Chapter 531 - 527: Who Are You Getting Handsy With?

After a long moment, Deputy Chief Coleman finally nodded, his gaze landing on Cecilia Sterling. "Alright. Put together a detailed proposal for the cemetery project and submit it to me. We’ll hold a meeting to discuss it thoroughly and see if we can find a good solution."

"In any case, it won’t delay the start of your project’s construction. A project this large isn’t built overnight. The road construction can be left for last. We have plenty of time."

Hearing Deputy Chief Coleman say this, Cecilia Sterling knew he was taking the matter seriously. Although he didn’t give a clear answer or solution right away, there was obviously hope.

Her face lit up as she thanked him profusely. "Not a problem. I appreciate you gentlemen looking into this. I’d like to propose a toast."

As she spoke, Cecilia Sterling poured herself a drink. Seeing this, Mr. Young called out to Director Sanders, "Come on, Sanders, let’s not just sit here. Let’s join her for one."

Everyone raised their glasses. Cecilia Sterling clinked glasses with each of them one by one, and they couldn’t help but study her, curious about her background and identity.

But curiosity was one thing; it was better not to ask about such matters. Prying too much could backfire.

Around nine o’clock, everyone was a little tipsy. The officials stood up to leave, saying they had to get up early the next morning and couldn’t drink anymore.

Cecilia Sterling and the others stood to see them out, but Deputy Chief Coleman raised a hand. "No need to see us out. It wouldn’t look good if someone saw. I’ve called for my driver, so it’s very convenient."

So, they didn’t insist, simply saying their goodbyes in the private room.

Once the officials had left, only Cecilia Sterling, Mr. Young, and Director Sanders remained in the room.

Director Sanders was the type who flushed when he drank. His face bright red, he asked Mr. Young, "Young, you still good? Are we drinking more?"

"Of course we are! We’ve barely gotten started," Mr. Young replied, plopping back down into his seat and immediately refilling his glass. "You did us a huge favor today. I’m drinking with you all night. If you don’t call it a night, I won’t either."

That was a first-class show of respect. Director Sanders grinned. "Alright, then. Wait for me, I’m just going to the restroom. I’ll be right back."

"You’re not running off to the restroom to puke, are you?" Mr. Young teased.

Director Sanders shot him a glare. "Nonsense! When have you ever seen me puke from drinking?"

With a wave of his hand, he left the private room.

"Cecilia, how are you doing? Are you holding up okay?" Mr. Young asked, looking at her with concern.

Cecilia Sterling didn’t usually drink baijiu, preferring red wine or other foreign liquors. Fortunately, she could hold her liquor well. After drinking the baijiu shot by shot, she just felt a warmth spreading through her body, but not dizzy at all.

"I’m fine, Mr. Young."

"Sanders is a friend. If you want to leave in a bit, just go. I can stay and drink with him," Mr. Young said.

Cecilia Sterling was touched by his offer, but she wasn’t the type to use someone and then cast them aside. "It’s okay. I can see Mr. Sanders is having a good time today. I’ll stay and drink with you both for a while."

"Alright, but pace yourself. Don’t drink too much."

"Okay."

Before long, Director Sanders returned. He burst into the room, shouting, "Young, let me introduce you to a friend!"

Cecilia Sterling instinctively turned to look and saw a man with a fat head and big ears following Director Sanders into the room.

It was the husband of the woman she had run into in the parking lot.

Cecilia Sterling secretly rolled her eyes. ’What bad luck,’ she thought.

There were only three people in the room, so the man recognized Cecilia Sterling at a glance, his eyes lighting up.

’So the beauty from the parking lot is here to be an escort for Director Sanders’s party,’ he thought.

’Say what you will, Director Sanders has good taste. A college girl with that pure-yet-seductive look is a rare find, even in Lorcain.’

Mr. Young, unaware of the history, instinctively stood up. He saw Director Sanders pour two glasses of liquor, hand one to the man with the fat head, and make the introduction. "Mr. Garrett, we collaborated on a project a couple of years ago and both made a nice profit. He heard you were here today, Young, and insisted on coming in to meet you."

Mr. Garrett’s fleshy face immediately broke into a fawning smile. "I’ve heard so much about you, Mr. Young. I’ve been wanting to find an opportunity to meet you. I can’t believe we’re so fortunate to run into each other today."

Mr. Young had seen plenty of people like this in the business world and was unfazed. So he just gave a polite nod and picked up his glass from the table. "No need for such formalities. A friend of Sanders is a friend of mine."

Of course, that last part was pure courtesy.

"Come on, let’s have a drink," Director Sanders urged, then added, "Garrett, were you here on business today? Are you done? If you are, come join us. It was just the three of us anyway."

"In a little bit. I’ll come over in a little bit, how about that?" Mr. Garrett said, his gaze falling on Cecilia Sterling, who was sitting to the side. Because she was seated next to Mr. Young, the men were now standing behind her.

Cecilia, for her part, hadn’t stood up or even turned around from the very beginning, showing him nothing but the back of her head.

She wasn’t just sitting there idly, however; she was intently focused on eating a crab.

Seeing this, Mr. Garrett thought to himself, ’Still so green. She should be jumping up to toast us, but instead she’s gnawing on a crab. You can tell she’s never had anything nice.’

Men like him, who’d spent too much time wallowing in pools of wine and forests of meat, all shared this common flaw: after a couple of swigs of horse piss, they’d forget who they were.

Acting on pure, subconscious instinct, he raised a hand and placed it on Cecilia Sterling’s shoulder. Then he leaned in close and said with a smile, "Hey, beautiful, don’t just eat. Come have a drink with us."

Cecilia Sterling’s brow furrowed as she felt his wandering hand on her, but since her own hands were occupied with the crab, she couldn’t react immediately.

But just then, Mr. Young’s expression turned icy. He lifted his leg and kicked, sending Mr. Garrett’s solid frame stumbling several feet away before he landed on his ass on the floor.

"Who the fuck do you think you’re touching?" Mr. Young snarled, glaring at him. His face hadn’t flushed from the alcohol, but it was now beet-red with rage from what he’d just witnessed.

Mr. Garrett was dumbfounded. Before he could even register the pain, he was stunned into silence by Mr. Young’s fury.

He sat on the floor, not daring to move, his mind completely blank as to what had just happened. All he knew was that Mr. Young was suddenly furious!

Director Sanders was also startled. Snapping back to his senses, he quickly tried to smooth things over. "Whoa, whoa, Young, why get physical...?"

Mr. Young turned to Director Sanders, his face ashen. The look was enough to startle Director Sanders, who immediately realized he’d said the wrong thing.

Tapping himself on the mouth, he turned to Mr. Garrett and said, "What were you just doing? Do you think you can just touch anyone you please?"

"I..." Mr. Garrett was utterly bewildered. He looked at Cecilia Sterling. ’I can’t touch her?’

Cecilia Sterling picked up a wet towel, wiped her hands clean, and slowly stood up. "Mr. Sanders, thank you for your help today. I’ll treat you to a meal some other time to thank you properly."

The implication was clear: she was leaving.

Director Sanders nodded quickly. "Ah, yes, of course. Don’t be so formal, Cecilia."

Cecilia Sterling gave a slight smile, her attitude toward Director Sanders still respectful.

"I’m leaving too." Mr. Young’s mood was completely ruined. He grabbed his jacket from where it was hanging and said to Cecilia Sterling, "You’ve been drinking. I’ll call a designated driver for you."