Chapter 27 I Am Your Midnight Snack
John's gaze was burning and direct—Quinley could feel the pressure and intensity radiating from him. But she pretended not to notice.
The music continued playing, and John seemed to lose interest. He grabbed the microphone and walked toward Quinley. "I don't think I've seen you before?"
He studied her with hawk-like eyes, scrutinizing every detail from head to toe.
"Mr. Cortez, pleasure to meet you." Quinley stood and extended her slender hand for a handshake.
"You know me?" John's curiosity was piqued. His gaze locked onto her like chains as he sat down beside her.
She felt disgusted but didn't move away. "Mr. Cortez, let's have a drink." Quinley handed him a wine glass filled with Cabernet Sauvignon from the table. He accepted it and drained it in one gulp, his eyes never leaving her face.
Quinley had an innocent appearance, but her eyes carried hints of suggestion and flirtation—exactly John's type.
"You still haven't told me how you know me." After downing the drink, John's hand landed directly on Quinley's thigh, his rough fingertips clearly possessive. Quinley shifted her legs slightly.
She understood perfectly—PR required charm, but not cheapness. Once you became cheap, you were no different from the bar girls. Men only obsessed over women they couldn't have.
"Who wouldn't know Mr. Cortez's reputation? The reason the Davis Group chose to partner with Redspire Ventures is because they value your standing in the industry." She was setting a trap for John.
John was suspicious—he dealt in underground business and cared most about his reputation. "What kind of standing? Tell me more."
Quinley smiled coyly. "Everyone says you're a man of principle who values loyalty. If this were the old days, you'd be the embodiment of chivalric spirit."
The praise was heavy-handed, but John ate it up. He looked at her sideways. "You've got a smooth tongue—I like what you're saying." He reached out to pull her into his embrace.
Quinley was quick—just as his arm was about to touch her, she stood up directly. "Ruby, come sit next to Mr. Cortez."
The PR department had rules—everyone handled their own targets, and the commission was theirs. Ruby was a department veteran, and while Quinley had some achievements, she wasn't senior enough to steal credit. When John had been drawn away by Quinley earlier, Ruby's expression had already soured. With Quinley's gesture, Ruby immediately relaxed and hurried over.
"Mr. Cortez, would you like to sing another song? You sang with such emotion just now." Ruby began her flattery.
Quinley sat down with Ruby between them and continued pouring drinks. John had Ruby in his arms but his gaze remained on Quinley. "Tell me more things that make me happy—I love hearing them."
So Quinley continued praising him, making him laugh heartily. Seeing his good mood, Quinley gave Ruby a meaningful look. She wouldn't steal the credit—Ruby should be the one to close this deal.
Ruby understood immediately and whispered in his ear at the perfect moment, "Mr. Cortez, please be generous with the venture capital project just this once." The timing was perfect, and the effect was immediate.
"Alright." John relented.
Ruby was thrilled—landing John meant she'd get at least a ten-thousand-dollar commission. In her excitement, she threw her arms around John's neck and kissed his cheek. John seemed disgusted and pushed her away roughly.
"Don't act like one of those club girls." Ruby knew she'd overstepped but didn't apologize, only pouted coquettishly. "I'm not like that."
A weight lifted slightly from Quinley's chest. Her purpose here was to make this deal happen, and now that it was settled, she needed to find a way to escape.
"Mr. Cortez, I'll just use the restroom." As she stood, John grabbed her wrist.
"Didn't you want me to be generous? If you leave now, I can't guarantee this project won't fall through." The threat was heavy.
Quinley's heart tightened, but her smile remained unchanged. "I'm not leaving—just using the restroom."
"Is that so?" John suddenly stood. "I'll come with you." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward the corridor.
Everyone in nightlife venues knew what could happen in restrooms. Quinley certainly understood John's intentions. But she was in PR, not prostitution—she didn't cross certain lines.
"Mr. Cortez, it's too noisy here. Let's go outside." She looked bashful and whispered something in his ear.
John immediately beamed. "I love women who know what's what." He held her tighter as they stumbled out of the private room.
Quinley felt sick but had to endure it. Tonight, she had to keep John satisfied, or if the venture capital project fell through, she'd have no way to explain it to Lauren.
"Mr. Cortez, I'm a bit hungry. Could we get some late-night snacks first?" John had underground connections, and Quinley had done her homework—he was domineering and violent, hitting both men and women. So dealing with him required not just caution, but extreme care.
John pulled a hotel key card from his pocket and slowly slipped it into Quinley's shirt front. "I'm your late-night snack—all you can eat." He made a crude joke.
His large hand crawled up her waist, but Quinley grabbed it, pretending to be coy. "You're such a joker—I meant I'm hungry here." She poked his stomach.
But John seized her hand, ready to take her right there in the hallway. "The elevator's here—let's go."
The elevator happened to open on their floor, and John pushed her inside. His movements were rough, and Quinley's arm hit the elevator wall, immediately turning red. In the cramped space, besides them, there was a uniformed hotel staff member. John's eyes were predatory, watching her like a fat, tender deer.
The elevator descended two floors before the staff member left. Now only the two of them remained. A dangerous atmosphere began to permeate the space. Quinley struggled to stay calm, but her palms were already sweating. She knew escaping John's control wouldn't be easy.
She deliberately tried to divert his attention. "I know a late-night restaurant nearby—their BBQ ribs are amazing. Let me treat you?"
"Ribs? Come back to my room and I guarantee you'll eat until you're stuffed." As he spoke, he was already looming over her.