Chapter 421: She’s Just Getting Started

Bennett dropped the bottles onto the table with a loud clink and immediately grabbed one. She poured herself a full glass, raised it to her lips, and emptied it in a few long swallows without so much as blinking. Then she pushed another glass toward Lucas, her eyes already shining with excitement.

"Drink."

Lucas picked it up and took a measured sip. By the time he had taken three more, Bennett had already finished her second glass and was pouring herself a third. She downed that one just as quickly before turning her attention to his half-full glass.

She stared at it for a moment, looking almost offended, then reached across the table and snatched it from his hand.

"You’re drinking like somebody died," she complained, holding the glass up in front of him. "This is a celebration! At least try to get into the mood. Aren’t you happy?"

Without waiting for his response, she returned the glass to him and watched expectantly until he took a longer drink. Satisfied, she finally leaned back.

Another waiter arrived with a fresh tray, and Bennett’s face immediately lit up.

"Leave everything. And bring more when we’re done with these."

The waiter nodded and hurried away. Bennett wasted no time opening another bottle. She poured for both of them before raising her glass and striking it against Lucas’s with enough force to send some of the drink spilling over the rim.

"To the Bugatti. To Moretti crying in his office. And to us!"

She emptied her glass while Lucas took another measured drink. By then, she was already talking about the dealership, the expressions on the employees’ faces, and how satisfying it had been to walk out with such an expensive car.

Her voice grew louder with every passing minute, occasionally rising above the music.

By the fourth bottle, Bennett could no longer bring herself to remain seated. She climbed out of the booth, glass in hand, and began moving to the Italian song playing through the speakers.

Calling it dancing would have been generous. She swayed enthusiastically, throwing herself into the music with little regard for rhythm, occasionally bursting into laughter for no apparent reason. Every few steps, she would raise her glass and take another drink.

Lucas remained comfortably seated, watching her with his usual composure.

Eventually, she leaned down beside him, placing one hand on his shoulder to steady herself before bringing her face close to his ear.

"You’re too quiet. It’s making me drink more."

She burst into laughter at her own joke and straightened up. For a moment, she nearly lost her balance, but managed to catch herself against the table. She finished the remaining alcohol in her glass and reached for another bottle without bothering to sit down.

The music changed, and her movements became even less coordinated. After a while, she reached down and tugged at Lucas’s arm.

"Come on! Just one dance. You’re acting like my bodyguard."

"I’m fine here."

Bennett pulled an exaggerated expression of disappointment before finally giving up. She returned to the booth, though instead of settling into her previous position, she slid right beside him until their bodies were pressed together.

She continued talking, her hand resting on his forearm and occasionally moving as she gestured. Most of what she said had little direction, and every few sentences were interrupted by another burst of laughter.

Lucas didn’t seem particularly bothered. He allowed her to lean against him, responding whenever she addressed him directly, though most of the time he simply listened.

When the bottles began running low, Bennett ordered another round. She even made a point of telling the waiter that they weren’t leaving until neither of them could walk straight.

Across the upper level, Genevieve hadn’t moved.

Her attention remained fixed on their table, her jaw tightening whenever Bennett leaned closer or casually touched Lucas. Each laugh, each lingering contact, only added to the unpleasant feeling building inside her.

She had already taken the pictures she needed. Now she was simply watching, gathering more reasons to justify what she intended to do.

Meanwhile, Bennett was practically glued to Lucas.

Her head eventually found its way onto his shoulder, and she continued talking in increasingly slurred sentences. She praised the club, the deal, and the car, insisting that she hadn’t felt this carefree in months.

After a while, she lifted her head and reached for her glass, only to discover that it was empty.

She frowned at it before turning toward Lucas.

"Seriously? You’re still not drinking properly. Give me that."

Before he could respond, she took his glass and drank from it herself, returning it with barely anything left.

Lucas didn’t bother arguing. When a waiter passed by, he ordered a glass of water and placed it in front of her.

Bennett looked at it as though he had offered her something poisonous.

"What’s this?"

"Water."

"I don’t want water."

She pushed it aside and reached for the bottle instead.

Her movements were becoming noticeably heavier. When she eventually decided to dance again, she had to hold onto the edge of the table for a moment before managing to straighten herself.

The music had slowed, but that didn’t stop her. With her eyes half-closed and a satisfied smile on her face, she swayed gently to the rhythm, seemingly convinced that the entire club belonged to her.

Eventually, she returned to the booth and settled even closer to Lucas, folding one leg beneath herself as she rested her shoulder against him.

"I like this," she murmured.

Lucas glanced at her.

"You like what?"

"You. You’re not always talking." She gave a small laugh. "Most men can’t stop talking whenever they’re trying to impress me."

"I’m not trying to impress you."

Bennett burst into another round of laughter.

"That’s why it’s working!"

She rested a hand on his thigh without giving it much thought and continued rambling about the car, the club, and how she wished the night would never end.

Lucas remained still, allowing her to enjoy herself. Whenever he tried moving the glass of water closer, she would push it away and reach for the alcohol instead.

Eventually, Genevieve stood up.

For another moment, she remained where she was, her eyes fixed on the booth.

Bennett was practically draped over Lucas now, her head resting against his shoulder as she laughed at something. One hand remained on him, while the other loosely held her glass. Empty bottles had begun crowding their table.

The sight left a bitter taste in Genevieve’s mouth.

She finally turned away.

Her steps remained controlled as she made her way toward the exit, but her jaw was clenched, and her fingers were already wrapped tightly around her phone. She didn’t spare the booth another glance.

The music gradually faded as she passed through the doors and stepped into the cooler night air.

Stopping beneath one of the lights near the entrance, she unlocked her phone and opened her conversation with her father.

The pictures she had taken earlier were still there.

Lucas sitting in the booth. Lucas looking past her. That same indifferent expression he had worn when he dismissed her as though she meant absolutely nothing.

She stared at them for a few seconds, her thumb hovering over the screen.

Then she attached the pictures and began typing.

The man in these pictures harassed me inside the club tonight. He kept touching me, groping me, and trying to take advantage of me even after I told him I wasn’t interested. I want something done about it.

She read the message once before hitting send.

It was delivered almost immediately.

Genevieve locked her phone, let out a quiet breath through her nose, and walked away without looking back at the building.

Back inside, Bennett remained completely unaware of what had just happened.

She was practically sprawled against Lucas now, her body heavy and relaxed, one arm draped across him as though she had forgotten how to sit upright. Every few seconds, she mumbled something incomprehensible, laughed to herself, and pressed her face closer against his shoulder.

The glass in her hand was becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Whenever she attempted to drink, most of the liquid missed her mouth and trickled down her chin.

Rather than being embarrassed, she simply laughed harder.

A waiter appeared beside the booth, carrying another tray of bottles. He wore the same polite smile he had maintained throughout the evening.

"Would you like another round?"

Lucas glanced at the tray before looking at Bennett, who was currently attempting to pour from an empty bottle while leaning heavily against him.

"No. Take them away."

The waiter hesitated, perhaps expecting the woman to object.

Lucas didn’t change his expression.

"She has had enough. Clear the bottles from the table."

The waiter quickly nodded and stepped away with the tray.

Bennett noticed only after he had already begun walking off. She slowly lifted her head, squinting in his direction.

"Hey... Where’s he going with my drinks?"

"You’re done."

She blinked at Lucas, seemingly taking a few seconds to process his words. Then a crooked smile spread across her face.

"I’m fine. I’m just getting started."

Lucas shifted slightly, catching her before she could slide any further down the seat.

"Bennett, it’s time to go."