Chapter 491: I’m Okay
Claire Sinclair nodded. "Professor Taylor, on behalf of everyone you’ve helped, thank you. When the time comes, I’ll be sure to give you a huge feature in the Astoria Daily."
"Wow, that would be amazing! I’ve never been in the Astoria Daily before!" Cecily Taylor said, feigning excitement.
The corners of Claire Sinclair’s lips lifted slightly. ’You’ll get your chance to be in the papers, alright,’ she thought. ’It just might not be for anything good.’
Before long, the assistant, Lawson, had someone bring over four glasses of red wine and handed them out to the four mentors of "Shining Star."
At the same time, Cecily Taylor’s personal photographer arrived, DSLR camera in hand, ready to capture the moment of the four mentors together.
Claire Sinclair accepted the glass of red wine. She gave the liquid a meaningful look as a wicked smile played on her lips.
Cecily Taylor swirled the wine in her glass and smiled. "A toast to everyone. I’ll drink mine first to show my respect."
With that, she downed the red wine in her glass in one go.
The other three watched, their eyes fixed on her glass as the wine level dropped, until not a single drop remained.
Cecily Taylor tipped her empty glass downward. "There. Your turn."
Claire Sinclair looked at the wine in her hand. Her gaze shifted to the other two men before finally landing on Professor Master’s glass. "Professor Master, I’m not much of a drinker. Your glass has less wine in it. Could we trade?"
Just as Professor Master was about to agree, Cecily Taylor cut in. "It’s a custom in my family—trading glasses on a birthday is bad luck. Why don’t I have someone pour you a fresh glass?"
Claire Sinclair smiled and declined. "Pouring a new one would be wasteful. Instead, why don’t I pour a little of mine for Professor Fisher and Professor Master? We’ll call it sharing. There can’t be anything unlucky about that."
At her words, Cecily Taylor’s expression darkened once more.
Before Cecily could respond, Mimi Fisher readily accepted Claire Sinclair’s proposal. "Go right ahead, Professor Sinclair."
Professor Master also said, "I’m okay with that."
Claire Sinclair elegantly raised her glass and poured a little of her wine into both Mimi Fisher’s and Professor Master’s glasses.
Cecily Taylor could only watch as Claire poured the wine into the others’ glasses. Her expression was odd, and she looked as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
The assistant, Lawson, broke out in a cold sweat. ’I should say something,’ he thought, but he didn’t dare open his mouth. He could only pray silently. ’Claire Sinclair didn’t pour too much... I hope they’ll be okay after they drink it.’
After sharing her wine, Claire Sinclair smoothly clinked glasses with the other two mentors.
After clinking glasses, Mimi Fisher and Master began to drink.
Just as Claire Sinclair was about to take a sip, her phone suddenly vibrated. "Sorry," she said, "I need to take this call."
Setting her glass down, she pulled out her phone and answered.
If anyone had been watching her phone closely, they would have seen that the incoming call screen looked strange. However, others could clearly see that the phone was vibrating.
Claire Sinclair feigned a conversation, speaking into her phone. "Mr. Quincy, I’m having a drink."
"Uh-huh, I know. I won’t have too much. If I feel myself getting drunk, I’ll be sure to tell you."
"Don’t worry, Landon Winston is right here with me. I won’t get drunk, and even if I did, I’d have a ride home."
"Okay. See you tonight."
With that, Claire Sinclair hung up.
She looked over at the others and saw that Mimi Fisher’s face was beet red. Sweat was pouring down his forehead, and his expression was strange.
Master was also clutching his stomach. He gave Cecily Taylor an odd look. "Professor Taylor, was there something wrong with that wine?"
Cecily Taylor gave an awkward laugh. "I don’t think so. I drank it just now, and I’m perfectly fine."
Mimi Fisher suddenly doubled over, clutching his stomach. He nearly collapsed, but luckily, his assistant, Coco, caught him just in time.