The Regretful CEO's Comeback

Chapter 6

Seraphina held onto Damian's arm as they walked. Once they had passed Elodie, she turned to him with a note of surprise. "Damian, shouldn't we at least say hello to Ms. Mercer?"

Damian was as indifferent and laid-back as ever. "Waiting for her to come to her senses."

Seraphina kept her voice light. "I wonder if she's here at The Black Orchid Club tonight for a client meeting, or just out with friends."

Damian showed zero interest in Elodie's whereabouts. But with Seraphina, he never shut her down with harsh words.

His silence made her think he wasn't annoyed. She pressed on. "Ms. Mercer's lawyer came to see me today—about the emotional distress compensation from the accident. I don't want too much. What do you think would be a reasonable low number?"

Damian's brow furrowed—the movement barely there. "She should pay exactly what's owed."

"But she is, after all..."

"There's no 'but'. She won't appreciate your kindness." The memory of Elodie's wronged, pitiful face from the night before surfaced. The lingering sensation of her soft skin against his palm stayed with him. It grated on him. "Enough. Drop it."

He didn't want to hear another word about Elodie. Didn't want that face popping into his head, stirring up emotions that had no place there.

Seraphina glanced at him and wisely said nothing more.

Tonight was the celebration of the first major collaboration between Waverly Holdings and Bellamy Consortium. The two industry giants had booked out the entire second floor and above at The Black Orchid Club, all the VIP rooms, for their employees to enjoy.

Anyone who knew The Black Orchid Club understood what that meant. The rooms on those upper floors were strictly VIP. A single room for one night could burn through at least three months of a regular office worker's salary.

Waverly Holdings and Bellamy Consortium had thrown down serious money, and their employees were loving every second of it.

Damian and Seraphina made their way to The Onyx Suite. Inside were the senior executives from Bellamy Consortium, led by Roman Everhart.

The moment they walked in, the expected wave of pleasantries and small talk hit them.

Damian dealt with it in his usual cursory way. While others crowded around Seraphina asking for autographs, he dropped into the seat next to Roman with lazy ease.

Roman cradled his glass, watching the swarm around Seraphina with mild amusement. "Bringing her here tonight—letting all the employees see her—you're asking for a scene. Half my company is fans of hers."

Damian shrugged it off. "She's used to this kind of thing. She can handle it."

"Being able to handle it is one thing. Your attitude is another." Roman looked at him. "The spotlight never stops shining on her. You really think any star doesn't get tired of it?"

It wasn't that Damian never considered Seraphina. But she clearly enjoyed being adored, so he let her come along.

He had no interest in explaining any of that. He shot Roman a cold glance. "So much free time on your hands you're worrying about other people. Sienna hasn't been clinging to you lately?"

"Her family's got her under house arrest. They're keeping a tight leash."

"Explains why Evermont City has been so peaceful lately."

Roman gave him an odd look. "I would've thought—with how close Sienna is to Elodie, and the relationship between you and Elodie—you'd know Sienna's in no position to help her right now. That's why you're coming down so hard on her."

Damian let out a cold snort. "She likes making trouble for herself."

'1 million wasn't enough for her... If I don't show her how serious this is, she'll think I'm soft.'

Roman could tell Damian had no desire to discuss Elodie further. He had no interest in meddling in other people's business either. He was just lifting his glass to his lips when the door to the suite burst open.

He caught sight of the figure storming in and let out a soft laugh. "Speak of the devil."

Damian's brow drew tight. He looked toward the doorway, his chiseled face cooling degree by degree.

Elodie stood at the entrance. Her gaze swept across the room, past all the bewildered faces, and landed directly on the man seated in the distance.

She curved her lips and walked toward him with deliberate, graceful steps. Along the way, she picked up a glass of whiskey from the table. "I hear tonight is the celebration for the first collaboration between Waverly Holdings and Bellamy Consortium. A real qualitative leap for both sides. Congratulations. Onward and upward."

She raised the glass toward him. Damian narrowed his eyes. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Toasting you. Congratulations." Her smile was faint. She nudged the glass a little closer. "Can you spare me the honor of one drink?"

Damian sat sprawled in the dimmer corner of the room, motionless, watching her. He made no move to take the glass.

"No? Then I'll drink alone." Elodie didn't seem bothered. A dry, shallow curve touched her lips. "This first drink is to you, Mr. Waverly. May you get everything you want. May your ambitions soar. May your empire grow ever taller."

She tipped the glass back without a flicker of hesitation. The whiskey poured down her throat until not a drop remained.

Damian's eyes went dark. He knew Elodie had barely eaten since the day before. Hard liquor on an empty stomach was brutal on her body.

A strange, unwelcome thread of worry twisted through him.

She reached for a second glass. "The second drink. To you and Seraphina. To your perfectly coordinated performance."

She knocked that one back too, no pause, no flinch.

Damian's expression darkened further. She raised a third glass.

He understood perfectly well what she was doing. He just hadn't expected her to have the audacity to come here and make a scene.

"This third one..." She paused, the smile still playing on her lips, though it never came close to reaching her eyes. "This one is to your dirty, underhanded tactics. You forced me into marriage for Seraphina. Now you're forcing me into divorce for Seraphina. When it comes to cunning, to calculation, to exploiting someone's desperation without a shred of shame—you are, without question, the most impressive person I have ever met. So this drink, I absolutely must dedicate to you. I'll finish it. You do as you please."

Every person in that suite had their eyes locked on the woman who had just barged in.

Most of them were thinking, 'Who is this woman with zero survival instinct, coming straight for Damian like that? Does she have a death wish?' Then the words kept coming, and the scandalous revelations nearly made jaws hit the floor.

Seraphina's expression was especially vivid.

Damian stared at Elodie, the simmering rage in his eyes threatening to boil over. "What exactly do you gain by showing up here and deliberately ruining the celebration?"

'Deliberately ruining the celebration?'

Elodie set the glass down and slowly turned back to face him. "You're not the only one hosting this celebration. Bellamy Consortium belongs to my friend Sienna's family. Why would I want to ruin their night?"

Damian's sharp features were laced with barely contained fury. "If you're not here to wreck the celebration, then what? Picking a fight with me?"

"Obviously." Her smile held steady. Her bright eyes glittered, cold. "You used your power to crush me from every angle. I'm simply returning the favor."

Damian's voice dropped to ice. "Get out."