The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 79

Charley drove into the old district and found a small, unassuming restaurant.

It served local, home-style food and had a modest storefront. The owner, a young man with a round face, beamed the moment he saw Charley and called out, "Charley!"

"Childhood friend," Charley explained briefly.

Lavinia sat down and looked around. Old photographs hung on the walls, and the solid wood tables and chairs were spotlessly clean.

"Charley, do you prefer keeping a low profile with your friends?" Lavinia asked.

Charley, who was rinsing their bowls with hot tea water, paused slightly.

"When my grandfather lost the family fortune, he was ready to take his two sons out on the streets to beg. It was the laborers he used to hire—each chipping in a dollar—who pooled enough money to rent them a room so they wouldn't end up homeless."

Lavinia was momentarily stunned, lost in thought. "It feels like those kinds of stories don't happen anymore these days."

Old money elegance.

Lavinia held her teacup, thinking for a moment before suddenly speaking up. "That healthcare analyst job you mentioned this morning... I want to try for it. But I don't know if I'm qualified."

Charley looked up at her, his voice gentle and patient. "The jobs your seniors recommended had a low ceiling. Actually, you have a very strong academic background. If you enter a specialized sector in the financial industry, you'll have a unique advantage."

Lavinia stayed silent for a long while before saying softly, "I want to give it a shot. This time, I'm going to win."

Charley looked at her intently. "You saw the news about Sigrid's award?"

Lavinia nodded. "Someone bought her an award while simultaneously pulling strings to make sure no company hires me."

"So, you want to win?"

"I want to win. I have to win." Lavinia looked up, meeting Charley's gaze head-on.

"That's the right attitude, and you've come to the right person." The corner of Charley's lips curled up slightly. "I can recommend you to an investment firm run entirely by overseas partners. Mr. Harper's influence won't reach them." He paused. "But first, you need to get your Chartered Financial Analyst certification."

"A certification? Is it difficult?"

"My friend Jimmie Jennings runs a prep course for it. You can study there. If you push yourself, you can get certified in about a month."

It didn't sound too impossible. Lavinia nodded, resolving to give it a try.

Charley made a quick phone call and enrolled her in the course.

During lunch, Garnett called her twice, but she sent both straight to voicemail.

"As long as you're supportive," Lavinia said, keeping her eyes on her plate as she casually added, "I might not have time to check my phone while I'm in class during the day, so I might not reply right away."

"That's fine. As long as you're happy."

"Yeah. It feels good to have something to do."

Garnett quietly breathed a sigh of relief. For some reason, it seemed like she had finally figured things out on her own.

Or maybe she was just tired of fighting.

He picked through the food on his plate.

"The food from the five-star chef somehow isn't as good as your stir-fried vegetables," he noted.

"Freshly cooked food naturally tastes better," she mumbled.

"No wonder you told me not to buy vegetables," Garnett said with a faint smile.

"I'm full. Take your time." Lavinia stood up, took her empty bowl to the kitchen, and wiped down the stove while she was at it.

Garnett was left alone at the dining table. He glanced at her retreating back, then looked away, saying nothing more.