Klay was no match for Arthur’s commanding presence. He shot up straight and sheepishly bowed before excusing himself.

Arthur slammed the door shut before backing toward Anise. The first thing he saw was the bouquet she held.

“So, he has a crush on you and confessed?”

Anise met his gaze but did not provide an answer.

In the face of her silence, Arthur snatched the bouquet of roses from her and tossed it out the window.

Although Anise had rejected Klay’s confessions, it was not her intention to hurt his feelings like this.

She removed the IV drip strapped to her so she could go collect the roses. Before she could proceed, Arthur grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the hospital bed.

He glared intently at her with a glacial look in his eyes.

“What do you think you’re doing? What’s the point of picking up a spoiled bouquet? Are you telling me you’re into him?”

Anise pushed him away and spoke in an indifferent tone, “Mr. Renault, you're just my boss. It is not in your place to decide who I can get involved with.”

Arthur's expression was becoming increasingly grim. His grip around Anise’s wrist tightened, leaving marks.

“That may be true, but don’t you forget that office romances are not allowed in the company. If you’re going to date him, I’ll have him fired first thing tomorrow morning!”

Anise was aware that he was a man who did not issue blank threats. Because she did not want to undermine Klay, she answered frankly.

“I don’t have feelings for him and don’t intend to date him.”

Arthur’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this. Then, he suddenly released his grip and revealed the real reason for his visit.

“Clarice was the one who edited those pictures you saw during the annual party. I don’t blame her for being upset after she found out about what happened. We’re going to wait until the entire thing blows over, then I’ll promote you to head of the secretarial department and double your salary.

“Just keep your head down and focus on your work. Clarice has promised me this is the last time something like this will happen and that she won’t antagonize you anymore, so don’t hold any of this against her.”

Though the terms of his offer were tempting, Anise was unaffected.

She took a deep breath and braced herself to tell him about her resignation.

Just as she was about to speak, Clarice called.

“Arthur, I’m planning to go to the beach for a few days. Will you come with me?”

Arthur entertained her offer in a pleasant tone and seemed to have forgotten about Anise entirely as he turned to leave.

He was in such a hurry that he barely heard what Anise told him.

“I don't need a promotion. I already submitted my resignation letter.”

Anise lowered her eyes as the door shut.

Never mind. He would find out eventually.

Arthur spent the following period with Clarice and was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Anise returned to work as usual.

As for Klay, he was transferred to another branch in his hometown the following day. Anise did not even get to see him one last time.

Although there were still people casting her the occasional strange look, nobody brought up the events at the annual party.

After the entire thing seemed to have blown over, Anise went to HR to ask if she could expedite her resignation.

HR appeared troubled by the request, “Miss Buccaneer, if you want to expedite your resignation, you’re going to need the direct approval of Mr. Renault.”

Anise nodded and proceeded to prepare an application for early resignation.

Just as she was about to go to Arthur for the signature, the man himself called her.

She was given an address and was instructed to head there immediately.

Soon, she found herself inside a private room in a club. Arthur, his friends, and Clarice were in the middle of a drinking game and seemed to be in high spirits.

Upon noticing her, Arthur gestured at the glasses on the table.

“Clarice has lost a few rounds and has to drink these as punishment, but she’s on her period today. Drink them for her, I’ll pay you ten thousand a glass.”

Anise was aware Arthur had a bout of excessive drinking a while ago that ruined his liver, so he could not handle another drop of alcohol.

Otherwise, he would have gladly drunk them for Clarice.

She glanced at the dozen or so glasses of whiskey on the table before stating faintly, “Mr. Renault, it’s already past working hours, and I have the right to refuse this task. If you do insist that I do it, I don’t need the money. All I ask for is a signature.”

Arthur frowned, “A signature? What for?”

Anise produced the application form and handed it to him.

Just as he was about to go through the form, Clarice took his hand and began to flirt with him.

“Arthur, I lost again. Hurry up and make her drink.”

Arthur obliged tenderly and proceeded to skim through the document.

After scribbling his signature, he tossed the pen back to Anise.

“There. Now drink.”

After tucking the signed agreement in her bag, Anise raised a glass and downed it in one gulp.

