Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 73

Carter half-supported Audrina as they made their way toward the elevators.

Audrina kept her head tucked, her long hair spilling forward to conceal most of her face. Stumbling heavily and leaning fully against his arm, she simply looked like an ordinary girl who had partied too hard and was being dragged home by a friend.

The end of the corridor opened up into the lobby.

Roland was lounging on a sofa, legs crossed, lazily tapping his fingers against the armrest while humming a light tune.

The moment Carter guided his companion around the corner into the lobby's lounge area, Roland's gaze snapped over.

He narrowed his eyes, zeroing in on the woman tucked against Carter's side.

Was that Audrina? He couldn't be entirely sure.

He got to his feet, just about to call out—

"Mr. Ladd."

A voice bore down heavily from behind him.

Roland spun around and saw Sebastian walking straight toward him.

The man looked immaculate in his tailored suit. His pace seemed unhurried, yet an overwhelming, suffocating pressure radiated from him even three steps away.

"Mr. Hawthorne?" Roland instantly wiped the smug look off his face, replacing it with an obsequious smile. "What a coincidence! Are you dining here tonight as well?"

In the brief moment it took for the greeting, Carter had already ushered Audrina into the elevator.

He glanced down at the woman leaning against his shoulder. "Jesus, the way he said 'Mr. Ladd' just gave me chills."

Audrina didn't respond, slumping completely limp against him.

Inside the elevator, Carter freed up one hand to dial the front desk.

"It's Carter Garrison," he said, dropping all hints of his usual joking tone. "Book a room for me, and look up which room Ken Larson is in."

The person on the other end read out Ken's room number and booked the only remaining room available—the one right next door.

Sebastian stared him down, skipping the pleasantries. "I heard Prestige Group is considering running ads with your station. So, did you intentionally get your colleague drunk just to serve her up to Ken Larson's bed in exchange for an advertising contract?"

The blunt accusation sent a chill straight down Roland's spine, causing his posture to buckle instinctively.

Before he could even stammer a reply with his head down, Sebastian continued. "Do you have any idea what your actions constitute under the law?"

The man's voice was steady and measured. "If the victim is intoxicated to the point of losing consciousness, and you intentionally deliver her to a specific location fully aware of Ken Larson's intent, that makes you an accessory to sexual assault."

"According to the Penal Code regarding assault, forcing a woman against her will carries a prison sentence of three to ten years. And an accessory faces the exact same penalty as the primary offender."

The icy hostility radiating from Sebastian grew overwhelmingly oppressive.

Sweat began to bead on Roland's forehead, and his knees went weak.

He opened his mouth, his voice trembling with guilt. "M-Mr. Hawthorne, I didn't... I merely had her share a couple of drinks with Mr. Larson. I never intended..."

No matter how he tried to spin it, it sounded like a pathetic excuse.