The Substitute Bride

Ryan selected a music restaurant where the delicious food was integrated with soothing music. The atmosphere there was excellent with singers singing on the stage. It was a famous place for artistic youth in the Y city. Those people who had never experienced night life must definitely come here. It was great fun enjoying a show while eating.

The colleagues went on chatting and gossiping. They talked about everything from celebrities's scandals to the skin care products that worked well for them. However, Autumn was not interested in all these topics at all, so she just stared at the singer silently.

His voice was husky and soothing at the same time. People would unconsciously indulge in it.

Autumn's eyes were fixated on the singer. She didn't even notice that a tall man walked in through the door. He looked around the restaurant and finally cast his eyes on Autumn. He finally stepped forth and sat down at a corner of the restaurant.

He saw that she was sitting there silently regardless of the noisy environment around. Though she looked interested in the music, her mind was preoccupied. She was not willing to blend in with the surroundings. This was why she became a unique existence to be seen at the first glance amongst the crowd.

As soon as the dishes were served, Paula poured a glass of whisky for Autumn. "You have to drink it. If it were not for you, we wouldn't have got the case from Shining Company. So I have to propose a toast to you on behalf of everyone in the company. You have made sure our efforts do not go in vain." Paula said with a smile.

Autumn frowned slightly and replied,"But I can't drink."

After hearing this, Paula smiled and said,"Nobody is born with the ability to drink. You are our leading lady tonight. If you refuse to drink, how can we enjoy the meal? "

"Yes, she is right, Ye." Leila also echoed. "Why not drink? We will take you back home if you are drunk. "

Autumn looked at the glass of whiskey in hand and hesitated for a little while. "What's wrong? Why are you reluctant to drink?" Ryan said in a voice full of sarcasm. "

Hearing Ryan's words, Autumn was suffused with sadness. So she raised her head and emptied the glass of whiskey in one shot. She soon felt a fire in her belly.

Seeing this, the man sitting at the corner of the restaurant frowned.

However, as she finished the first glass of whiskey, everyone else joined in to propose a toast to her. It looked as if it was some kind of a plan. Autumn didn't decline their toasts and tossed off the glasses.

After three rounds of drinking, Autumn felt dizzy. She held her head and sat on the couch. Her body felt weak.

Ryan cleared his throat with a glass of wine in hand and said,"Everybody......"

"I am sure that everyone here knows that the position of planning director has been vacant for a long time. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the new planning director." Everyone turned their eyes to Autumn as soon as Ryan finished his words. In their opinion, it was natural for her to be the planning director since fame always followed merits.

Paula clenched her hand into a fist, because she was extremely nervous about this big announcement.

Ryan took a glance at Autumn, but finally looked at Paula. "Paula has been in our company for so many years. Though she is not the most brilliant one here, she is experienced and I think for the position of the planing director...... Nobody else is worthy except her."

"What?"

"What is going on? How could it be her?"

"Yeah, what about Ye?"

As soon as Ryan finished his words, Autumn stood up abruptly. Everyone thought that she was unhappy about the decision, but rather she just smiled and said,"I am sorry. I have to go to the toilet."

She didn't feel uncomfortable when she started drinking, but now she felt sick in the stomach

because of the strong alcoholic content in her body.

Autumn walked unsteadily to the toilet. Paula then stood up and pretended to be understanding. "I shall go and take care of her."

Paula followed Autumn on her way to the toilet. She leaned against the wall, staring at Autumn who was washing her face and sneered,"What's wrong with you? You never expected me to be the planning director, right?"

Looking at Paula through the mirror, Autumn wiped her face and replied,"Paula, to be honest with you, I really don't understand why you treat me as your enemy. Ever since I joined this company your behaviour towards me has been strange."

Paula's face was distorted. "You ask me why?"

She glanced at Autumn and then replied back with a smirk,"Autumn Ye, just look at you. There is nothing in you, except your beauty. But you have always been favored by Mr. Zhou right from the day you joined this company. Not just Mr. Zhou, even the cooperative partners have been all praises for you. You have always been placed above me. I am not satisfied with that."

Paula sneered and continued,"But now you are my subordinate and you have no choice but to listen to me."

Paula moved closer to Autumn with her teeth gnashing,"Autumn Ye, if you are sensible, you'd resign from here as soon as possible. If not, I can assure you that you will have nothing but regrets."

Autumn turned off the faucet and gazed at Paula. "Paula, do you know why all our cooperative partners give a bad comment to you in front of me?

It is because you are selfish. You are always scheming against everyone. How can such a person have any good idea or even draft a good plan? That is the reason why you are destined to lose to me." Autumn was expressionless and then went on to add,"I don't care about this position at all. If you think that you are competent enough, you can enjoy your new position. In fact, I stay in this company just for......

Well, never mind......" Autumn sighed and said,"You won't understand even if I explain it to you in detail."

Autumn pushed away Paula and walked out directly. But as soon as she got out of the door, she slammed into a broad embrace. Autumn looked up and saw a familiar face. She was a little astonished and asked,"Why are you here?"

"Let's go. Let's go home." It was Charles. He had been discreetly watching all her movements till now. He knew that she wouldn't be comfortable to disclose their relationship in public. Therefore, in order to avoid any unnecessary trouble, he didn't come to her even when she was forced to drink."

He waited for a long time until Autumn went to the toilet, so he hastily followed her.

"Go home?" Autumn looked at Charles surprisingly. " Didn't David tell you that I have dinner plan with my colleagues? I can't go home with you now."

"Why? You are drinking here." Charles got close to Autumn. Her face was flushed because of all the alcohol she had consumed. She looked so adorable at that moment. "Don't forget that you have a husband now. And I am your whole life, so how can you leave me alone at home?"

"But......" The party was not over yet and if she just left like this, what would people think about her?

"Don't hesitate. Hurry up. Let's go." Before Autumn could react, Charles took her away.

When Paula walked out of the toilet, she saw Autumn leaving with Charles.

She clenched her hands. She got even more jealous of Autumn. Her heart was burning with anger.

'Why?' She thought.

'Why Autumn Ye is so lucky? How could she lure Charles Lu who just got married recently?' Paula wondered.

Muddleheaded, Paula walked back to the dining-table. Leila cast a glance at her and asked,"Paula, where is Ye? Why doesn't she come back with you? Is she fine?"

She asked in a tone that was neither too loud nor too soft. Everyone could clearly hear what Leila just said.