Chapter 65
Sylvia Sullivan and Zander Gage were having dinner in the restaurant.
Upstairs, Byron Blair, CEO of the Blair Group, was in a meeting, surrounded by executives giving reports. The hotel happened to be one of Byron’s properties.
He wore a crisp white shirt, a black vest, and tailored trousers, his collar perfectly buttoned, exuding an air of refined control. Listening impassively, his gaze drifted unconsciously through the glass partition to Sylvia and Zander below. His eyes narrowed slightly.
‘They certainly picked a spot,‘ he thought grimly, ‘having a date right under my nose, in my own hotel.
“Continue,” Byron snapped, glancing sharply at the executives who had paused mid–report.
The reports resumed, but Byron’s expression darkened, his sharp eyes flicking intermittently towards the diners below.
‘I won’t let them get to me,‘ he told himself firmly. But a second later, he cut the meeting short. “That’s all for today!”
He stood abruptly and strode downstairs, leaving the executives exchanging bewildered glances.
“Sylvia, besides alcohol, is there anything else you’re allergic to?” Zander asked, concerned. He’d been on edge ever since learning about her allergies.
Sylvia gave a wry smile. “Anything sweet, really.”
Zander looked stunned. “Anything? So, no fruit, no desserts at all?”
Sylvia shrugged, trying to sound casual. “Yep. But I’m used to it.”
Though she spoke lightly, Zander felt a pang of sympathy. He couldn’t imagine a world without sweetness. He remembered then that whenever they had coffee, she always ordered it black, no sugar.
“How long has it been like this?” Zander asked gently.
Sylvia thought for a moment. “About five years, I guess.”
It started five years ago, after that incident when Byron was poisoned at a business function. In these five years, she’d almost forgotten the taste of sugar.
Sometimes she craved it like a kid, but even a tiny piece of candy could trigger a severe reaction, possibly life–threatening.
Every time she thought about it, she couldn’t forgive
regretted it.
Byron for the damage he’d caused. This was the price she paid for loving him, and now, she deeply
“Special Forces! Team One Leader! Gage! On your feet!” The sharp command cut through their conversation.
Zander jolted, instinctively snapping to attention, standing ramrod straight. “Sir!”
Even though he was discharged, the military discipline was ingrained in him. Once a soldier, always a soldier.
Sylvia looked up, her expression hardening as she saw Byron approaching, his face like ice. She knew Byron had held a high rank in the military and was known as a notoriously strict instructor, though he was also discharged now.
Seeing Byron, Zander didn’t relax. Instead, he reported loudly, “Instructor, Team One Leader Gage reporting. Awaiting orders!”
Byron gave him a dismissive glance. “You
conditioning seems off lately, Gage. Go run five kilometers.”
“Yes, Instructor!” Zander nodded sharply and turned to leave, but Sylvia quickly grabbed his arm.
“Zander, why are you still listening to him?” Sylvia demanded, angry. It was obvious Byron was deliberately targeting them.
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Chapter 65
Zander shook his head firmly, lowering his voice. “Wait here for me, Sylvia. I’ll be right back.” Normally, he and Byron were best friends, but when Byron gave an order like this, he was the instructor.
Even out of service, he remembered he was a soldier, and he couldn’t forget that Byron had carried him off a battlefield overseas when his life was on the
line.
With that, Zander jogged determinedly out of the restaurant.
“Byron, what the hell do you think you’re doing? You did that on purpose!” She knew Byron too well. Even divorced, seeing her with Zander brought out his possessive, chauvinistic side. He couldn’t stand it.
“You call Zander back right now, or you’ll never see me again!” Sylvia yelled, furious.
Byron’s face tightened. ‘As if I want to see her?‘ he scoffed inwardly. ‘I wish she’d just disappear. Out of sight, out of mind!”
His brow furrowed. He wanted her gone, but pride kept his lips sealed. ‘Just do whatever she says? Where’s the dignity in that?”
He suddenly grabbed the bottle of red wine from the table. “Fine. You want Zander back? Drink this.” “He needed an excuse to back down, he rationalized.
Sylvia frowned. Zander had offered her wine earlier, and she’d refused every drop because of her allergy. But now… after a moment’s silence, she snatched the bottle and started gulping down the wine.
‘If I can just throw it up fast enough,‘ she thought desperately, ‘the reaction might not be too bad.‘
The wine tasted bitter as the red liquid spilled down her chin.
Watching Sylvia drink so recklessly–for another man–infuriated Byron. But underneath the anger, a knot of unease tightened in his gut. He grabbed the bottle from her hand. “Enough! Stop drinking.”
He pulled out his phone and called Zander. “Get back here now. Forget the run!”
As soon as Byron hung up, Sylvia clapped a hand over her mouth and ran out, heading straight for the restroom to make herself sick.
Byron left the dining area in a foul mood. As he headed back upstairs, he ran into Jolie Wren, who was returning with Ruby Sullivan in her arms.
“Hi, Mister!” Ruby chirped, waving a chubby little hand. Then she looked towards where Sylvia had run off, puzzled. “Mister, did you see my mommy?” Seeing the adorable little girl eased Byron’s temper slightly. He gently pinched her nose. “Your mommy had some wine just now. Maybe she went to lie down.”
“Mommy can’t drink wine!” Ruby insisted, her big eyes wide. “She gets really, really sick if she drinks alcohol. She has allergies!”
Byron’s stomach dropped. He looked sharply at Jolie. “Is that true? What Ruby said?”
Jolie, as Sylvia’s assistant, knew her situation well. She nodded grimly. “Ms. Sullivan developed a severe condition after detoxifying someone years ago. Any alcohol could be fatal for her now.”
Hear
men
