Chapter 42: How am I in the wrong?

Halfway through the welcome banquet, a tipsy man stumbled out. Charlotte peered closer and recognized him as the man who had earlier praised her beauty at the company. "Call you... Charlotte, right? Miss Beaumont mentioned you're single, am I correct?" he slurred. Maintaining a safe distance, Charlotte replied softly. "Enjoy your youth while you're single; don't rush into romance too soon," he lectured, sliding next to Charlotte with a didactic air. His fingers, lacking propriety, began to wander onto Charlotte's thigh, "How's the salary? Enough to cover your expenses?" Charlotte backed away again, "It's enough." "Why the evasion? Miss Beaumont told me about your family's tough spot. Consider me a mentor of sorts, no need to shy away." Suddenly, the man lunged at her. Charlotte intended to dodge but was betrayed by a sudden headache, and within seconds, she found herself being pushed into a room by the man covering her mouth! "What's with the struggle? Miss Beaumont said you'd