In truth, Noelle didn't want to be the one to stand out. In fact, the dinner had been going smoothly until Hendrix suddenly made his move, clearly aiming to put Dominic in difficult position.

She wasn't sure what personal grudges existed between them, but she knew one thing for certain- Dominic valued his pride deeply. And he would eventually take it out on Noelle for the way Hendrix had put him on the spot today. So, she had no choice but to step up.

Hendrix fell silent, his fingers idly tracing the rim of his wine glass. His deep and unpredictable eyes, never left her. however,

Noelle swiftly refilled her glass before continuing, "Coincidentally, it will soon be the tenth anniversary of Hayes Group's founding. Allow me to extend my congratulations to you, Mr. Hayes, in advance.' Clayton's expressions remained slightly sour, yet he still lifted his glass. "You're too kind, Ms. Swanson." Hendrix watched the scene before him, a sudden chuckle escaping his lips. He then turned to Noelle. "It seems you and Mr. Hayes are quite friendly, Ms. Swanson?"

"I've just been fortunate to have Mr. Hayes' support."

"If that's the case, perhaps you could offer a suggestion regarding the cooperation between myself and Hayes Group. Didn't you mention earlier that you've been here for some time? Surely you could help me gain some insight?"

Hendrix smiled, but the pressure emanating from him was undeniable. It was the first time Noelle truly felt the full weight of his presence in the business world. The way He looked at her made her feel as though she was at the mercy of his whims.

Noelle smiled again. "I'm honored by your confidence in me, Mr. Freeman. In that case, shall I vouch for Mr. Hayes tonight? Though, I'm self-aware enough to know that my words don't hold much weight. What I can offer is my ability to handle alcohol, so shall we drink to our hearts' content tonight?"

Although she offered to vouch for Clayton, Noelle knew she didn't have that kind of standing. It was true she hadn't known Hendrix for long, but their time together wasn't insignificant, either. Thus, she understood that he was simply in a bad mood at that moment and looking for someone to take it out on. Noelle also knew she couldn't afford to offend any of the other people at the table. After all, Elm Group wasn't what it once was, and with Noelle having only been in Vinton City for three months, her footing was still far from secure. Thus, she naturally became the easiest target for Hendrix's frustration. Having spent some time in the business world, Noelle knew exactly how to ease the tension and win people over the dinner table. Without hesitation, she reached for the bottle of red wine and filled her glass to the brim.

"I'll go first. Mr. Freeman, you can take your time."

With that, she raised her glass and downed the entire content again. Noelle's tolerance for alcohol had improved slightly over time, but just barely. As the strong liquor slid down, it felt like her throat was being cut open, but Noelle ignored the sting. Frowning, she simply forced the drink down.

As she placed the empty glass down, she noticed Hendrix's furrowed brows and brooding eyes. She could tell he was still angry, so without hesitation, she quickly poured herself a second glass.

No one stopped her-not even Dominic, who had mentioned earlier that he wanted to take her on a vacation to

Tamarisca.

When she reached for the bottle for the fourth time, Hendrix finally spoke, "Ms. Swanson, it seems your alcoholnoveldrama

tolerance isn't all that great?"

His words, seeming almost like a provocation, instantly transformed into a clear and unmistakable pressure.

Noelle's hand froze in midair. Despite struggling to stay steady and the uneasy churn in her stomach, she still managed to smile.

"Please forgive me, Mr. Freeman. Here's the thing-I have some matters to attend to, so I'll finish this bottle. As for the partnership, perhaps you should discuss it further with Mr. Hayes. What do you think?"

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