The elaborate spread of gourmet dishes adorned the wine table, captivating the attention of most guests. Georgia, however, remained uninterested in the games and distractions that cluttered the table. Instead, her focus was drawn to the delectable cuisine displayed before her.
Amidst the merriment, an unexpected voice pierced through the buzz of the gathering. "Georgia poem, don't think you can escape the toasting!" The commanding voice belonged to Big Dong, who had abruptly called her name.
Georgia blinked in surprise, her eyes meeting his. "Me?"
Big Dong's face broke into a grin. "Indeed! You're the luckiest newcomer in our department. You've already had the pleasure of playing games with our esteemed General Partner Jack. How many colleagues can boast of such an honor?"
As Big Dong spoke, a chorus of voices erupted around him, echoing his sentiment. "Here's to Georgia!"
A deep breath was all it took for Georgia to realize that declining was not an option in this raucous setting.
The mention of Jack brought a tide of emotions surging within her. The memory of Jack and Su Ling sharing a meal together lingered in her thoughts, intensifying the discomfort in her heart.
Gritting her teeth, Georgia rose to her feet, her hand reaching for the wine bottle beside her. With a determined resolve, she poured a full glass of wine, holding it aloft to signal her compliance. "Alright, I'll raise a toast to all of you!"
She spoke as she raised the glass, its contents shimmering in the ambient light. With a swift, confident motion, she emptied the glass, feeling the cold liquid rush down her throat, leaving a fiery trail in its wake.
The entire table fell into stunned silence. No one had anticipated that Georgia could down such a substantial amount of wine in one go.
As she swallowed the last drop, Georgia turned the empty glass upside down, signaling her triumph. "Thank you for your kindness and support in our day-to-day work."
Her gesture was met with applause, and her male colleagues cheered in admiration. "Impressive drinking!"
After her toast, Georgia resumed her seat, her face tinged with warmth. Beside her, Xiao Han leaned in and whispered in concern, "Georgia, you shouldn't have! Drinking so much at once! You don't know Big Dong's colleagues—they can get noisy even if you decline the drink!"
Georgia smiled reassuringly, though her stomach was awash with warmth. "It's okay."
The potent fruit wine, though sweet, had an insidious strength that crept up on her. Unbeknownst to her, the alcohol began to take effect, leaving her cheeks flushed and her head slightly spinning.
Meanwhile, at the boisterous wine table, the guests engaged in a cacophonous exchange of toasts and raucous games of charades. Amid the revelry, Georgia sat quietly in the corner, her wine glass refilled time and again, her thoughts adrift.
The fruit wine's sweet and tangy flavors masked its potency, but after a few cups, its effects became unmistakable. Georgia's face flushed, and her head swam with dizziness.
Beside her, Xiao Han was not spared either; she, too, was drawn into the revelry and found herself consuming more than half a bottle of wine.
Unbeknownst to Georgia, she had reached a point of inebriation where her faculties were no longer fully under her control. She patted her own cheek in a futile attempt to regain composure, then rose to her unsteady feet, navigating her way to the bathroom.
The cool water splashed on her face proved to be a brief but sobering respite. When she returned to the corridor, she hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixated on the distant private dining room. Ultimately, she decided against rejoining the noisy revelers. Solitude beckoned her, and she knew she could escape unnoticed. Since her promotion, her colleagues had grown distant, leaving her to navigate the social currents of the workplace on her own.
Descending a flight of stairs, Georgia breathed in the crisp night air. She meandered toward a vast backyard adorned with lush greenery on either side and a grand swimming pool at its center.
The tranquility of the yard enveloped her senses. With each step she took, the night breeze whispered secrets in her ear.
Just as the solitude began to embrace her, her mobile phone, nestled in her pocket, shattered the silence with an insistent ringtone. The name "Jack" flashed across the screen, but for reasons unknown even to herself, she felt an overwhelming reluctance to answer the call.