Episode 114
Growing irritated, Elijah curtly responded, “I’m in a meeting. If you’re upset, just bring her back.”
Billie’s sarcasm dripped through the phone. “Bring her back? She won’t even listen to me! You won’t come, will you? My words carry less weight than a servant’s in our home.”
Elijah, sensing her anger nearing a boil, relented with a weary sigh. “Fine. I’ll come now.”
Twenty minutes later, Elijah strode into the venue, his face etched with irritation. The toll of back-to-back meetings, late nights, and the demands of a new project weighed on him. Yet here he was, dragged into a melodrama he’d much rather avoid. His sharp eyes scanned the room until they landed on Elizabeth, standing by the dessert table, her laughter ringing like a bell as she chatted with a cluster of sharply dressed men.
The curve-hugging dress she wore made him bristle. It was a hair’s breadth from inappropriate, almost provocative—a world away from the reserved elegance he associated with her. He couldn’t help but blame Camille’s influence.
Determined to end this spectacle quickly, Elijah took a decisive step forward, only to find himself blocked by a waiter. “Sir, may I see your invitation?” the waiter asked, polite but firm.
Elijah’s expression darkened, and he gestured towards Elizabeth. “That’s my wife. The invitation’s with her.”
The waiter, who had seen Elizabeth enter with Soren, studied Elijah carefully. His shirt cuffs were messily rolled, his suit lacking any distinguishing logos. While many tried to crash such events, something about Elijah’s refined demeanor gave the waiter pause. Unsure of his identity, the waiter hesitated to turn him away directly.
“I’ll check with the lady,” the waiter said cautiously before approaching Elizabeth. “Madam, there’s a gentleman at the entrance who claims to be with you. Could you please confirm?”
Elizabeth followed his gesture and spotted Elijah near the door. His usual air of polished composure was replaced by a hurried, slightly unkempt look. Her mind raced. For him to show up like this, it had to involve Sandra.
Her stomach churned. Did Sandra call him over to stir up trouble? She had just turned down Sandra’s so-called kindness and now Elijah was here, likely to play the gallant protector. The timing was too convenient to be a mere coincidence.
Swallowing her frustration, Elizabeth forced herself to walk towards the entrance. At a party like this, getting an invitation wouldn’t have been a problem for Elijah. She had overheard Kailee mentioning spare invites earlier—Elijah must have passed one to Sandra.
Was this Sandra’s new strategy? Stirring up chaos by dragging Elijah into the mess?
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