She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 836

Hearing exactly what he wanted to hear seemed to stabilize Everett. He sank back into his seat and reached for another drink. Daphne let out a long, heavy exhale. He was completely hammered, throwing a tantrum like a stubborn toddler.

"What you just said... about me being better than Preston... did you mean it?"

Daphne gave a helpless nod to his slurred, pathetic question. "Yes, yes, I meant it. You're better than Preston. You're way better than him."

She appeased him exactly as she would a sulking child. Everett fell silent for a moment before turning to her with a goofy, lopsided grin.

"...Thank you. You're so sweet..."

A sudden, intense flutter in Daphne's chest took her entirely by surprise. She immediately rubbed her sternum, muttering to herself, "Oh, come on, what the hell was that?"

Before she could process it, Everett shoved a fresh bottle of beer into her hand. "Here. Drink with me."

"You really can't have any more."

"Just drink with me..."

Meeting those glassy, pleading eyes, Daphne couldn't help but press a hand to her forehead in defeat. For all her street-smart toughness, she never thought she'd see the day where she'd cave to a drunk man's puppy-dog pout.

Accepting the bottle, she threw caution to the wind and declared, "Fine! I'll be the good guy tonight. I'll drink with you until we drop!"

Deep into the night, Melanie drove smoothly toward the hotel she had booked. Since she hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, she was behind the wheel. Preston sat quietly in the passenger seat, while Gavin was passed out in the back.

"Thanks for the help, Preston. I appreciate you taking care of Gavin."

"You don't have to be so polite with me."

Melanie's lips parted, but she swallowed the words before they could form. Knowing Preston's sheer tenacity, even if she fired him, he would just find another loophole to force his way back into her life.

After turning it over in her mind, she decided to temporarily shelf the idea of firing him.

They soon arrived at the hotel. Melanie had booked a luxury executive suite that spanned two floors. It featured three separate bedrooms—one upstairs and two downstairs—giving all three of them plenty of space.

Throughout the entire drive and check-in, Preston never once questioned her motives. Yet, Melanie couldn't shake the creeping suspicion that he already knew exactly what she was planning.

Together, they hauled a dead-weight Gavin into one of the downstairs bedrooms. Once he was settled, Melanie poured a glass of warm water and handed it to Preston. As he took it, his fingers deliberately brushed against hers.

The soft leather of his white gloves grazed the smooth skin of her hand, leaving a lingering, electric tingle in its wake.