Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 73

The private room fell into a dead silence the moment I walked in.

I don’t often find myself in awkward situations, but this was a work setting–and Gavin was our biggest client. I had to stay professional.

Breathe, Elara. Just breathe.

I quickly steadied myself and forced a calm tone. “Gavin, don’t joke like that.”

Then I walked in, closing the door behind me.

Two steps in, I realized the only empty seat left was the one to Gavin’s left. The staff had already cleared away the extras.

I hesitated, and when I looked up, his gaze was fixed on me–calm, deliberate. His long fingers tapped the table lightly, rhythmically. “I can tell,” he said, voice low. “You’re still afraid of me.”

I swallowed the urge to turn right back around and forced my feet to carry me forward. “Gavin, if everyone at Windsor Group is afraid of you, maybe it’s not them–it’s your reputation.”

“You’re not wrong.” He didn’t even blink. “Ask them. Who isn’t afraid of me?”

Then his eyes locked on mine again, the ghost of a smirk touching his lips. “Except you. You’ve never been afraid.”

”

”

No one else dared to speak. They were all trying to read between the lines–what did the boss really mean?

Honestly, having the big boss this involved… it probably wasn’t a good sign for any of them.

Dinner was tense, to say the least.

Luckily, the door opened just then, and servers began bringing in the food.

The project lead was sharp. He might not have understood what was going on between Gavin and me, but he knew there was something. He raised his glass toward me. “Team Leader Windsor, the success of this project rests on your team. To a fruitful collaboration.”

“It’s what I’m here for,” I replied smoothly, lifting my own glass. “Looking forward to working together.”

I didn’t make a fuss–just downed the red wine in one go.

But my alcohol tolerance has always been weak. After a few glasses, my cheeks were flushed, warm and undeniably tipsy. I held myself together well enough, though–when I’m drunk, I just get quiet, propping my head in my hands and trying to look composed.

I thought I could still manage, Maybe even contribute to the technical discussion,

But then the room started to blur, My head grew heavy, my thoughts drifting in a warm, hazy cloud.

The project lead seemed surprised. “Team Leader Windsor… can’t hold her liquor?”

“She doesn’t usually drink,” Elias cut in smoothly, picking up the wine bottle to examine the label. “This one’s stronger than it seems.” He glanced at me, then back at the table. “It’s getting late–I’ll take her home first.”

I heard voices, muffled and distant. Someone was helping me up, guiding me outside.

10:22

Betrayed au

Chapter 73

I’d come with Elias today. I’d dared to drink because I knew I wasn’t alone.

When there are more men than women at a business dinner, alcohol is usually part of the script. I didn’t mind playing along–giving the project lead face to smooth things over for the team later.

I just hadn’t expected the wine to hit me this hard.

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