She drank glass after glass to a point where her stomach was beginning to churn, and she was feeling nauseous.

After she forced herself to finish the last glass, she staggered to her feet to go to the washroom, but Arthur's friends stopped her.

“Arthur, Clarice just lost again! She chose to play truth or dare this time, and the dare she drew was to kiss a random single man in this room for three minutes!”

Upon hearing this, Arthur barely hesitated in pulling Clarice into his arms. He began to make out with her right there.

Both of them were going at it passionately that everyone else in the room couldn’t help but scream and cheer excitedly.

When Anise watched the way the two were entangled in a fit of passion, she felt a bittersweet, pricking sensation in the depths of her heart.

Even when they were finished kissing, Arthur still looked like he was ready for more. Clarice’s cheeks were flushed red, which provoked Arthur’s friend to jest.

“That doesn’t count! The card she drew says she has to kiss a single man, and you’re her boyfriend, that’s cheating! It doesn’t count!”

Arthur’s smile dropped in an instant.

“She is my woman. Are you suggesting that she should kiss someone else?”

Upon realizing that they had offended him, they quickly brushed it off by pulling Anise to their side.

“Of course, we wouldn’t even think of doing that, but don’t worry, we have a backup! We can just have the secretary standing in instead!”

The color was drained out of Anise’s complexion in an instant.

She instinctively turned to Arthur. He turned oddly stoic and shot down the idea.

“She only agreed to the drinking part. Kissing wasn’t part of the agreement.”

His friends exchanged coy glances before bursting into laughter.

“You don’t have the final say in this. If you offer her some more money, there is no way she would refuse. Besides, don’t you remember how obedient she is to you? Do you remember the last time we went racing, and we said that whoever does not have a female companion in the car with them has to give away a yacht? All it took for her to get into the car with you was for you to shoot her a look! If she’s willing to risk her life for you, what’s a kiss then?”

Clarice’s eyes reddened instantly upon hearing this. She recoiled and shrugged Arthur’s hand away.

“Didn’t you tell me you had no feelings for her? Why did you bring her along to the races with you? If you like her so much, you should start dating her instead! Don’t worry about me, I’ll find someone else to kiss!”

With that, she stormed out.

Arthur began to panic. He reached for the card in his wallet, tossed it at Anise, and bolted out of the room with one last remark.

“There’s a million dollars in the card. That’s how much I’m paying you to stand in for Clarice and let them kiss you for three minutes.”

Anise felt as if her heart was ripped out of her chest as he watched him leave.

She never agreed to this part of the deal and wanted to leave, but Arthur’s friends had pinned her down.

They brought in a stray dog out of nowhere and seized it by its jaw to pull its tongue out. They proceeded to force Anise to kiss the creature while degrading her.

“Clarice has been telling us what kind of woman you are. She says you even have your pictures in bed leaked and spread all over the company? How dare a promiscuous, dirty woman like you try to seduce Arthur!”

“As if anyone would ever want to kiss you! We’re going to catch a disease just by touching your saliva! Someone like you is only fit to kiss dogs. You can’t find a better match than a dirty woman like you and a dog!”

Tears streamed incessantly down Anise’s face. She was humiliated and repulsed to the point of nausea.

At last, she threw up a mouthful of bile mixed with blood all over the floor.

She was completely exhausted by the end of it. Her eyes were hollow, and her body gave out.

When the group left amidst laughter and more mockery, there was only a single thought in her mind.

She was going to cut off all ties with Arthur for good and would never return.

After handing over her early resignation application to the HR department, she watched as they stamped it with the company seal.

“Since Mr. Renault has given his explicit approval, you may oversee the handover process and officially resign in three days, Miss Buccaneer.”

At last, there was a sliver of daybreak in Anise’s recent rather gloomy days.

She returned to her desk and began to arrange the handover procedures.

The next two days were spent organizing her documents for a handover to her colleagues. She also prepared a suitcase to pack all her belongings.

Just as she finished packing, Arthur opened the door and stepped inside.

Upon noticing the top of her desk was cleared out, he seemed somewhat taken aback.

“What are you packing up for?”

Anise was just about to answer when a thought seemed to have crossed his mind, to which he remarked with an agreeable nod.

