Chapter 4

I looked at Brandon's twisted face and smiled.

Last Friday? Yes, I was indeed at The Summit Club, busy handling the equity transfers and management purge.

I didn't answer my phone because I was in a board meeting.

And the sleazy, newly rich old man Tiffany described? That was her own father, Mr. Hayes.

That day, Mr. Hayes had indeed hired a stripper for a lap dance at this very club, which I own.

I was celebrating a friend's birthday at the club at the time.

Later, as my friend and I were leaving, Mr. Hayes suddenly spotted me.

He cornered me in the hallway, crying and begging for more investment for his failing company. He even tried to kneel.

It took a good while for my security guards to drag him out.

"Well? Say something! Cat got your tongue?"

Seeing my silence, Brandon assumed I was guilty, and his confidence swelled.

Tiffany added fuel to the fire.

"Brandon, don't blame your girlfriend. After all, a place like The Summit Club is so expensive. If she wants a designer bag, she definitely has to pay a price."

She picked up a bottle of red wine from the table and walked over to me.

"Since we're all here to have fun, why don't you show us what you've got?"

"This bottle is Chad's prized collection. If you can chug it all, I'll consider it your apology."

With that, she flicked her wrist.

Over half the bottle of red wine splashed directly onto my clothes.

The liquid ran down my collar, soaking my white T-shirt, which instantly clung to my skin.

When the wine was thrown, Brandon didn't even try to shield me. Instead, he quickly jumped away, terrified of getting his expensive suit stained.

"Oops, butterfingers."

Tiffany covered her mouth, but couldn't hide the triumphant gleam in her eyes.

"Sweetie, you're not going to get mad, are you? It's just a cheap knock-off anyway."

Everyone around roared with laughter.

Chad slapped his thigh, pointing at me. "Alright, clean up that mess, and then get out."

"Don't stand there in my sight, you're ruining my mood."

I looked down at the wine stain on my chest, then at Brandon, who stood nearby with a look of utter disgust.

"Brandon, this is the circle you want to be a part of?" I asked him coldly.

Brandon avoided my gaze, gritting his teeth. "How much longer are you going to make a scene?"

"Tiffany said it was an accident. Just apologize and leave."

"Don't make things harder for me here!"

Apologize?

After being splashed with wine, slandered, and humiliated, he wanted me to apologize?

In that moment, I finally understood.

In this man's heart, my dignity meant less than nothing to these trust fund babies.

For his petty vanity, he would stomp me into the mud without a second thought.

"Alright, fine."

I nodded, reaching for the tissues on the table, and slowly wiped the wine from my hands.

"Brandon, remember what you just said."

I crumpled the soiled tissues into a ball and tossed them directly onto Brandon's suit, the one he'd spent three months' salary on.

"What are you doing?!"

Brandon shrieked, frantically batting the tissue ball off his suit.

"Aria, are you crazy?! This suit is expensive!"

"Since you think I've embarrassed you, let's break up," I said calmly.

"From this moment on, we have nothing to do with each other."

Brandon froze, then his face flushed crimson.

"Break up? Who the hell do you think you're scaring?"

"Who would want a dirty woman like you after me?"

"Get out! Don't ever let me see you again!!"

He pointed wildly at the door, yelling like a madman.