bChapter /bb23 /b

As dusk settled outside, Charlotte finished up herst bit of work and was about to leave the office when Tricia appeared at her door, gently rapping her knuckles against the frame. “Dr. Sterling.”

Charlotte looked up, her expressionposed. “Is there something you need?”

“The hospital’s currently negotiating a project to build a Sleep Medicine Center. There’s a dinner with the city council tonight to discuss it. I want you to go.”

Tricia ced a folder on Charlotte’s desk.

Charlotte nced at the folder, then suddenly let out a soft, incredulousugh. “Director Winthrop isn’t handling the negotiations herself, and she’s assigning this to me?”

“Dr. Sterling, are you still holding a grudge about what happened before?” Tricia smiled sweetly. “We’re colleagues after all, and I trust your abilities. I feelpletelyfortable putting this project in your hands.”

Sensing Charlotte might refuse, Tricia added, “Besides, this was Evander’s decision. He’s made it clear that your work now falls under my supervision. So I’m assigning you to this project. You can’t exactly refuse, can you?”

Charlotte’s hand tightened around her pen.

She and Tricia had always operated in separate spheres; Evander was clearly using his influence to put Tricia over her.

Looking at Tricia’s feigned innocence, Charlotte rxed her grip and picked up the folder to review its contents.

Everything seemed in order.

The hospital director’s signature was there.

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20-10

Chapter b23 /b

Tricia probably wouldn’t dare tamper with official documents.

Charlotte closed the folder and said coolly, “Alright, I’ll handle it.”

“Thank you, Dr. Sterling. I’ll text you the dinner location and reservation

details in a bit.”

Charlotte had no interest in continuing the conversation. She grabbed the

folder and left.

Tricia watched her walk away, a cold smirk ying on her lips.

Before long, Charlotte received a message from Tricia. The dinner was set for a private suite on the fifth floor of The Timberline Hotel.

She arrived with the folder in hand. The moment she stepped inside,

several men turned to look at her in unison.

She recognized none of them. In her previous dealings with city officials, she hadn’t met these faces. She double–checked the suite number on her phone–this was definitely the ce.

“Sorry, I must have the wrong room.”

She was about to turn and leave when a man in a blue shirt with a buzz cut blocked her path, his tone slick. “Hey, don’t be in such a rush, gorgeous. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

She frowned. “Excuse me, what do you mean?“.

Two other men began to close in, sizing her up.

Blue Shirt grinned, revealing stained teeth, and tapped the side of his nose. “You look better than we expected. Guess you weren’t lying. We paid good money to have you join us tonight. If you walk out now, who’s going to cover our loss?”

The others jeered,ughter echoing around the room.

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20:19

Paid? Hired for drinks?

Charlotte’s face went pale, then darkened with anger.

The documents were legitimate.

But this dinner–this was clearly a setup.

Was this what Evander wanted all along?

“I’m not sure what misunderstanding brought me here, but I’m not here to entertain anyone. Now, please move aside. If you touch me again, I’ll call the police.” Charlotte pulled out her phone, but Blue Shirt pped it out of her hand, sending it skittering across the floor.

Before she could react, two or three of them grabbed her, shoving a ss of liquor to her lips and forcing her to drink.

She couldn’t fight their strength. After half a ss of whiskey burned down her throat, her stomach felt like it was on fire.

She shoved the nearest man, causing the ss to slip from his hand and

shatter on the floor.

e fought to keep herposure, her eyes bloodshot with fury. as Tricia’s idea, wasn’t it?”

cia? Never heard of her. Aren’t you just a party girl?” Blue Shirt

sneered, roughly grabbing a fistful of her hair. “Don’t y coy with us. You took the money, so you’d better do your job.”

The pain made Charlotte wince. Fumbling across the table, she seized a bottle and smashed it as hard as she could against Blue Shirt’s head.

Ch