Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared) novel Chapter 818

Although Ramona couldn't make heads or tails of what Agnes was saying, the sheer shift in Ryder's expression was undeniable. His normally stoic face was now a mask of arctic frost, signaling that Agnes had crossed a line.

She realized that, despite Agnes being Ryder's family, the nature of their relationship was shrouded in mystery. Ryder wasn't the kind of man you could dismiss or disrespect, even if the familial ties demanded a certain leniency. And there they were, mere journalists amidst a sea of high-rolling sponsors, rubbing elbows with the kind of people they couldn’t afford to piss off.

Panicked, Ramona rushed to steady a tottering Agnes, pleading, "Boss, you're wasted. How about we call it a night with the drinks, huh?"

But Agnes was beyond reason, shrugging off Ramona's helping hand and discarding her glass in favor of a half-empty bottle of whiskey. She staggered toward Ryder, words slurring heavily, "Ryder, you're no cutthroat businessman. You should've been a doc, an angel in scrubs, you get me? Just look at yourself, all done up in that monkey suit. It's all wrong, just wrong. You ought to be a doctor."

As she rambled, she lunged at Ryder, attempting to strip him of his suit. "Take off the jacket! You gotta ditch the suit, throw on some scrubs..." Agnes was clearly in the throes of a drunken spectacle.

The entire table watched, aghast, as she made a grab for Ryder's clothes. Ryder, face an impassive sheet of ice, didn't push her away, his stance almost permissive of her antics.

Thankfully, Ramona and Hans intervened before she could get any further with her undressing endeavor. Ramona knew that if her behavior cost the station a major client, their bonus would be as good as gone.