His Wicked Obsession (Archer and Virginia) novel Chapter 214

They were superior and subordinate at the office, but in private, they were genuinely close friends.

Seeing Archer in such a state sparked a flicker of real concern in Julian's eyes.

Archer shot him a bleary glare and reached for his glass again.

Julian dropped into the seat opposite him and clamped a hand over the glass, probing gently.

"Is this about your w... about Virginia?"

Silence was his only answer.

Sighing in defeat, Julian poured himself a drink. "Fine. If you don't want to talk, I won't pry. But if you're determined to drink yourself into a stupor, at least pick something with a lower proof. You down a whole bottle of this stuff, and even Superman would be hugging the toilet."

After an agonizingly long silence.

Archer suddenly spoke, his voice cracked and raw. "She told me never to show my face around her again."

Julian froze, his glass hovering mid-air.

He opened his mouth to speak.

"...Boss, with all due respect."

"Look at it from Virginia's perspective. You're a married man with a kid. Yet you're showing up at your ex-wife's apartment, cooking her dinner, fighting her legal battles... Anyone in her shoes would get the wrong idea."

Archer didn't say a word. His eyes darkened as he snatched back his glass and downed a massive gulp of whiskey.

"Look, I'm not saying you're wrong for wanting to help her, but you have to actually let her know why you're doing it. If you just bottle everything up inside, how the hell is she supposed to read your mind?"

Gripping his glass, a flicker of internal conflict flashed in Archer's eyes.

Just then, the door to their private lounge was unexpectedly pushed open.

A young woman in a skin-tight mini dress stumbled in, clutching a glass of red wine.

Before either man could react, she dramatically tripped, spilling the entire glass of wine all over Archer's discarded jacket.

The dark grey custom fabric instantly soaked up a massive, ruinous crimson stain.

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