Chapter 14 Panicked

"Asher, we have to go now," Bianca reminded Asher as she checked on her slim Bracelet watch that matches the design of her dress' neckline and waist.

"Okay, let's go!" Asher stood up from his seat and offered her his arm to hold as they walked out of the bar and into the elevator lounge to head to where the party was going to be held.

Asher explained to her who Cedrick was, and Bianca understood why Asher had to tell Cedrick about Bianca being his fiancee. Cedrick used to be his business partner, but things went wrong when Cedrick tried to sabotage Asher with the help of Asher's secretary, who Cedrick was dating, apparently just to get information about Asher and all of his engagements. The girl confessed to Asher and asked for forgiveness, and Asher did not want to keep her, but he did not issue any misconduct on her separation papers so she could still find and choose any company she would want to work for. Cedrick thought Asher seduced the girl and made her confess everything, which Cedrick denied, but due to evidence, Asher still found out the secretary was telling the truth. So he cut ties with Cedrick and losing Asher as his business partner made it difficult for Cedrick to stand in their business circulation. Making Cedrick hate Asher to the core. He keeps creating nasty rumors about the Collins, but nobody wants to believe him. A nobody versus a reputable family of Realtors.

The two walked into the party hall with Asher holding Bianca's hand, which was in his right arm. They were too eye-catching as they were wearing a set of olive green dress and suit. The lady was elegantly charming with her serene beauty. The glitters on her dress added to the brightness of her smile when the man with her would whisper something, and she would smile in response.

"Asher, why are they staring?" Bianca pretended to smile as she murmured her question to Asher when she noticed everyone was looking in their direction.

'It's because you are dashingly beautiful, and I am equally dashingly handsome," Asher whispered back with a playful smile.

Bianca could not help slapping his arm with her free hand as she smiled at his self-praise.

"Am I hallucinating, or do I see the young Collins in the flesh in our party?" Bianca's supervisor came walking briskly to check if he was right or wrong. She knew Bianca, but she could not imagine the two to be acquainted with each other. Bianca is just not the personality that would be among the people that surround Asher Collins. The well-known, good catch bachelor in town. But also a casanova! Bianca is an introverted person, talented but unsociable. They are the perfect image of two opposite poles.

"Bianca Han!" The supervisor, Alice Martin, called out her intern's name.

"Yes, Supervisor Martin?" Bianca replied, her supervisor sounded like she was about to ask or tell her something she needed to be done.

"Who are you with?" Alice asked, still checking Asher.

"Hi, Supervisor Martin!" Asher saw the intrigue in the supervisor's eyes, so he took the initiative to introduce himself. "My name is Asher Collins. I am Bianca's date for the party. Nice meeting you!"

Alice was surprised to hear him say the confirmation to her suspicions.

"Oh! Nice meeting you, Mister Collins, Alice Martin." The supervisor did not wait for Bianca to introduce them together. Like Asher, she took the initiative to introduce herself.

And everything became chaotic for Bianca. People gathered around them to shake hands with Asher and chat with him, but Asher did not want to let her hands go. She ended up faking smiles the whole time until the party started. She felt dizzy. She was suffocated with how many people they had to exchange handshakes with. She realized bringing along Asher was more chaotic than coming alone. She can have her privacy way much better than being with him, who seemed like a celebrity. She was fanning her face with her hand when they got the chance to sit down.

"I feel dizzy," Bianca whispered.

Asher was alarmed. "Do you wanna go for a breath?"

"Let's wait for the Chairman's speech. Then I think we can go home after that," Bianca answered.

A waiter nearby was keenly observing Bianca ever since the supervisor called her name. He had been asking around who Bianca was to execute his paid extra job tonight, but he could not find the face of the woman in the picture that was given to him. It's a party. No one would be in their right mind to come in their passport -photo-like face. But the waiter had no choice. That was the picture provided to him by the lady who paid him to do the task.

While in another corner, someone was also paid to spike poison on Asher Collins drinks. Cedrick wanted Bianca alive so he could retaliate his anger on her in different ways.

The party went on, the founder of the company gave his speech, and before it ended, the waiters were ordered to distribute drinks for everyone to have a toast.

"And here is a toast for all the years that had passed with everyone's effort and hard work as well as to another year of prosperity and success! Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone lifted their wine glasses to clink with the ones close to them and drank their drinks.

"Let me drink this one for you," Asher grabbed Bianca's glass and drank it instead of the drink given to him by the waiter.

"Thanks! I really can't drink anything. I feel so dizzy. I don't know why," Bianca whispered. "I am suffocated with so many people trying to gather around you, Mister Collins. You are such a celebrity. I didn't know that" Bianca massaged her temples as she chuckled her remarks about him.

"Let's get you out of here first. We can come back later after you had your rest," Asher helped her to stand.

Some people nearby noticed them getting up.

"Leaving so soon?"

"We'll be right back," answered Asher as he held Bianca by the sides of her arms, walking out of the party hall. He led her to the room he had reserved for them earlier. He can use the room for twenty-four hours if he wants, but he never thought he would actually need the place to crash tonight, even before the party ended.

"Here, lie down here first and take a rest," he guided her to the bed to have her rest. "I don't know why I feel so hot," Asher loosened his tie. "I cannot breathe."

"Asher, what's wrong?" asked Bianca.

"I will take a cold shower first. I can't stand the heat. I feel like I'm burning." Asher reached the bathroom in just a few big steps as he was too eager to get under the cold water of the showerhead.

Bianca's phone rang. It was an unlisted number, but in panic, Bianca answered quickly.

"Hello?"

"Jemi ikke nolgo ine?" [are you having fun?] a woman's voice answered Bianca.

"Sue Jin?!" Bianca recognized the voice of someone she thought she had seen earlier. She should have known Sue Jin would try to do something outrageous again this time, but she was caught off guard.

"Mo heseo?" [what did you do?] Bianca asked in a panic. She looked at the bathroom, she could hear the sound of the water, but she felt scared for Asher. "Palli mar anhe?!" [tell me right now!]

"Changpiheseo jib-e mot tora ogetchi? Ottokhani nu?" [so shameful I bet you won't have the face to go home anymore, right? What are you gonna do?] Sue Jin laughed loudly. It almost hurt Bianca's ears.

"That medicine will kill you if you don't have sex within twelve hours," she added before the call ended.

Bianca realized Sue Jin spiked the drink she was supposed to drink. But since she was feeling dizzy, Asher drank it all instead of her.

"Asher!" She quickly ran towards the bathroom just to see him still clothed, sitting on the floor under the running water. Bianca felt the water was too cold. It was almost fall season, and the weather may still be warm in the daytime as there is the sun, but it is already chilly at night and early morning before the sun rises. He will easily get cold without the temperature of the water being adjusted.

"Oh my god, Asher! Let's get you to the hospital," Bianca wanted to help him up, but Asher was too heavy and wouldn't want to be out of the water. He was resisting to stand.

"Bianca, go, please," he tried his best to shoo her away. Her presence was making him feel even more difficult. "You can't be here, please, go..." he weakly spoke, and as much as possible, he didn't want to touch her. He kept his hands clenched into a tight fist.

But Bianca clearly heard Sue Jin said, she would die if she did not have sex within twelve hours, and since it was Asher who mistakenly drank the wine, it means he will die if he doesn't get the antidote to the poison or medicine or whatever was spiked in her drinks. She cried in horror. It would be her fault if anything happens to Asher, it's Sue Jin's, but she cannot think of such an evil person right now.