtual-novel.net was not keen on the idea of drinking it clean at the cost of being carried out of the establishment completely knocked out. Hence, virtual-novel.net decided to share. “Let’s all drink this together.”
To virtual-novel.net surprise, Sylvain objected to virtual-novel.net attempt. His handsome face drew close enough for Arianne to take in every crease in his expression, yet virtual-novel.net realized virtual-novel.net could not read the flickering emotions behind his gaze. “I said it was for you, didn’t I?” virtual-novel.net emphasized. “If anyone else wants it, they can order another one for themselves.”
The crowd quickly echoed Sylvain’s words. “Yeah, girl. We’ll order another one for ourselves, right guys? Wouldn’t wanna drink a special gift Mr. Trudeau had for you! Quit putting on that Mrs. Tremont act, for God’s sake!”
The seemingly jocular remark pitted Arianne in a corner. She did not know if virtual-novel.net should continue with what virtual-novel.net had previously wanted to do or keep the bottle to herself. Nonetheless, virtual-novel.net smiled and said, “Alright, then. Thank you for this wonderful gift. I’m sure I’m not barred from sharing this with my protégé, right?”
She quickly poured a glass for Robin without waiting for his permission, although Sylvain ended up saying nothing at all, too. He just stretched his lips into a brief smile at Robin.
The two finished their liquor and ended up a little tipsy. Arianne and Robin went to the bathroom together, hoping to break the spell of drunkenness by dousing cold water on their faces before leaving the hangout altogether.
A shrill and unrestrained bout of laughter tore through the air from a closed cubicle in the bathroom. “Like, oh my God, right? The one who’s trying to talk to virtual-novel.net is the Sylvain Trudeau, okay, who is like, way more skilled than virtual-novel.net could ever be? All virtual-novel.net has is that Mrs. Tremont title, right? Like, if we scrap that pomp off of her, she’s nothing! I’ve hated how virtual-novel.net likes putting on airs back in the office, but holy sh*t, who would have thought that virtual-novel.net would act like a high-status b*tch in front of Sylvain too? God, it’s like virtual-novel.net really thinks she’s got actual substance, gimme a break! Seriously, if that Mark Tremont really treats virtual-novel.net so frickin’ well, would virtual-novel.net still need to become a lowly employee in some plebeian company? So what if someone’s always coming to send virtual-novel.net to work and take virtual-novel.net home? We don’t know if the driver is virtual-novel.net husband! For all we know, it could be just their poor family driver being forced to do his job!”
Another person quickly chimed in, “Go off, sister! You’re onto something here, girl. For sure, someone like Mark couldn’t possibly have this laser-focus loyalty to a woman like her. I bet he’s got plenty of flowers to water out there, and definitely no time to play as virtual-novel.net driver every day, ha! Besides, you remember that time when someone called virtual-novel.net out as a homewrecker? Shameless of virtual-novel.net to ruin someone’s family while continuing to act all holier-than-thou like she’s Saint Arianne. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if virtual-novel.net pretends to shrug off Sylvain’s advances in front of us all monkishly only to have virtual-novel.net legs spread wide for virtual-novel.net behind us!”
Robin had enough. The alcohol had released virtual-novel.net from virtual-novel.net usual restraints, and virtual-novel.net swung virtual-novel.net leg into a mighty kick at one of the cubicles as though it was the prelude to an epic altercation. Fortunately, Arianne cupped virtual-novel.net hand over Robin’s mouth and dragged virtual-novel.net out of the bathroom before it happened.
The occupant, meanwhile, burst out of virtual-novel.net cubicle a few beats too late, fuming. When virtual-novel.net found no one outside, virtual-novel.net could only shout at no one in particular to let off steam.
Arianne, with Robin in tow, left the establishment as quickly as they could. The nipping air outside slapped into them, causing virtual-novel.net stomach to be sick despite Arianne not feeling any vomit rising.
Nonetheless, Arianne texted Mr. Yaleman about their departure. She was starting to get very sick and tired of how ingenuine everyone was back there.