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I stepped up and pulled out Lauren's name.
"Congrats to my best friend, Lauren Parker!"
Lauren, huddled in the corner, flinched as if electrocuted, her expression devoid of joy.
"Mrs. Grant, can I pass this to someone else?"
Sophia deferred to me."That's up to the drawer."
Lauren pleaded," Emma, please give it to someone else."
I teased," Lauren, at the gala, weren't you eager to share my luck?"
"Now luck's yours, and you're dodging? You don't think Mrs. Grant's setting you up, do you?"
Lauren waved her hands, feigning generosity." We're best friends—your win's mine. Let someone else have it."
"Let?"
"Giving it away's unfair. We'd have to redraw."
Seeing me relent, Lauren sighed in relief.
I deliberately wrote her name on a new slip, tossed it back in, and shook the box.
I drew again."Congrats to our winner—Lauren Parker."
Her face turned green.
She didn't know the box was filled with only her name.
A hundred, a thousand draws—it'd always be her.
Mimicking her gala chant, I said," Lauren, your luck's incredible! I'm so jealous!"
Before she could refuse, I pulled her onto the stage and filled a glass of wine for her. .
"Congrats, Lauren!"
Sophia joined, holding juice."To your luck!"
With Sophia toasting, Lauren couldn't refuse. She shot me a venomous look before downing the wine. She'd already been drinking heavily, constantly pressuring me to do the same earlier.
This additional glass left her red - faced, unsteady on her feet, and her mind clouded. "Thanks, Mrs. Grant...for this chance..."
She missed the ice in Sophia's eyes.
The boss watched, too scared to intervene.
Sophia let everyone order." Don't hold back. It's Lauren's treat, but my money."
"Order the priciest stuff—Lauren gets a bigger bonus, so she can treat you again."
Everyone went wild.
I ordered the most expensive snacks, the priciest wine, then, for kicks, the lounge's hottest male host to serve drinks.
Drunk, Lauren saw him and leaned into me." Emma, so unfair, not getting me one…"
Worried we hadn't spent enough, I ordered every host in the place.
Surrounded by them, Lauren beamed widely. She had no idea that this moment of indulgence would soon lead to her downfall.
