A sudden flush of heat swept through him, leaving him feeling agitated and increasingly uncomfortable.

Initially, he attributed the warmth to the alcohol, yet the escalating intensity made him question this assumption.

The feeling was not new to him.

He remembered a similar sensation from a high school reunion last year, a night he and Tilda had been drugged. The current experience was eerily similar.

Could someone have tampered with his food or drink again?

Keanu's face clouded over with concern; he knew he couldn't sit around pondering. Escaping the situation became his immediate focus.

"I need to step out for a moment-enjoy your dinner," he announced, pushing his chair back and heading for the exit.

The drunk sales director called out, "Hey, Mr. Wright, there's a bathroom right here! Where are you going?"

Rosie's gaze sharpened as she rose to her feet. "He might be feeling unwell from the drinks. I'll go see how he's doing."

The sales director praised her. "Rosie, always so attentive. Go on."

"Thank you."

As Keanu walked faster towards the exit, the heat inside him intensified. He pinched his arm to maintain focus and hastened his steps.

Rosie quickly followed him out and reached to support him, asking, "Mr. Wright, are you okay? Did you have too much to drink?"

Her touch and the subtle fragrance of her perfume only intensified his discomfort.

The allure was dangerously tempting for Keanu in his weakened state.

Keanu looked at her, gulped, and managed to speak. "Let go of me."

However, Rosie did not let go but instead tightened her hold.

"Mr. Wright, you're really warm! It seems like you've had too much. Let me help you get home," she said.

"No need to bother. I can walk on my own," Keanu muttered, trying to pull away from Rosie.

But the heat surging through his body made him instinctively seek support. His limbs felt heavy, his mind clouded.

Somewhere deep inside, a warning bell rang. Something was wrong. He forced himself to resist, barely managing to suppress the urge to hold onto her.

Rosie, however, remained steadfast, tightening her grip she said firmly. "My boss told me to make sure you're okay, and I can't disobey his instructions."

... around his arm. "It's fine,"

She ignored his weak protests and continued leading him toward the restaurant exit.