The Regretful CEO's Comeback

Chapter 6

After passing Elodie with her arm linked through Damian's, Seraphina asked in mild surprise, "Damian, aren't we going to say hello to Ms. Mercer?"

He was as detached and unhurried as ever. "Let her regret it first."

"I wonder whether she's here to meet a client or have fun with friends," Seraphina said softly.

Damian showed no interest in Elodie, but he didn't sharply cut Seraphina off.

His silence left her unaware of his displeasure, and she continued, "Ms. Mercer's lawyer came to see me today about compensation for the emotional distress from the accident. I don't want to ask for too much. How low do you think I should go?"

His brow tightened almost imperceptibly. "Whatever the proper amount is."

"But she is, after all..."

"There's no 'but.' She won't appreciate it." Remembering Elodie's hurt, pitiful face the night before, he inexplicably felt the softness of her cheek against his palm again. Irritation stirred. "Enough. Don't bring it up again."

He didn't want to hear a word about Elodie. Thinking of her face only brought on strange feelings.

Seraphina looked at him and wisely fell silent.

Tonight's celebration marked the first successful partnership between Waverly Holdings and Bellamy Consortium. The two industry giants had booked every private room from the second floor up at the Black Orchid Club for their employees to enjoy.

Anyone familiar with the club knew those were VIP rooms. A single room for one night could burn through at least 3 months of an ordinary office worker's salary.

The employees were delighted by their companies' generosity.

Damian and Seraphina entered the Onyx Suite, where Roman Everhart and several other senior executives from Bellamy Consortium had gathered.

Inevitably, people came over to exchange pleasantries.

After responding casually, Damian settled beside Roman while the others crowded around Seraphina for autographs.

Holding a drink, Roman watched the group around her with little enthusiasm. "Bringing her here tonight will cause quite a stir when the staff see her. A lot of people at our company are fans."

"She's used to this," Damian said without concern. "She can handle it."

"Whether she can handle it is one thing. Your attitude is another." Roman glanced at him. "She's in the spotlight every day. Do you think celebrities don't get tired?"

It wasn't that Damian hadn't considered Seraphina's feelings. She clearly enjoyed the attention, which was why he'd let her come along.

He couldn't be bothered to explain. Casting Roman a cool sideways glance, he said, "You have time to worry about everyone else? Has Ms. Bellamy stopped chasing you lately?"

"She's confined to the house. Her father's keeping a close eye on her."

"No wonder Evermont City has been quieter lately."

Roman gave him an odd look. "Considering Sienna Bellamy's friendship with Elodie, and Elodie's relationship with you, I assumed you knew Sienna had her own problems and couldn't help her. I thought that was why you were being so ruthless."

Damian snorted. "She's stubborn. She brings trouble on herself."

Even a million dollars wasn't enough for her. If he didn't teach her a lesson, she'd start thinking he was easy to deal with.

Roman could tell he didn't want to discuss Elodie. He had no interest in meddling in other people's affairs either. He was lifting his glass for a sip when the door burst open.

Seeing the furious woman in the doorway, he chuckled. "Speak of the devil."

Damian frowned and looked toward the entrance. His expression slowly chilled.

Elodie stood in the doorway, scanning the room. While everyone watched in confusion, her gaze settled on him.

Her lips curved. She walked gracefully over, picking up a glass of liquor from the table. "I hear tonight celebrates the first partnership between Waverly Holdings and Bellamy Consortium. It's a major step forward for both companies. Congratulations, Mr. Waverly. Another success to your name."

She held out the glass. He narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

"I've come to congratulate you." Her smile was faint as she offered it a little closer. "Will you do me the honor of a drink?"

He lounged in a dimly lit part of the room, watching her without moving or showing the slightest intention of accepting the glass.

"Then I'll drink first." Unbothered, she gave a light, mocking smile. "This first drink is to you getting everything you want, Mr. Waverly. May your career soar and your power know no bounds."

Without hesitation, she tipped the liquor into her mouth and swallowed until not a drop remained.

His gaze darkened. He knew she'd barely eaten since yesterday. Several glasses of hard liquor on top of that would harm her.

Unexpected concern stirred inside him.

She picked up another glass. "The second is to the wonderful teamwork between you and Ms. Valez."

She drained that one just as decisively.

As his expression grew grimmer, she raised a third.

Damian understood what she was doing. He just hadn't imagined she'd have the nerve to disrupt the event.

"And the third... naturally, it's to your utter shamelessness. For Seraphina, you used every means you could to force me to marry you. Now, for her again, you're using every means you can to force me to divorce you." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "When it comes to deception, manipulation, calculation, and taking shameless advantage of someone in trouble, you're the best I've ever met. So I must drink to you. I'll finish mine. Please do as you like."

Everyone in the room was watching the woman who'd suddenly barged in.

At first, they wondered how she could be so oblivious, antagonizing Damian the moment she arrived. Did she have a death wish? But by the time she finished speaking, the revelation had nearly made their jaws drop.

Seraphina's expression was especially revealing.

Damian stared at Elodie, his anger threatening to erupt. "What do you gain by deliberately ruining the celebration now?"

Deliberately ruining the celebration?

She set down her glass and slowly turned toward him. "You're not the only host. Bellamy Consortium belongs to my friend Sienna's family. Why would I ruin their celebration?"

Anger simmered across his face. "If you're not here to ruin it, what are you doing? Picking a fight with me?"

"Obviously." Her smile didn't change, but her eyes were cold. "You've been using your power to crush me at every turn. I'm simply returning the favor."

"Get out," he said coldly.

"Don't worry. Of course I'll leave."

But when and how she left wouldn't be his decision.

She spoke unhurriedly. "With everyone here as witnesses, I'd sincerely like to ask you something. Professionally, I'm a nobody. Personally, I'm the wife you coerced and pressured into marriage. Any way you look at it, I'm just one powerless woman. Is it really necessary for a man as important as you to go to all this trouble to target me?"

"A powerless woman who asks for 50 million dollars?" he scoffed. "That's quite an appetite. Aren't you afraid of choking?"

Hearing him say that made Seraphina even more certain of what Elodie had said earlier.

"Is 50 million dollars a lot to you? If you truly want to divorce me, then considering your assets, I'm being very fair by not asking for hundreds of millions."

Sarcasm edged her voice.

"Or is it not that you can't bear to part with such a small sum, but that you don't think it's worth spending?"