Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 39

With it being the company's grand anniversary, Waldo was flooded with endless waves of guests attempting to toast the family patriarch.

Standing fiercely at his side, Audrina intercepted every single glass, refusing no one.

"To your health, Mr. Sutton—"

"He is still recovering. I'll take this on his behalf." She knocked back the champagne without missing a beat.

Seated in the place of honor, Waldo's brow furrowed deeper as he watched her down glass after glass.

After half an hour of this, the most important greetings were concluded.

Waldo patted her hand. "Audrina, that's enough. Don't drink anymore."

"It's fine. I have high tolerance."

Waldo swept a critical eye over the crowd. "Where is that brat? He showed his face for exactly two minutes tonight before vanishing!"

She smiled placatingly. "He's busy. There are a lot of people to socialize with."

Waldo huffed. "Busier than me? It's our anniversary, and he abandons his fiancée to block drinks for me. Absolutely unacceptable!"

He waved over a server, giving a few low instructions. Shortly after, the server returned with a cup of warm, soothing tea and set it by her hand.

Pushing the cup toward her, he urged, "Drink this while it's hot, and go rest up. You must be exhausted playing bodyguard for an old man all night."

Lowering her eyes with a soft smile, she picked it up and took a sip.

"I'm not tired. You head back to your suite. For us young people, the night has just begun."

Waldo delivered a few final, worrying warnings before allowing his attendants to escort him away.

Audrina went looking for Willow, eventually finding her drinking heavily at another table.

Approaching, she caught her mid-lecture to some socialite. "Men are all the same. They'll flood you with flowers when they're chasing you, but the minute they hook you, they play dead."

Carter appeared out of nowhere. Catching her voice, he instinctually glanced in her direction.

It was that girl again.

He then quipped, "Where's your little pop star friend?"

Willow glared at him. "Who the hell are you? Do I look like I gave you permission to call her that?"

Looking past him, she finally spotted Audrina. "Over here!"

She didn't see the air around the man behind her plummet by another ten degrees.

Willow chewed on the dry skin of her lip, watching Zachary's retreating back with a highly complicated expression.

Carter scrutinized the three of them in turn, finding this dynamic incredibly entertaining.

Inside the lounge, the lighting was sultry and the music lazy. They claimed a circular VIP booth, the table already littered with bottles. The pitch-black night and the faint sound of crashing waves formed a backdrop outside the windows.

As they walked, Zachary gazed down at her. She tilted her face up to him, a radiant, crescent-eyed smile on her lips.

His Adam's apple bobbed. Leaning close, he whispered, "Let's head back early tonight. You promised we'd try something new."

She tipped her head, eyes glowing softly. "What's the rush? I'm not done having fun yet."

Slipping out of his embrace, she slid into the booth and patted the leather seat next to her. "Sit here."

Zachary laughed and slid in beside her.

The group had barely settled down.

Carter prodded, "Zachary, my man, how much have you had tonight? Still going strong?"