Chapter 30 Joining Him for Drinks Finished " Tobias Zimmerman ? " Hearing that name , Daniel went pale . The anger and resentment from being smashed with a bottle drained away , replaced by a rush of shock and fear . Even Yvette , Madeline , and Ginny couldn't hide their alarm . Their eyes widened , faces tinged with unmistakable dread . Tobias Zimmerman - that name carried weight not just in the central business district but throughout all of Ravenridge . The undisputed kingpin of the north side of the city , he ruled over the city's underworld with an iron fist . His connections , both in the government and in the underworld , were countless . Every nightclub , bar , and entertainment joint in the northern district were under his control . Even campus belles like Yvette and Madeline , who usually stayed far away from the city's darker side , knew the infamous Tobias Zimmerman . That alone spoke volumes about his reputation . Daniel had always carried himself with confidence in the central business district thanks to Leon Harvey , the district's top dog , backing him . But compared to Tobias , Leon was a mere candle to the sun , a small fry in the grand scheme of things . After all , Leon was just Tobias ' lackey , his top enforcer . A shiver ran down Daniel's spine as he grappled with disbelief . He tried to convince himself that the man might be bluffing or using Tobias ' name without permission . But deep down , he knew that no one in their right mind would dare impersonate Tobias in Ravenridge . Just then , his phone rang , jolting him back to reality . He glanced at the screen and saw the caller ID - Leon Harvey . " Mr. Harvey ? " he hurriedly answered , his tone instantly respectful . " Hey , Daniel . There's something I forgot to mention , " Leon said casually . " Mr. Zimmerman is hanging out at your place tonight . Keep your wits about you and don't do anything to piss him off . Make sure everything runs smoothly . Oh , and he's wearing a zebra - print suit tonight . You should spot him easily ." Hearing Leon's warning on the other end of the line , Daniel froze , his mind blank . His phone slipped from his fingers , clattering to the floor . It took a full ten seconds for him to snap out of it . Plastering a groveling smile on his face , he shuffled over to Tobias . " Mr. Zimmerman , I'm so sorry . I had no idea it was you ! If I had known , I would've cleared the whole place just to make sure you enjoyed yourself . I never would've dared to offend you like that . " 1/4 19:24 Sat , Oct 11 40 Chapter 30 Joining Him for Drinks Finished He stammered out his apologies and slapped himself twice across the face , the sound sharp and echoing . He grabbed a glass of strong liquor , filled it to the brim , and downed it in one go , ignoring the burning sensation that scorched his throat and churned his stomach . He forced himself to keep smiling , waiting for Tobias ' response , knowing all too well that he had offended the wrong person tonight . Tobias ' eyes narrowed , a calculating gleam in his gaze . Daniel felt a chill crawl down his spine , his legs trembling under the weight of that look . Just when he thought he might collapse from the tension , Tobias ' lips curled into a slow smile . " So , now that you know who I am , are you still going to get in my way ? " Daniel frantically shook his head , his grin desperate . " No , no , Mr. Zimmerman . Do whatever you want . Who am I to interfere ? " " Oh ? " Tobias ' smile widened , but it was as sharp as a knife . He pointed toward Yvette and the others . " Then , what if I say I want those three to drink with me ? Are you gonna try to stop that ? " Daniel glanced at Madeline , but he dared not meet her eyes , shame gnawing at him . His pride was in tatters , but he knew his place . He quickly shook his head again , stepping aside to make room . He did have a soft spot for Madeline - that much was true - but he knew all too well how Tobias operated . The man was ruthless and unpredictable , the kind who didn't hesitate to use force if it suited him . For a small - time bar owner like Daniel , with nothing but a bit of cash and no real connections to speak of , going up against someone like Tobias was a fool's errand . Tobias could squash him like a bug without breaking a sweat . He could always find another woman . Even if Madeline looked down on him now , he would survive . But crossing Tobias ? That could cost him his life . " Well , ladies , care to join me for a drink ? " Tobias called out , his voice dripping with false charm . With Daniel stepping aside , he leered openly , his eyes practically undressing the three women as they stood there . Ginny was already frozen with fear , her words caught in her throat . Faced with someone like Tobias , all her usual bravado and sense of security seemed like nothing more than a house of cards , ready to collapse . Madeline , usually the strong and resilient type , found herself feeling jittery . She bit her lip , trying to hide her anxiety but struggling to keep her composure . Only Yvette managed to maintain some semblance of calm . As the daughter of Linden , a 2/4 19:25 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 30 Joining Him for Dunks 40 Finished prominent figure in Ravenridge , she believed that Tobias , for all his viciousness , would still show some respect for her father's reputation . He might be a brute , but even he had to think twice before crossing certain lines . " Mr. Zimmerman , it's an honor to meet you , " she said smoothly , her voice steady . " I'm Yvette Sitwell , daughter of Linden Sitwell from Linsky Group . Here's to you ." In one deft move , she revealed her identity , hoping to invoke her father's name to their advantage . She lifted her glass of beer , giving a slight nod to Tobias before downing it in one gulp . " Linsky Group ? Linden ? " Tobias ' expression shifted , showing a flicker of recognition . " So , you're Mr. Sitwell's daughter ? Small world . Your dad and I , we've done a bit of business together . " His face broke into a smile . Although Linden's name made him pause , it wasn't enough to cause any real concern . Men like him , who operated in the shadows , didn't fear corporate bigwigs or the heads of legitimate enterprises . Even Linden himself , if he were here , would probably share a drink with him , treating him as an equal and engaging in some polite conversation , nothing more . " Since you're his daughter , you should call me Mr. Tobias , given our respective standings , " he said with a grin that oozed sleaze . " Yvette , my dear niece , bring your friends over and have a drink with me . No need to be scared ! " Yvette felt a sinking dread settle in her stomach . She had hoped that by downing a glass and mentioning her father's name , she could steer them out of this mess . Maybe Tobias would back off , satisfied with a gesture of respect . But he was still pressing , still wanting them to join him for drinks . The sight of his bloated , greasy face made her stomach churn . She could barely stand to look at him without feeling sick . As much as she wanted to refuse , she knew she couldn't afford to . If she defied him , she might come out of this unscathed , but Ginny and Madeline might not be so lucky . Tonight , there might be no easy way out for them . Madeline , in particular , had no relatives in Ravenridge . With no family and no support , she had achieved everything through her own efforts . If Tobias wanted to make things difficult for her , it would be a piece of cake . With an inward sigh , she gritted her teeth and looked at Madeline and Ginny . " Let's just go over there . It's only a couple of drinks . It should be fine ." Madeline and Ginny nodded . At this moment , they had no choice but to follow Yvette's lead . They knew Tobias ' reputation all too well . A single misstep could lead to serious consequences . 3/4 19:25 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 30 Jatning Him for Drinks The three women moved toward Tobias ' table . F : 40 # 9 Finished Meanwhile , Leander , who had just come out of the storage room with a crate of beer , witnessed the scene unfolding . " Hey , what's going on here ? " he asked , noticing Madeline's reluctant expression . The older server , speaking in a hushed tone , replied with a hint of resignation , " Oh , it's nothing new . The top dog from the northern district has come to our bar . He's probably taken an interest in those three pretty girls and wants them to keep him company . " " Oh , really ? " A sharp glint flashed in Leander's eyes . He set down the crate of beer and made his way toward Tobias ' table . Send Gifts 50