"Guys," Zayne declared, "if Jared shows up later, I want you all to try to get him drunk. Whoever succeeds gets their monthly bonus doubled." The announcement was met with cheers. "Don't worry, Mr. Carlson," one man volunteered, "I'll make sure he gets drunk!" Another chimed in, "If he dares to show up, he'll be too drunk to find his way home!" The prospect of extra pay fueled their enthusiasm.
Troy, however, had no intention of getting Jared drunk, though the reward was tempting. Amidst the boisterous celebration, the private room's door opened, revealing Jared and Hilda. Their arrival startled everyone. While surprised to see Jared, the men were far more captivated by his companion. Hilda's beauty held the room spellbound.
Zayne, still recovering from a hangover moments before, shot up from the couch, his eyes wide with astonishment. Maria was pretty, but lacked Hilda's captivating aura. Despite her past as an exotic dancer, Hilda possessed an innocent charm. "Jared," Zayne exclaimed, "I thought you'd be too stingy to come!" He glanced at Jared before focusing on Hilda. "Who's this lady?"
"Hi, everyone," Hilda said politely. "I'm Hilda Wallace, Jared's neighbor. I hope I'm not intruding."
"Not at all!" "Come sit next to me!" "Here, have some fruit!" The men swarmed Hilda, completely ignoring Jared. Zayne cleared his throat. "Hi, I'm Zayne Carlson, Jared's manager."
Upon hearing this, Hilda nervously extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Carlson."
"Nice to meet you too," Zayne replied, his eyes gleaming as he shook her hand. His attraction to Hilda was obvious to everyone. Maria's fury was palpable.
"Where do you work, Ms. Wallace?" Zayne asked, a bright smile on his face, oblivious to Maria's glare.
"I-I'm jobless now," Hilda replied awkwardly.
Zayne's smile widened. He produced his business card. "Here's my card, Ms. Wallace. Come work for us if you're interested!"
"Really?" Hilda's eyes widened in surprise.
"Of course! I'm a departmental manager; I have a say in recruitment!" Zayne declared proudly.
Finally, Maria exploded, her outburst snapping Zayne back to reality. He hastily retreated from Hilda. "G-Go on and have a seat!"
Noticing the awkwardness, Hilda smiled and moved toward Jared, casually putting her arm around him. "Jared, why don't you introduce me to your colleagues?" Jared was taken aback by her intimate gesture, but Hilda's actions were deliberate—to discourage the other men and to subtly reassure Maria.
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