Chapter 959: Coffee in Patrick’s Office

Chapter 959: Coffee in Patrick’s Office

There were plenty of booths and the place was huge. It had just opened, so it was packed and lively — took a while to track anyone down.

Finally, on the second floor, they found Erik, Otto, and a few other bosses from the same industry. Randall had even sent his resume to two of them, but never heard back.

Watching them all buddy up together, arms around each other's shoulders, Randall thought he understood why.

He said nothing. Jenny spotted her father and ran toward him in tears. "Dad." She looked at the women hanging off his arms and started crying again.

Erik looked up at his daughter through bleary eyes. "Jenny, what are you doing here?"

Randall had found who they were looking for. He grabbed Susan's hand and turned to leave.

"Randall, where are you going?" Jenny called out loudly.

Seeing Randall about to walk out — and Susan with him — Erik put it all together. He glanced at his daughter with a smile. She'd spoken up at just the right moment.

"Randall, come here — let me introduce you. We were just talking about you." What he didn't say was that he'd privately told these men to reject any job applications from Randall and report back to him. Tonight's drinking was his way of thanking them for tipping him off that Randall was still job hunting.

Randall's situation was tricky — his background wasn't in tech, yet he was trying to break into the industry. Big companies wouldn't look at him, small ones couldn't even make payroll. Only mid-sized companies like theirs, with more flexible standards, were a real option. And in a circle this small, all the bosses knew each other. Cutting Randall off completely was as easy as sharing a meal.

Randall had already figured this out. He kept his thoughts hidden behind a calm expression. "Erik, now that I've found you, I won't keep you. We'll head out."

Otto had been drinking too and was a little fuzzy. He spotted Randall and Susan, stood up, and decided to play matchmaker.

He pushed them both toward the group. "Where are you rushing off to? Stay and have a drink — Erik's been saying great things about you."

Everyone's eyes shifted from Randall to Susan. They saw the two holding hands and figured out the relationship.

A glass was placed in front of Randall. "Have a drink, get to know everyone."

Randall waved it off. "I'm driving later."

He tried to lead Susan out, but their path was blocked.

The rejected glass was pushed toward Susan instead. "Then how about this lady has one?"

Randall slid the glass back. "Sorry, she's allergic to alcohol."

Susan nodded. "If I drink, someone's going to end up dead."

Everyone looked a little awkward. Even if they suspected it wasn't true, no one wanted to risk it — what if something actually happened?

A moment later, Otto quickly grabbed a soft drink and held it out to Susan. "Okay, this is just a drink. You can have this, right?"

Susan looked at it, remembering what Randall had told her. "I don't drink soft drinks."

"Then what do you drink?"

Susan glanced over the table and finally said, "Coffee."

Erik waved at one of his guys. "Go get this lady a coffee."

Susan said, "...I don't want coffee from here. I want coffee from Patrick's office."

"Oh? And where's Patrick's office?" Everyone's curiosity was piqued. Erik stood up and moved closer to Susan. When he opened his mouth, the stench of cigarettes and liquor hit her hard.

Susan didn't flinch. "The police station."

Everyone went quiet for a second. The police?

Randall's mouth curved slightly. "Erik, good to know you're doing well. We'll get going — her uncle will come looking if she's out too late."

He took Susan's hand and turned to leave. Susan followed behind — but suddenly Jenny rushed over, shoved Susan aside, broke their grip, and grabbed Randall's wrist. "Randall, don't go. Help me get my dad home."

"Oh—" Susan had been holding Randall's hand when she was suddenly pushed sideways. She nearly stumbled, but caught herself. Then, out of nowhere, the man reeking of alcohol nearby reached out and tried to pull her into a hug.

Randall's blood ran cold. He shoved Jenny aside, spun around, pried Erik's hands off Susan, and pulled her close.

But Erik still had hold of Susan's other arm. She pulled back, but couldn't break free.

Randall's anger surged. He clenched his jaw, eyes locked on the man. "Let go."

Erik kept playing drunk, reaching toward Susan again.

The men around them laughed and egged him on, some even clapping — like they were watching a show.

Susan's eyes filled with tears.

Randall's fury hit its limit. He drove his foot straight into Erik's stomach.

The man doubled over in pain and released his grip. Susan stumbled into Randall's arms, shaking. Now she understood why he hadn't wanted her anywhere near these people.

The men around them jumped to their feet, checking on Erik. They were ready to go after Randall — but when they turned around, the two were already gone.

Randall held Susan close and moved fast, navigating from memory toward the exit.

Once outside, Susan suddenly wrapped her arms around Randall's waist and cried. "Randall, I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Randall walked her to the car. "Hold the tears. You can cry in a minute."

He opened the passenger door for Susan, then got in the driver's seat. The engine started. He checked the rearview mirror, watching the bar entrance.

Then he saw them come out. "There he is!" Erik's crew pointed at Randall's car and shouted.

Randall hit the gas and took off.

He'd told Susan not to cry, but she couldn't help it. She pressed her lips together, trying not to make a sound.

Someone was following them. Randall glanced in the mirror, then picked up his phone and called the police. "Hi, I'd like to report several people driving drunk. License plates are..."

He hung up and floored it, pulling away from the cars behind him.

A moment later, at an intersection, Randall spotted traffic police.

In the mirror, he watched as the cars behind him got pulled over.

He relaxed and drove to somewhere quiet. He turned to look at his girlfriend, who was struggling to hold back her tears. "Scared?"

Susan shook her head.

"Then why are you crying?"

She wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry, Randall."

"What are you apologizing for? Stop crying. Give me your arm — let me see where he grabbed you."

Susan wiped her face with her sleeve. "He tried to hug me, but you pulled me away. Then he grabbed my arm, grabbed my sleeve, tried to touch my hand — I made a fist."

Randall gently took her small, soft hand in his. "Let me see."

"You hit your boss tonight."

"I was already planning to quit." He looked at her. "Don't feel guilty. This was all in the plan."

"Tonight, I should've listened to you and not gone in."

Randall said, "By that logic, I shouldn't have agreed to help Jenny find her dad either."

Thinking of Jenny, he replayed the moment they were leaving. "Was it Jenny who pulled your hand away from mine?"

Susan nodded.