The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 57

Shortly after the dinner began, Duncan started pitching the company's products. After barely two sentences, Tobin cut him off.

"Mr. Judd, where's your bottle girl? Let the girl pitch it to me."

He emphasized the word 'girl' just enough to make it sound incredibly demeaning.

Lavinia's fingers curled into fists. If Duncan hadn't been sitting right there, she would have slapped him across the face. But for now, she had to endure it.

She stood up, picked up the product brochure, and delivered a flawless presentation on the reagents' performance, specifications, and clinical applications. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear.

Tobin lounged in his chair, legs crossed, watching her with a sleazy smile.

When she finished, he gave a slow, mocking clap. "Excellent presentation. My company will definitely take it under consideration."

He poured half a glass of red wine and slid it in front of her.

"To you, Mrs. Harper."

Duncan quickly stood up. "Mr. Jensen, Lavinia doesn't drink. I'll take this one for her."

"Mr. Judd." Tobin didn't even look at him, his eyes completely locked on Lavinia. "If you don't give me face, how are we supposed to do business?"

Lavinia stared at the glass, then picked it up.

"To you, Mr. Jensen."

She drank half the glass. Her face flushed instantly, burning hot.

Watching her, the corners of Tobin's mouth curled upward. After a few minutes of idle chatter, he grabbed the bottle and filled her glass to the absolute brim.

A full glass. The wine was so dark it looked almost black.

Lavinia stared at it, unmoving.

She knew she couldn't handle any more. And even if she drank herself into a coma, he wasn't going to sign the contract. He would only escalate and demand worse.

"Mr. Jensen, I really can't drink anymore."

The smirk on Tobin's face vanished for a split second. He reached out and snatched her glass.

"If you won't drink it, I'll drink it for you."

He deliberately spun the glass, aligning his mouth exactly over her lipstick mark. He maintained eye contact with her the entire time he drank.

His expression turned instantly murderous. He stepped into the room, his leather shoes slamming against the hardwood floor with heavy, measured thuds.

Tobin stood up, forcing a stiff, awkward laugh. "Garnett! What brings you here?"

Garnett ignored him. He stared at the wine bottle in front of Tobin for two agonizing seconds.

"Since you're so thirsty, Mr. Jensen, I'll drink with you."

Tobin's face drained of all color.

Garnett grabbed the bottle and emptied the rest of the wine into a massive glass decanter, slamming it onto the table directly in front of Tobin.

"This should be enough for you."

Tobin stared at the overflowing decanter, his fake smile completely crumbling. "Garnett, what is this? She came here to work as an escort tonight. If she wasn't drinking with me, she'd be drinking with someone else."

An escort.

The words pierced Lavinia's ears like needles. Her lips trembled, her nails biting deep into her skin.

Duncan shot up in a panic, desperate to clarify. "Mr. Jensen, you misunderstand! Lavinia is our account manager, she isn't—"