Elodie stared at her phone, the ghost of Bianca's smirk still burned into her retina.
She wasn't going to let that slide. She was a Jimenez. She knew how to play games.
She opened her text thread with Bianca.
Lovely bracelet, Elodie typed. Is that the Vanderbilt collection?
She waited a beat.
Bianca replied instantly. Yes, custom made.
Elodie smiled. It was a cold, sharp smile.
She recalled a charity gala two years ago. The Vanderbilt heir had made a drunken speech about how he refused to use clear diamonds for cuffs because they looked like "common ice."
Or maybe he hadn't. Maybe Elodie was just making it up. It didn't matter. Perception was reality.
Funny, Elodie typed. I was with the Vanderbilts at their Aspen retreat last winter when they finalized that design. I thought they decided to keep that specific pavé setting exclusively for the family. It's stunning on you, though.
She added one more line.
Maybe Alden pulled some strings. You should get it authenticated for insurance, just in case. xoxo.
She watched the three dots of Bianca typing appear. Then disappear. Then appear again.
Then nothing.
Elodie put the phone down. A petty victory, but it tasted sweet. It reminded her that she had teeth.
Sofia stumbled over, holding two shot glasses.
Who are you texting? You look evil, Sofia laughed.
Just handling business, Elodie said. She took the shot. Tequila. It mixed with the vodka in her stomach, creating a warm, buzzing shield against the world.
She looked back down at the VIP pit.
The man in the black suit was no longer alone.
A nervous-looking man in a rumpled suit was standing in front of the table. He was sweating. Even from this distance, Elodie could see the sheen on his forehead.
The man in black said something. He didn't shout. He didn't gesture. He just moved his hand slightly, a dismissive flick of his wrist.
Two massive security guards stepped out of the shadows and grabbed the nervous man by the arms. They dragged him away. The nervous man was shouting, but the music swallowed his voice.
The man in black picked up his water glass and took a sip, looking utterly bored.
Elodie's curiosity spiked. This wasn't just a rich guy. This was power.
Sofia, Elodie shouted over the bass. Who is the guy in the black suit downstairs?
Sofia followed her gaze.
Her face went pale. The drunken smile vanished.
Oh, Sofia said. That is the Enforcer.