“Right, you’ll have a private office for yourself after your promotion. Leave the packing for later, I need you to come with me.”

He turned and left without sparing her time to respond.

Anise hesitated, but still silently followed him. They ended up at an auction venue.

Clarice was present too. The moment she spotted Anise, a hint of disdain flashed across her face.

She proceeded to step forward to take Arthur's arm.

“Arthur, I already have my eyes on some jewelry. You must buy all of them for me, no matter what, I insist!”

Arthur smiled dotingly before helping her to her seat.

“Don't worry, I'll bid for whatever you want.”

Anise stood alone in the corner and watched as the two exchanged intimate conversations sprinkled with laughter. She found herself numb to it at this point.

When the auction began, Arthur went all out and bid for everything Clarice had her eyes on.

Everyone in the auction hall was flabbergasted by his overwhelming budget and stole curious looks.

“Mr. Renault has been going all out on his every bid! Is there a limit to how much he would spoil his girlfriend? He’s practically a human wishing fountain! Miss Reid sure is a lucky woman to have someone who can give her whatever she wants.”

“I heard it’s been this way ever since they started dating way back. I’m surprised that he’s been consistent with it after so long. He must be completely in love with her.”

Clarice was flattered by the countless remarks people made about her and Arthur.

At one point, she candidly chucked the auction brochure at Anise before turning to Arthur with the usual coquettish look.

“Arthur, I need to go to the restroom. Would you come with me?"

Arthur immediately obliged and got up with her. Before leaving, he curtly turned to Anise and left behind instructions.

“Bid for everything circled out in the brochure.”

Anise silently acknowledged the instruction and proceeded to bid for everything circled out in the brochure.

Just as they were about to leave, the auctioneer on stage suddenly announced a new item to be auctioned for the day.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we shall now put a surprise item up for bidding! What we have here is a dazzling purple necklace carved from a 40.52-carat alexandrite. The starting price is ten million dollars!”

All the attendees were blown away by the magnificent surprise item. Their eyes were completely dazzled by the allure of the beautiful gemstone.

In an instant, bids were thrown left and right around the hall. It did not take long before the price was hiked up to an astronomical range.

Anise reached for her phone and took a picture of the necklace to show Arthur. She asked if she was supposed to put up a bid as well.

However, there was no reply from Arthur even after a long time had passed. She tried to call him several times, but he would not pick up.

While she was still trying to get in touch with Arthur, the necklace was officially sold at the price tag of five hundred million dollars.

Clarice returned just in time for the gavel to fall and conclude the sale.

The moment she caught a glance of the necklace, it was love at first sight. Immediately after being told that it had been sold, she grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it in Anise's face.

“Are you an idiot? Didn't I tell you to bid for everything I like?”

The wine continued to soak through Anise's hair and clothes. She clenched her fists tightly and forced herself to keep her voice calm.

“This necklace wasn't in the auction brochure. It was a surprise item that was introduced at the last minute. I tried to call Mr. Renault, but he didn't answer…”

Clarice would not listen to her explanation but instead turned to Arthur with an aggrieved cry.

“Look at her, Arthur! She’s incompetent and will not take accountability! I don't care, I will have that necklace one way or another, and if you can’t give it to me, I'm never talking to you again.”

Arthur had seen Anise's message. He would know it was not her fault.

However, he knew he could not justify what happened to Clarice. The only thing he could do to appease her was to give in.

“When have I ever not given you what you want? Don’t worry, I'll have someone to buy the necklace from the buyer right now.”

With that, he motioned over a staff and instructed rigidly, “Negotiate with the buyer. As long as they are willing to let go of the necklace, they can have anything they want.”

Meanwhile, Anise stood nearby the entire time with her drenched shirt sticking to her body. Wine was still dripping from her hair.

When she looked at Clarice's smug look, she had an ill feeling.

Soon, the auction staff returned with a troubled expression, “Mr. Renault, the buyer says he's willing to give up the necklace, but…”

“Out with it.” Arthur frowned.

“On one condition…” the staff stammered, “…he wants your secretary to spend the night with him. He says…”

He finished his sentence with great difficulty, “He says even though she’s rather plain looking, he had his fill of beautiful women and would like to go for someone plain for a change.”