Maria's condescending tone angered Ella. She tried to be patient. "Are you determined to confront me? Can't the two of us live in peace?"
"Peaceful coexistence? This sentence is so moving that it brings tears to my eyes." Maria scoffed, she sneered. "You want to live in peace, okay..." She poured the wine into a glass and handed it to Ella. "Drink it."
Ella doubted. "Why should I drink?"
"How? You don't know how to drink? When you go on a picnic, you drink alcohol, don't you?"
Being provoked by Maria, Ella scowled slightly, she snatched the wine glass from Maria's hand. After accepting the invitation to drink two full glasses, she realized she had fallen into Maria's trap. But right now, surrounded by so many witnesses, she couldn't help but drink.
Ella brought the wine glass to her mouth and took a small sip, she found it very difficult to drink, she did not know what kind of wine this was. She closed her eyes to drink, only to take a sip, she had to stop, wincing. "What kind of wine is this, it's too hard to drink."
Maria walked around Ella's body, saying. "What kind of wine is this that you don't even know? Stupid."
If Ella had magic, she would have left here invisibly, but unfortunately, she doesn't have that superpower, so she just stood there, leaving everyone to look down on her.
Given the opportunity, Maria will find a way to humiliate Ella, making her look like an idiot in the eyes of others.
"Malt whiskey, this is one of the most famous wines in the world," Maria said proudly.
Murmurs rang out beside Ella.
"She's an employee of Anthony Corporation, why doesn't she know? What a shame."
"Absolut or Tripplesec may not know but Malt whiskey must know."
In the face of increasing public opinion, Ella covered up her embarrassment by letting out a laugh. "Of course, I know whiskey, I just temporarily forgot. Do you think you are very good? What kind of wine do you know?"
Ella said and turned to leave. If she continued here to compete in alcohol knowledge with Maria, it would create an opportunity for the onlookers to look down on her.
Ella was about to turn around when she tripped over another foot, knocking her to the floor. Bruised knee. Laughter broke out.
"Stupid. Clumsy. When will you be mature?" Maria pouted and said.
Although Ella graduated from college with honors her knowledge of alcohol, she lost to Maria.
She suddenly became the center of the party tonight. Everyone stood in a circle, constantly making a mockery of a poor girl. She felt sorry for herself and wanted to cry but no tears came out.
Just as she felt as if the whole world had turned against her, a hand reached out. Ella looked up to meet David, she was so happy she looked as if she had found a blue sky of hope.
Her hand barely touched his fingers, and he pulled her to her feet. David took her away from the noisy crowd. That warm hand made her feel secure and confident.
Sitting in the car, David took a bottle of oil and applied it to Ella's bruise on his knee, he said gently while saying. "Sorry."
"You are not at fault, I am the one apologizing. I made you lose face." Ella said softly.
"No. I'm sorry for making you a laughing stock. I was busy receiving guests earlier, so I couldn't be with you."
"My fault. I'm really stupid and incompetent. I don't know about wines." Ella's voice grew quieter, hoping he wouldn't hear.
"Don't worry. I'll guide you. Now, do you want to go?"
"Yes. I want to go home. I'm tired."
David nodded. "Okay. Let's go home."
Ella was stunned. "The event is not over yet, you do not stay?"
"Now it's time for them to eat. I'm done. How do I leave you alone?" David smiled. He started the car. The car drove in the cold wind.
Time past. The day is almost over and the work is not done yet.
Maria goes to Ella's table. "Can you help me sort out the wine, please, into separate groups?"
"Do I have to do this job too?" In the company, Ella is David's secretary. She was only supposed to prepare his schedule.
"We all have to take turns working, no matter what it is. Don't think that if you're David's wife, you don't have to do anything."
"I didn't mean it that way. Okay, I'll help you." Ella said softly.
Maria secretly showed a wicked smile.
After Maria, it was Jenny's turn. "Ella, I have some unfinished documents left, can you help me, please? My mother is sick today, now I have to go to the hospital to take care of her."
Ella smiled. "Okay, you can go."
"Thank you, Ella. I'm going." Jenny took her bag and headed to the office door.
Ella said. "Goodbye."
Now Ella was alone in the room. Looking at the documents and files that her colleagues asked for, she had to work overtime tonight. Taking a breath, she continued to work.
The space was silent, only listening to the ticking and ticking of the clock hands.
Nightfall.
When Ella finally finished her work, she stretched her arms and did some relaxing moves. Clearing the documents on the table, she prepares to go to David's room. Now, he's probably done with the job. Suddenly the power went out, the whole company was in darkness. Ella felt every wall, every corner, cautiously walking. Her hand touched something soft. She couldn't imagine what it was when suddenly her hands were squeezed by someone, pressing her against the wall. Ella tried to struggle but couldn't get out. But she knew that soft thing was a person's face. It was so dark, that she couldn't see the man's face. She smelled tobacco when the person's face was close to hers. It wasn't David, because he never smoked. She yelled, biting the man's hand. He got mad and slapped her in the face. Ella staggered to the ground, her head hitting the wall, excruciatingly painful. Ella rubs the sore, mentally unstable.
The light is turned on. Ella narrowed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. The first person I saw was David's worried, frightened face. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"Where's that pervert?" Ella's voice trembled, asked.
"What do you say? Who? I don't see anyone." David helped Ella to her feet.
"Someone was harassing me just now."
"What?" David was quite shocked to hear her speak.
"But it was dark, I couldn't see his face."
David was angry. "There is a pervert in the company again, I will tell Key to investigate this person."
The two of them went to their parking lot. Ella asked. "Have you found the culprit in the last case?"
"It's been weeks but they still haven't got a lead to identify the criminal. They haven't found any evidence at the crime scene, which makes it even more difficult for them." David replied.
Seeing Ella's worried expression, he held her hand. "Don't worry. I will always be by your side."
Ella smiled.