He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 323

That very night, Juniper changed into the bar's waitress uniform. In the breakroom, the female manager in a sharp, fitted suit gave her a stern warning. "Zara explained everything to me, but I have to make this clear. The bar happens to be hiring, and I'm the one who brought you in. If you get into trouble, I will absolutely claim I don't know you. It wasn't easy getting to where I am, and I won't stick my neck out for you."

Between adults, it was best to lay everything out on the table.

Juniper nodded, gratitude flashing in her eyes. "I understand."

The manager patted her shoulder. "This Lucas guy... to be honest, I'm all too familiar with him."

She pulled out a pack of slim cigarettes and paused before lighting one. "Do you mind?"

Juniper shook her head.

The manager was Mavis Marlowe. When she first started here, she had been a simple cocktail waitress.

Every inch of this place was dripping with money. They couldn't afford to offend any of the guests who walked through the doors. They had been strictly trained to never show anger, no matter how the customers treated them. If a situation escalated, they called the manager.

Mavis lit her cigarette and leaned against the wall. "He's an animal. He's ruined plenty of girls, but he gets away with it because he comes from a good family. The year I made manager, he took advantage of a young girl who had just started working here. He claimed she was just drunk, of course. You know this place is a playground for the rich. These people can cover the sky with one hand. The Thorne family offered two million dollars to sweep it under the rug. But the girl hadn't even graduated college yet. She refused the money and insisted on seeing Lucas behind bars."

Mavis took a deep breath, staring blankly at the ceiling. Despite her flawless makeup tonight, she suddenly looked ten years older.

"I only found out when I overheard Lucas bragging about it. He said her initial refusal made him angry. He felt his ego was bruised. The idea that some low-class woman thought she could send him to jail was an insult to him. He wanted to teach her a lesson."

Juniper's fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She wanted to storm out and kill Lucas right then and there.

Mavis tossed her cigarette butt into the nearby trash can and offered a final warning. "His favorite type is exactly like you. Poor background, stubborn personality, but blessed with a stunning face. Women like that are easy for him to play with and require no accountability. Even if something goes wrong, his family can clean up the mess. The moment you walk out there, you'll become his target. Watch your back."