Chapter 50

Isabella and Olivia hit a snag while working on the collab project with Global Innovators Inc. They sorted it out but needed signatures from both sides to get things rolling again.

Vaughn from the Johnson Group signed off right away, but over at Global Innovators, they couldn't find anyone to sign. Every time they showed up,Chris was not around.

After a few tries, Isabella figured out that Chris was holding a grudge because she had outsmarted him before.

So, Isabella and Olivia headed back to Global Innovators, and the secretary told them Chris was throwing a party at his villa ina Maple Hill.

Isabella thought, 'In this freezing weather, Chris is having a party in the mountains? This could be a trap. If we don't go, Chris might hold it against us, messing up the project. If it's not a trap, we need to get this sorted ASAP.

They decided to brave the cold and head to the villa in Maple Hill.

Bundled up in warm down jackets, they set off.

They took a cable car halfway up the mountain and found Chris's villa using the address from the secretary.

Sure enough, Chris was partying.

People were gathered around a bonfire, singing, dancing, drinking,and barbecuing,having a blast.

"What are you doing here?" Chris asked lazily when he saw them.

Their arrival caught everyone's attention.

Olivia, always impulsive, wanted to confront Chris.

Isabella held her back, signaling her to stay calm, and approached with the document needing a signature. "Mr. Diaz, I have a document here that needs your signature. Please take a look."

Chris took it and said while reading, "I can't just sign anything you bring me. Or I might get outsmarted."

Isabella patiently explaned, "Mr. Diaz, this is a project between the Johnson Group and your company. There was a small issue that's now fixed. We need signatures from both sides to resume work. Mr. Johnson has already signed. You can review it, and if there are no issues, please sign it too."

"Ms. Taylor, I have to sign any document you bring me. After all,you and I go way back!" Chris said with a smirk.

Isabella took a pen from her bag and respectfully handed it to him.

Chris took it and tossed it into the bonfire. "Oops, Ms. Taylor, my hand slipped."

Everyone laughed, looking at Isabella with mixed expressions-some sympathetic, some curious about what Chris would do next.

Isabella lowered her head, took another pen from her bag, and respectfully handed it to Chris.

Chris was surprised that Isabelle was so prepared.

"Ms. Taylor, you're really well-prepared!" Chris took the pen but didn't sign. Instead, he put the document aside and pulled Isabella close. "The Johnson Group is lucky to have such a meticulous employee. But they don't seem to care about their employees, making a beautiful woman like you run around. Ms. Taylor, ever thought about working for Global Innovators

Inc? I'd treat you well."

Olivia, anxious, shouted at Chris, "Chris, let her go!"

Chris smirked, "This young lady's in a hurry. Don't worry.If you behave,I'Il take you in too."

With Chris gripping her collar, Isabella looked up into his eyes and said calmly, "Mr. Diaz, what will it take for you to sign?"

Chris motioned to a woman nearby, who brought over a glass of red wine."Ms. Taylor, drink this, and I'll sign as many as you want."

Isabella,sensing a trap,hesitated.

The woman took a sip and then handed the half-full glass to Isabella.

Isabella downed it, then picked up the document and pen from the ground."Mr. Diaz, can you sign now?"

Chris grinned lewdly, "Ms. Taylor, no rush. Come inside the villa with me.Let's catch up and continue our conversation from last time."

Isabella felt a familiar restlessness coursing through her veins. 'This is bad.There's something wrong with that wine. I'm too careless,' she thought.

Chris's female companion was now clinging to him, tearing at her clothes like a snake, greedily licking Chris.

Chris pushed her off and tossed her to a nearby man, who eagerly took her. The people in the yard didn't even bat an eye.

Isabella bit her tongue, trying to stay rational, glaring angrily at Chris.

Chris threatened, "Ms. Taylor, you have two choices now. Come with me,make me happy, and maybe half of Global Innovators Inc will be yours.But if you don't cooperate, you can leave. I'll let you go this time, but don'

t let me catch you again."

A man nearby leered at Isabella. "Mr. Diaz, don't let her go. Give her to us,and let us have some fun."

Chris glared at the man and sneered, "She'll be mine sooner or later. After taking the drug, she won't last long and will come back begging me to be her antidote. I want to see her kneel before me, begging like a stray dog."

The man slunk away.

"Olivia, let's go!" Isabella, flushed and fighting the intense urge within her,turned to leave here.

Chris signaled his subordinates to release Olivia.

Freed, Olivia quickly caught up and supported Isabella as they hurried out of the villa.

They wandered aimlessly on the mountain path, their phones having been confiscated at Chris's villa.

Isabella,stumbling her way with Olivia, who hadn't eaten anything all day,accidentally rolled into a mountain stream by the path together.

In late autumn, the icy stream was running fast down the mountain.

The sudden chill sobered Isabella up instantly, but due to the drug,she had no strength, letting the stream wash over her.

Olivia, in slightly better condition, struggled to drag Isabella out of the water.

They had never been so disheveled. Sitting on the grassy bank, they leaned on each other.

Olivia smiled wryly. "Isabella, we've been through life and death together.

If you were a man, I'd marry you."

Isabella leaned on Olivia, too weak to speak.

"You two really have some nerve!" A pair of black hiking boots appeared before them. Looking up, they saw Eric's stern face.

The extreme tension and exhaustion, combined with seeing a reassuring face,caused the two to faint.

When they woke up again, they found themselves in a hospital.