He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 145

Andre shifted uncomfortably. He was indeed just a bartender, but Nelson's tone felt dripping with mockery.

He swallowed hard, completely failing to read the billionaire's intentions.

Juniper, however, was giving it serious thought. Eleanor had chosen him, so he had to be a decent person.

And since Nelson wasn't having a meltdown, did that mean he approved too?

So he was a bartender—who said bartenders couldn't have a future?

The club was clearly high-end; his salary was probably better than hers.

Her own career was barely getting off the ground; she had no right to look down on anyone.

They were both just trying to make a living.

Andre offered an awkward smile. "Ms. Lane, what kind of drink would you like? I'll pour it for you."

Juniper looked into his eyes, searching for something familiar, before finally deciding to just let things play out naturally. "I don't drink, thank you."

"Is your bag from MEM? These hand-painted designs are pretty niche. I didn't expect you to be into them."

Juniper was pleasantly surprised. The bag she carried was just a regular canvas tote, but the hand-painted pattern was unique. She was a long-time fan of the artist and owned several of their designs.

"It is. I didn't expect you to recognize it."

"Did you grab last year's Christmas edition? It's the perfect grocery run tote."

"I did. I really loved the red and green elements."

Her eyes crinkled with genuine amusement, completely oblivious to the terrifying aura radiating from a certain someone in the room.

Julian rested his chin on his hand, looking back and forth between the perfectly composed Juniper and the dangerously dark Nelson.

The idiot was literally shooting himself in the foot.

Andre genuinely did like those designs; he had been an art major in college. He eagerly pulled out his phone. "I actually recreated a few of those patterns on my day off, complete with the red and green themes."

Juniper leaned in closer to look. "The brushstrokes are so detailed. Did you use a tablet?"

Julian stood up, trying to defuse the bomb. "Juniper, Nelson's heart isn't great. Just talk it out. Don't go stabbing each other where it hurts just to prove a point."

Juniper truly couldn't fathom what she had said since walking into the room that could have triggered such an insane reaction.

"Nelson, are you a giant baby? Does the whole world have to cater to your every mood?"

Julian's heart dropped to his stomach. *Game over.*

Sitting beside her, Andre was absolutely stunned by her nerve. She dared to speak to Nelson Saint like that?

This was Nelson Saint...

Andre's heart hammered against his ribs in terror, only to hear Nelson's dark, gravelly voice demand, "I asked you. Do you like his eyes?"

Juniper thought he was being completely unreasonable and stared him dead in the eye. "Yes."

As long as those eyes looked like *his*, she would smile at them.

Nelson felt his raging fury hit a wall of pure ice. He stared coldly at Juniper, watching her continue to shield a man she had just met like a fiercely protective mother hen.