Chapter 164
Elsa
I made it to the Rose Dining Room in just under seven minutes, slightly breathless from hurrying through the winding corridors of Silver Moon Manor. My heart pounded from the exertion, and I paused momentarily to smooth down my hair and compose myself. The restaurant was the most exclusive dining venue in the resort, known for its intimate atmosphere and exceptional cuisine.
As I approached the ornate entrance, I noticed a small crowd of women gathered just inside, their postures tense as they peered toward something happening further in the restaurant.
"Did you see that?" one woman whispered to another. "I can't believe she just did that!"
"Someone should call security," another replied, her voice thick with excitement at the drama unfolding.
A tall woman in a red dress noticed me hovering at the entrance and gave me a quick once-over. "Are you here for the show too? Ava Kim and Emma Watson are at each other's throats."
My stomach dropped, and I felt my pulse quicken. "Ava and Emma? What happened?" I asked, my voice higher than normal.
The woman leaned closer, eager to share the gossip. "Apparently, Emma saw Ava getting cozy with Drake Stone during the card game, and she wasn't happy about it. They're causing quite the scene."
Drake and Ava? The information didn't compute. I blinked rapidly, trying to process this new development. Ava had just been crying over Joseph in the hallway less than an hour ago.
"The card game's already started?" I asked, momentarily confused, my brow furrowing. Drake had just called me to come down.
"It's been going for about twenty minutes," the woman confirmed, looking at me curiously. "Are you with the Black Obsidian pack too?"
Before I could answer, a commotion from inside the restaurant drew everyone's attention. I heard raised voices, then a collective gasp from the onlookers.
"Come on," the woman in red urged, grabbing my arm. "We're missing it!"
Against my better judgment, I allowed myself to be pulled along with the group of spectators moving deeper into the restaurant, my feet dragging slightly as anxiety twisted my gut.
---
The scene that greeted me was something out of a reality TV show. Drake sat at a round table with several other men, cards in hand, his expression unreadable. Ava stood behind him, leaning close, her hand resting casually on his shoulder as she whispered something in his ear. Her earlier distress had vanished entirely, replaced by a coy smile and calculated body language.
Emma Watson stood opposite them, her face flushed with anger, hands planted on her hips in a confrontational stance.
"I believe that's my seat," Emma was saying, her voice carrying clearly across the now-silent restaurant. "I was only gone for five minutes."
Ava's smile widened, but she made no move to step away from Drake. "There are plenty of other seats, Emma. Drake and I were just catching up on old times."
I watched as Ava's fingers traced a small circle on Drake's shoulder, a gesture so intimate it made my stomach clench despite myself. A sour taste filled my mouth, and I swallowed hard. Drake continued studying his cards, apparently oblivious to the tension between the women, though I knew him well enough to recognize the slight tightening around his eyes.
"Old times?" Emma's laugh was brittle. "How interesting. I wasn't aware you two had a history."
"There's a lot you don't know about me and Drake," Ava replied sweetly, leaning down to help arrange his cards, her body pressed against his back.
Emma's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Senior Stone," she said, deliberately using the formal address, "I'm surprised you allow such familiarity from others' secretary."
The room went absolutely still. Drake's head snapped up, his golden eyes focusing on Emma with sudden intensity. I felt my breath catch at the calculating expression that crossed his face, a cold shiver running down my spine.
"Ms. Watson," Drake said, his voice deceptively soft as he set down his cards and rose from his seat. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation elsewhere."
Emma looked momentarily triumphant as Drake moved toward her, leaving Ava standing awkwardly behind his empty chair. The smug expression on Emma's face made me want to slap her, my fingers curling into fists at my sides, even though I had no reason to defend either Drake or Ava.
As Drake and Emma stepped away from the table, I heard Emily—the woman who had confronted Ava at the shooting range—lean toward Ava with a vicious smile.
"Looks like Drake found more suitable company," she stage-whispered. "Better luck next time."
Ava's face contorted with rage and humiliation. Her gaze darted to Joseph, who sat at a nearby table, studiously avoiding looking in her direction. The rejection in his posture was unmistakable.
Something in Ava seemed to snap. She grabbed a glass of red wine from the table and strode purposefully after Drake and Emma, who had paused near the entrance to the private dining area.
"Emma!" Ava called sharply.
Emma turned, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised in question. The next moment, she was sputtering and gasping as Ava threw the contents of the wine glass directly into her face, the dark liquid splashing across her expensive white dress.
"You fucking bitch!" Emma shrieked, wine dripping from her chin onto the carpet.
Ava stood her ground, chin raised defiantly. "Stay away from him," she hissed, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The restaurant erupted in shocked murmurs. My eyes widened, and I felt my mouth drop open in disbelief at the spectacle unfolding. Drake's expression darkened ominously as he surveyed the scene, his gaze finally landing on me standing frozen among the spectators.
Our eyes locked, and a jolt of electricity shot through me. In that moment, I knew the evening was about to get much, much worse.
"Oh shit," I whispered under my breath, unable to look away from his penetrating stare.
"What the hell is going on here?" Bruce demanded, his voice cutting through the silence. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene—Emma drenched in wine, Ava standing defiantly a few feet away, and Drake watching the entire situation with an unreadable expression.
Bruce turned to Joseph, who stood rigidly beside a dining table, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Ava. "This is doing what? Joseph, your people are taking things too far, don't you think?" Bruce's tone carried a clear challenge.
Joseph's face remained expressionless as he shrugged. "Whoever did it should bear the consequences," he replied coldly, making no move to defend Ava.
I watched Ava carefully, my fingers unconsciously digging into my palms as I noticed the flicker of pain that crossed her face at Joseph's dismissal. Despite her outward confidence, her eyes revealed a profound sense of abandonment.
The situation felt painfully familiar. I'd been where Ava was now—desperately clinging to a man who valued me only in private, never publicly. She'd offended Emma, and Joseph's refusal to stand up for her meant she would face isolation within the pack structure.
She thought she was fighting for love , I realized, feeling an unexpected surge of empathy. She probably believed that what they had was special, that she was fucking different. But in the end, she's just another disposable tool, like I've been for Drake all these goddamn years.
Emma finally broke her stunned silence, dramatically wiping wine from her face with the back of her hand. She somehow managed to look dignified despite her ruined appearance.
"It's fine," she said, her voice strained but controlled. "Ms. Kim must have had too much to drink. These things happen." Despite her conciliatory words, her eyes flashed with barely contained rage.