I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Don’t Be a Pushover

Chester Hughes had some recollection of Leah Sinclair. She was the intern mentioned in a department report today. Plus, she had just walked in with Asher Keating. He wasn’t sure how they’d all run into each other, but when a pretty girl offers a toast, there’s no reason to refuse.

He picked up his glass and clinked it with Leah’s. ”Now that you’re here, work hard. Aevon won’t treat you poorly.”

”Thank you, Director Hughes.”

After finishing her drink, Leah turned to the others surrounding Asher Keating. At first, they were a bit baffled as to where she had come from, but then they figured she must be an intern.

’She’s probably trying to make a good impression so she can secure a permanent position at Aevon.’ And since she was such a pretty intern, in no time at all, Leah actually managed to block quite a few drinks meant for Asher Keating.

Seeing how readily she drank, they started drinking with her. Leah downed the red wine without the slightest hesitation. Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman, worried she might drink too much, also came over with their glasses. The table had descended into a chaotic free-for-all anyway, with toasts coming from every direction.

Asher Keating watched Leah drink. With her running interference in the middle of it all, he actually got a moment of peace.

Asher Keating lit a cigarette and smiled faintly. He knew in his heart that this girl was here to block drinks for him.

’Thinking back, Leah has had drinks many times, but it seems she’s never been the one to initiate it. Before at Azure Bay, and later when facing Morgan Sterling, she was more or less forced into it.’

But he never expected her to step up and take drinks for him at a time like this. A wave of warmth washed over his heart.

The group partied until almost ten o’clock before breaking up. Asher Keating asked if they wanted to go sing karaoke, suggesting Silken Gardens upstairs. Zion Sawyer was excited to go, and a few others were interested as well.

So they split into groups: those who had drunk too much went home, while those who hadn’t and wanted a second round planned to continue. Zion Sawyer tried to drag Leah along, but with her mind on Asher Keating, she refused when she saw he wasn’t going, saying she was a little dizzy.

Todd Coleman offered to take her home, but she smiled and said she would just get a taxi, telling him to go have fun with the others.

Just as Todd was about to insist, Mr. Langdon came over to speak with Leah, and Todd was dragged away by Zion Sawyer. Mr. Langdon had come over because of Leah’s drinking earlier.

This young woman had been studying under him ever since she joined the company. Her personality had always been low-key and earnest; she wasn’t the type to proactively drink with the leadership just to get noticed.

Mr. Langdon looked at Leah’s face, flushed from the alcohol, and asked her directly, ”Were you blocking drinks for President Keating just now?”

”Mr. Langdon, you could tell?”

Leah was a bit embarrassed. ”Well, he helped me out before, and he was very nice to me this morning. He didn’t look down on me for being an intern, so I just...”

Mr. Langdon patted her on the shoulder. ”I know. It’s just that there are a lot of people and wagging tongues here. You’re my apprentice, so I have to remind you: in the workplace, don’t be a do-gooder, especially in front of the boss. You might have good intentions, but he might think you’re being deliberate. Understand?”

Leah lowered her head. ”I understand, Mr. Langdon. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Seeing her reaction, Mr. Langdon sighed and didn’t say anything more. After all, it was normal for a young woman new to the professional world to be a bit impulsive. ”Where do you live? Should I give you a ride home?”

Leah looked up and smiled. ”No need, I live pretty far. I’ve already called a car; it’ll be here any minute.”

”You really didn’t drink too much?”

”Really, I didn’t. Don’t worry, Mr. Langdon. I can hold my liquor.”

Seeing that she indeed didn’t seem drunk, Mr. Langdon said, ”Text me when you get there. My wife just called and said our child has a bit of diarrhea, so I’m heading home now.”

”Okay, you should hurry home then, Mr. Langdon.” Leah closed the car door for him and also told the designated driver to drive safely. Watching the car disappear into the distance, she let out a slow sigh.

’Mr. Langdon was right about one thing. Your good intentions might seem calculated in the other person’s eyes.’

’She had blocked drinks for Asher Keating simply because she didn’t want him to drink too much and upset his stomach. But what would he think? Would he think she was deliberately showing off some kind of connection to him in front of everyone? She didn’t know. At the time, that thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.’

Asher Keating had already left. She had drunk quite a bit, so she wanted to sober up a little before getting a cab. The evening breeze was a bit chilly. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked slowly along the road. Suddenly, her phone chimed. She took it out and saw it was a message from Asher Keating.

”Turn around.”

Leah immediately turned around and saw Asher Keating standing a short distance behind her, his Cullinan parked nearby. She froze for a moment, and suddenly, her earlier unease vanished.

’Who cares what Asher Keating thinks? If I want to be good to him, do I really need his opinion on it?’ Leah ran back and threw her arms around his waist. Asher’s lips curved into a smile as he let her hold him.

”Didn’t you already go home?” Leah looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly.

”So, you want me to leave?” Asher Keating pinched her cheek and laughed.

After the hug, Leah felt shy again. She quickly let him go and glanced around, only relaxing when she confirmed no one they knew was nearby.

’Drinking really does mess with your judgment. I almost forgot how many colleagues were just here.’ Asher watched in amusement as she sprang away from him, then opened the car door and gestured for her to get in.

Leah quickly got into the car. Once Asher was settled, Sean Yates started driving. Recalling that Sean hadn’t helped block any drinks for Asher, Leah asked curiously, ”Assistant Yates, I have a question, if you don’t mind.”

Sean said he wouldn’t dare mind, so she asked if he didn’t drink alcohol. Hearing this, Sean’s face reddened slightly. ”I’m... allergic to alcohol. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed Miss Sinclair’s help blocking drinks earlier. Thank you, Miss Sinclair.”

”It’s nothing, really, I was happy to help. And please, just call me Leah. Calling me Miss Sinclair all the time feels too formal.” Leah was a little uncomfortable with such a formal title.

Sean Yates glanced in the rearview mirror. Asher Keating lit a cigarette and said, ”Do as she says.”

”Alright, I’ll call you Leah from now on. And outside of the office, you don’t have to call me Assistant Yates either,” Sean said with a smile.

”Okay!”

Leah’s eyes curved into crescents. Zion Sawyer was spamming her with messages, saying she’d left too early. He sent her a video showing how huge and luxurious the private room at Silken Gardens was, trying to coax her into coming back to join the fun. Leah replied that she was almost home.

”Why didn’t you go have fun with them?”

”I was worried your stomach would hurt, so I was thinking of heading home early. Didn’t you use the excuse that you drank too much and left? Why are you still here?”

”I knew you were leaving too. You think I’d just abandon you?” Asher Keating was a little speechless. ’Does she really think I’m that kind of unprincipled guy?’

”No, no, of course not! You’re the best.” Leah quickly tried to placate him. ’If I don’t smooth things over now, I’ll be the one suffering when we get back.’

”What about you? Didn’t even think to send a message and ask where I was? If I hadn’t found you, were you planning on walking home?” Asher recalled seeing her walking alone looking dejected, and a pang of irritation hit him.

”Uh, I just thought you had already gone home.” Leah felt a little guilty. The thought of asking where Asher Keating was hadn’t even occurred to her. In her mind, it was normal for him not to wait for her; him waiting for her was what was abnormal.

”Hmph. You’d better have,” Asher Keating said, shooting her a cool glance.