The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 52

Garnett shoved the black card back into his pocket, pulled the front door open, and headed out. He'd stay at a hotel tonight.

Just as he stepped outside, he stopped. After a moment's hesitation, he turned back and tossed the card onto the entryway console.

She could use it or not. He wasn't being stingy; she was just being utterly ridiculous.

Sitting in his private car on the way to the hotel, the evening had entirely lost its appeal.

He had no idea whose fault it was that his marriage had turned into such a mess.

***

Right before bed, Lavinia received a message from Scott Lambert:

[Hey, an alumni of ours started a biotech company and is looking for an account manager. No set office hours, which seems to fit what you're looking for. Want me to introduce you?]

Lavinia perked up and replied: [Thank you! I'm available whenever. When works best for him?]

[The day after tomorrow, in the morning. I'll send you the address.]

Lavinia put her phone down and stared out the window.

She needed something to distract herself. More importantly, she needed to learn how to make her own money.

It didn't matter if it wasn't much. If the pay was low, she'd simply spend less.

One day, she was going to leave Garnett Harper, and she refused to rely on his charity to survive.

***

In the Chairman's office at Bionera Biosciences, Scott was expertly preparing a fresh pot of artisanal coffee, handling the equipment like a pro. It was obvious he was a regular here.

The Chairman, Duncan Judd, was flipping through Lavinia's resume.

"Your grades were phenomenal. It's a shame you didn't become a doctor."

One of those men was someone Lavinia knew. It was Charley Sheffield.

He was wearing a bespoke suit that perfectly accentuated his imposing, model-like stature, his sharp and striking features making him stand out effortlessly in the crowd.

Scott lowered his voice. "Do you know him?"

For some inexplicable reason, Lavinia shook her head. "No. Never seen him."

"The middle-aged man next to him is the Mayor," Scott whispered.

Lavinia froze. The Mayor? Charley knew the Mayor? Was he pitching a fund to city officials?

The group had walked by so quickly that he likely hadn't noticed her.

She prayed he hadn't.

Whenever she was around him, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame.