He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 63

He offered a sharp, cynical smile. "Before you showed up, did you even read your boss's proposal?"

Juniper turned to look at Caleb. Caleb's expression remained perfectly neutral, revealing absolutely nothing.

She knew The Xavier Family was currently dealing with internal turbulence and Caleb was struggling, so she assumed the proposal had something to do with leveraging his family's assets.

He was hoping Nelson would step in to back him.

So, she nodded. "I'm generally aware of it."

Hearing those words, Caleb quietly lifted his glass and took a slow sip.

Nelson scoffed again, the sound making Juniper grind her teeth in silent fury.

Truth be told, Nelson's sheer arrogance was infuriating.

He rested his chin in his hand, his gaze locked intently on her face, waiting to see just how long she could keep up the act.

"Alright then. Since Ms. Lane is so well-informed, she must be eager to proceed. But let's eat first."

During her time at the auction house, Juniper had grown accustomed to this kind of toxic drinking culture.

Men loved using alcohol as a power play. She had built up a heavy tolerance; even when it felt like her stomach was bleeding out, she had to keep drinking.

The servers quietly brought out the courses. The two men exchanged occasional remarks, but entirely steered clear of the proposal.

Juniper couldn't help but wonder why Caleb had sought out Nelson in the first place.

The meal dragged on for over half an hour. The alcohol she had been suppressing began to hit her system with aggressive force, but her professional instincts demanded she show absolutely no weakness.

She clenched her fists, fighting a suffocating wave of dizziness to stay awake, though her thoughts relentlessly began to drift.

Nelson's fingers tapped rhythmically against the table, silent, almost like a countdown.

The private room fell quiet, the gentle sound of the decorative water feature filling the void as the final dishes were cleared.

Caleb's phone suddenly rang. He stood up slowly. "I need to take this."

Juniper forced her spine straight. If not for the hazy glaze completely taking over her eyes, Nelson might have actually believed she was sober.

He held up a single finger right in front of her face. "How many?"

She looked up, her expression a mix of offense and disdain. "Do you think I'm a psycho?"

Nelson mockingly clapped his hands. "Nice, expanding your vocabulary."

In her drunken haze, she dreamt she was being swarmed by mosquitoes, biting at her neck and legs.

She weakly swatted the air, her brows furrowing, but the sensation refused to stop.

The door was suddenly pushed open by a server. "Excuse me, here is the complimentary..."

The words died in her throat as she froze, staring in shock as the incredibly handsome man buried his face into the neck of the unidentifiable woman in his lap.

She wanted to gasp, the serving tray slipping from her hands and clattering loudly against the floor.

Nelson's predatory gaze shot up from over Juniper's shoulder, his tone laced with lethal irritation. "Get the hell out."

Terrified, the server slapped a hand over her mouth and bolted out the door, entirely abandoning the dropped tray.

Heart pounding frantically, she sprinted toward the far end of the corridor where her coworkers eagerly intercepted her. "Well? Well? Did you get a good look at him?"

The server's face was flushed a vibrant crimson, one hand clutching her uniform tightly.

The hotel staff all wore standardized outfits.

When Nelson had first walked in earlier that evening, every server who crossed his path had stopped and stared. They had never seen a man that breathtakingly attractive.