Chapter 210 His Payback
Emilia’s POV
I waited for him all night, staring at the ceiling until my eyes hurt. He never came back. After the way I’d thrown that letter in his face and watched him crumple it without even reading it, I couldn’t make myself go looking for him. So I went to bed alone and lay there until the sun came up.
I got up early, my pride bruised and my temper close to the surface. The study first. Empty. Then the guest room, and there he was.
Separate rooms again? Over Scott? I stood in the doorway and stared at him. Sebastian Simons, Alpha of Silver Moon Pack, and somehow more jealous than any she-wolf I’d ever met.
When I got home from work that evening, he still wasn’t back.
I waited. Eight o’clock came and went, dinner came and went, and he still didn’t show. I couldn’t sit with it any longer. I picked up my phone and called him.
"Hello? Who is this?"
A woman’s voice. Smooth, low, entirely too comfortable answering my husband’s phone.
My grip tightened on the phone. "Where is Sebastian?"
"He’s at the lounge. Want to leave a message?"
"Who are you?"
"Do I need to tell you that?" A light laugh, sharp against my nerves. "If that’s all, I’m hanging up. Sebastian’s calling for me."
"Wait," I said, swallowing my pride. "Which lounge?"
"The Velvet Room. Fifth Avenue." She hung up before I could say anything else.
I stared at the phone. Anger climbed up my throat, fast and hot. The Velvet Room. Of course. One of the most exclusive, absurdly overpriced lounges in Silverlake City, all private booths, bottle service, and prices that assumed you’d never check the bill.
"He’s playing games," Eve growled. "Two can play at that."
I couldn’t agree more.
I tore through my closet and pulled out a dress I’d bought on impulse and never worn. Black, sexy, and not leaving much to the imagination. I changed fast, fixed my makeup, grabbed my keys, and stopped at a boutique on the way for a pair of heels built for trouble.
Petty man. He’d gone too far this time. I’d teach him a lesson tonight, or my name wasn’t Emilia Taylor.
The Velvet Room looked like expensive. Chandeliers, velvet booths, lighting flattering enough to make everyone look like they’d walked off a magazine cover. I walked past the hostess and scanned the room.
There he was. Sebastian, stretched out on a lounge chair near the back, whiskey in hand. Two women flanking him, both gorgeous, both leaning in close.
My pulse spiked.
"Breathe," Eve said. "Don’t give him the satisfaction of watching you lose it."
I took a breath, squared my shoulders, and walked over to the empty chair beside his. I sat down, crossed my legs, and cleared my throat until he looked over.
Sebastian’s eyes found mine. Surprise flickered across his face for half a second before that infuriating smirk took over.
"Lucie." He turned to the brunette on his left without looking at me. "Tell me something. Does it take practice to hold your own in a place like this, or does it come naturally?"
Lucie tossed her hair, smiling. "Depends on the woman. Some people never figure it out, no matter how hard they try."
"That’s the sad part," Sebastian said. "Watching someone try this hard just to keep up."
I kept my face still. He wanted a reaction. He wasn’t getting one.
The other woman, Nana, leaned in. "Confidence isn’t something you can fake all night, though. Eventually it shows."
I smiled. "You’d know better than me. I imagine it’s exhausting, working this hard to look like you’re not working at all."
Sebastian’s jaw ticked, just barely. He recovered fast. "Both of you, go to the bar." He pulled out his wallet. "Whoever comes back with the most expensive bottle of champagne gets a diamond bracelet."
"Really?" Both women’s eyes lit up, delighted.
He nodded and handed over a black card. "Consider it done."
They were gone before he’d even finished the sentence, nearly tripping over each other on the way to the bar.
I watched them go, then turned back to him, eyebrows raised. "So that’s what confidence costs these days. Good to know."
"What’s the matter?" Sebastian’s voice dropped, mocking. "Jealous?"
I turned to face him. "Of what? Watching you buy attention by the bottle? I’ve seen better performances in a car commercial."
His smirk widened. "At least they know how to have fun. Unlike some people, who stay home writing apology letters nobody reads."
"Careful." My voice went sweet. "You’re the one who threw that letter in the trash without opening it. "
"Should I be taking notes?" I went on. "Giggling at everything you say, telling you how impressive you are? Is that the going rate for a seat next to you tonight?"
"You could try," he said coolly. "Might be an improvement."
"And you could try acting like a grown man instead of a kid throwing a tantrum with a black card." I shot back. "Guess we can’t all get what we want."
His jaw tightened. For a second I thought I’d landed it. Then his eyes moved over my dress, slow enough that my skin went warm despite myself.
"Nice dress," he said, flat. "Trying to impress someone?"
"Not you, if that’s what you’re asking." I stood up. "But if the room’s staring, I’ll take it as a compliment."
I walked toward the bar. I could feel eyes on me, not just his, but other pack members scattered through the lounge. Good. Let him see exactly what he was risking.
"Miss, are you here alone?"
I turned to find a tall man with dark hair and the kind of smile that came from knowing exactly how good he looked.
"For now," I said.
"Shame," he said, eyes moving over me. "A woman like you shouldn’t be sitting by herself."
I could feel Sebastian’s stare on my back.
"Why aren’t you enjoying yourself?" the man asked, nodding toward the dance floor.
"I don’t really know my way around a place like this," I said, playing it up just enough to be convincing.
"No way," he said, grinning. "You look like you were made for places like this."
I laughed, glancing over my shoulder. Sebastian’s face had gone thunderous.
"Well," I said, turning back to the stranger, "maybe you could show me around?"
"I’d love to," he said, offering his arm. "I’m actually a VIP host here."