The silence Dempsey left behind was thick with anticipation. The crowd was waiting for the next act, the next explosion. Elinor could feel their eyes on her, their phones ready to capture the next viral moment.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She couldn't afford to lose it now. She had to be smart. She had to be strategic.
She stepped forward, pulling Jaylynn with her. "Come on," she said quietly. "We're leaving."
"Not so fast."
Dempsey's voice stopped her. He hadn't left. He was standing near the exit, his face a mask of cold fury. He had deposited Darcy with a bouncer, and now he was back, his eyes locked on Elinor.
He walked toward them, his stride purposeful. The crowd parted for him again. He stopped a few feet away, his hands in his pockets, his posture rigid.
"You think you've won?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can humiliate me and my... guest, and just walk away?"
Jaylynn rolled her eyes. "Oh, give it a rest, Dempsey. You're embarrassing yourself."
"Embarrassing myself?" Dempsey laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. "You threw a drink on a woman in public. That's assault, Jaylynn. I have fifty witnesses. I will ruin you."
Elinor stepped in front of Jaylynn. She was done letting other people fight her battles. "You want to sue her?" she asked, her voice calm. "Go ahead. But while you're at it, you might want to prepare for the countersuit."
Dempsey raised an eyebrow. "Countersuit? On what grounds?"
Elinor pointed at his chest, her finger inches from his heart. "Assault. You pushed Jaylynn. You put your hands on her in anger. In front of the same fifty witnesses."
Dempsey scoffed. "I barely touched her."
"You touched her enough," Elinor countered. She turned to the club manager, who was hovering nervously near the bar. "Mr. Henderson, this is a high-end establishment. I assume you have state-of-the-art security cameras?"
The manager nodded, his face pale. "Yes, Mrs. Everett. We have cameras covering every angle of the club."
Elinor turned back to Dempsey, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips. "There you go. The cameras will show Darcy approaching me on the terrace, uninvited. They will show her provocative behavior. They will show Jaylynn's... reaction. And most importantly, they will show you, Dempsey Everett, shoving a woman to the floor."
The color drained from Dempsey's face. He hadn't thought of the cameras. He had been too consumed by rage to consider the evidence.
A billionaire CEO physically assaulting a woman, even a wealthy socialite, was a PR nightmare. The board would be furious. The shareholders would panic. It would be a scandal that even his money couldn't bury.
Darcy, who had crept back into the room, gasped. She tugged on Dempsey's sleeve. "Dempsey, let's just go," she pleaded, her voice whiny. "This is ridiculous. I don't want to press charges. I just want to go home."
She knew. She knew the cameras had caught her approach, her whispered taunts, her triumphant smile. If that footage saw the light of day, she would be painted as the villain, not the victim.
Dempsey looked from Elinor to Darcy to the manager. He was trapped. His legal threat had backfired spectacularly. He had tried to use his power to crush them, and Elinor had used the truth to disarm him.
He had never seen this side of her. The Elinor he knew was soft, pliable, easily intimidated. This woman was sharp, calculating, and utterly fearless.
He hated her. God, he hated her. But he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.
"Fine," he gritted out, the word tasting like ash in his mouth. "Keep your trashy friend. But this isn't over, Elinor. I'll see you at home."
He turned and stalked out of the club, Darcy scurrying after him. The door slammed shut behind them, and the tension in the room dissipated.
Jaylynn let out a whoop. "Oh my god, that was amazing!" She threw her arms around Elinor, squeezing her tight. "Did you see his face? He looked like he was going to explode!"
Elinor hugged her back, but her body was trembling. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving her shaky and exhausted. "I need to sit down," she murmured.
Killian appeared at her elbow, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. "Let's get you out of here," he said, his voice gentle. "The back exit is clear."
The manager approached, his hands clasped in front of him. "Mr. Wise, is there anything I can do?"
Killian nodded. "Yes. I want a copy of the security footage from tonight. From the moment Mrs. Everett arrived until the moment Mr. Everett left. Have it delivered to..." He paused, glancing at Elinor. "Have it delivered to Mrs. Parrish's lawyer."
Elinor's head snapped up. Mrs. Parrish?
The manager blinked, confused. "Mrs. Parrish? I thought..."
"My mistake," Killian said smoothly, his gaze steady and unreadable. "I meant Miss Parrish."
Jaylynn's eyes widened. She stared at Killian, then at Elinor, a slow grin spreading across her face. Elinor met her gaze, a silent warning in her eyes. Not here. Not now.
Killian guided them toward the back exit, his hand a warm, steady presence on Elinor's back. The crowd parted for them, whispering and staring. The night wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.
