Unwanted Attention

"I'm sorry, Ms. Elisa, but for now, I don't have any plans to change employers," Avery said. Fearing that his refusal might embarrass the lady and make her angry, he added with a smile to avoid unnecessary trouble, "However, if the day comes when I can no longer work for Mr. Wayne, I will certainly consider you first."

As he spoke, he glanced at the woman standing in front of him, a wealthy lady in her thirties. She wore a golden fishtail dress adorned with countless diamonds, her figure curvaceous and seductive. Although no longer young, she still radiated charm and elegance, fitting the image of a prime socialite.

But, unfortunately for her, Avery had no interest.

Thus, he tactfully declined her insinuation.

Anyone with a bit of sense could easily understand what Avery's words implied, but Ms. Elisa was unwilling to give up so easily. Perhaps there were many handsome men in this world, but men who were as handsome, while also possessing gentlemanly manners and an outstanding temperament, were rare. Even if she were to meet another man like this, most who had such qualities would be successful in their careers and would never entertain this kind of proposition. Avery, however, was just a man in the service industry. If she truly desired him, finding a way to take him would not be impossible. Alternatively, she could simply buy his "ownership" from Wayne, and he likely wouldn't risk souring relations over a mere servant.

When Avery bent slightly to bow in a gesture of respect, Ms. Elisa even had the illusion that she was a princess being invited to dance by a prince. The mysterious and graceful aura he exuded was something few in Gotham could possess. To miss out on such a man would indeed be a great pity.

"Why do you work for Wayne? If it's for money, I can certainly offer you much more than he ever could, and even..." Ms. Elisa said suggestively, moving closer to Avery, her ample bosom almost brushing against him.

Avery immediately saw through her intentions. This blatant overstepping of boundaries made him feel a surge of displeasure. Just as he was about to break his restraint and use magic to make her leave, someone's arrival stopped him.

Seeing that he hadn't immediately rejected her, Ms. Elisa thought Avery's attitude was softening. But her joy lasted less than a second, as a sudden force pulled her aside. She stumbled unsteadily, her tight gown restricting her legs, and she nearly fell face-first in an undignified manner.

Once she regained her balance, she saw Bruce Wayne standing between her and Avery, looking at her with a gaze so cold it felt unlike the friendly Wayne she usually encountered at social events.

However, in an instant, that cold expression disappeared, so quickly that she almost believed it was her imagination.

"Apologies, Madam. I'm afraid I have some matters to attend to and must leave early. Avery needs to come with me. After drinking, I can't drive myself home," Bruce said with a smile, then shot Avery a glance.

You weren't drinking alcohol, Avery thought, but he wasn't about to expose him. So, with the two of them walking one after the other, they left in front of Mrs. Elisa, with several onlookers greeting them along the way.

They soon left the event.

"How did you end up talking with a widow who's several years older than you?" Bruce asked as soon as he sat down in the car, leaving Avery at a loss for words.

Avery sat in the driver's seat, casually closing the door before responding, "I was merely being approached for conversation. There's no such thing as 'ending up together.' Please choose your words carefully."

Bruce stated, "I saw you chatting with her."

Avery casually started the car, the engine's hum almost drowning out his soft voice. "I was just politely handling her. It wouldn't be right to ignore someone just because they're striking up a conversation, would it?"

"If I did that, within a few days, everyone would know how arrogant and rude Bruce Wayne's new butler is and how unprofessional he seems. That would only reflect poorly on your father," Avery added. Then, as if remembering something, he pulled a handful of business cards and a few perfume-scented handkerchiefs from his pocket—items he'd been handed earlier. He rolled down the window, intending to throw them into the trash bin across the street.

"Wait, what's that?" Bruce, with sharp eyes, noticed something that shocked him. He stopped Avery and grabbed one of the business cards from the pile. To his surprise, it belonged to a man!

"Edson Jones..." Bruce read aloud. The man was a mid-level official in Gotham, and Bruce had just been discussing the city's development with him. He hadn't noticed that, in his absence, Jones had handed his butler a card with clearly inappropriate intentions!

This was the first time Bruce had encountered something like this, and he was in disbelief. "Why are there men hitting on you too?!" He'd already been irritated by Ms. Elisa's behavior, but this was worse.

Avery raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you ever met a gay man before?"

Of course, I've met gay people, but I've never seen one hit on you, Bruce thought to himself.

Avery was two years older than him. Although they both spent time in Gotham when they were kids, they had never attended the same schools together. Moreover, Avery wasn't the type to share details about his personal life, so Bruce had no idea how many admirers Avery had during his school years.

But there must have been quite a few. After all, he looked so good, and the U.S. had no taboos about young romances.

Later, Avery had left Gotham and spent nearly a decade traveling. Bruce had even less knowledge about his private life during that time. As a result, his perception of Avery remained similar to how he had been before leaving the city—completely at odds with this current image of someone being chased down by admirers.