Jarrod finally drew out the cigarette and lit it again.

Maurice pondered for a moment, then said, “You’re not seriously thinking of bringing Elodie to the party, are you? That crowd is full of people who know you both. Wouldn’t that be as good as announcing Elodie as Mrs. Silverstein? If you ask me…”

He shot Jarrod a dubious look. “Elodie would jump at the chance to go public with you. Isn’t that what she’s always wanted? I bet you anything, when the time comes, you won’t even have to remind her. She’ll reach out herself, asking to go together.” Maurice hissed through his teeth, drawing from past experience.

As for Elodie’s earlier dismissive attitude… Well, women do like to play hard to get, don’t they?

Jarrod didn’t seem the least bit concerned. “She won’t.”

She won’t?

Maurice wasn’t sure what to make of that. Did he mean he wouldn’t go public? Or that Elodie wouldn’t ask to attend together?

Even so, he felt compelled to warn him: “I think you’d better have a backup plan. Figure out a way to keep Elodie from showing up.”

No telling what Elodie might pull if she decided to make a scene.

And besides-Sylvie’s reputation was on the line, too.

Jarrod lowered his gaze, pondering for a few seconds. He glanced at the text message that had just come in, then said calmly, “She’ll be there.”

Maurice was left even more confused.

Jarrod didn’t bother to explain. With long strides, he headed back into the private room.

Meanwhile, Elodie and Esmeralda returned to their own lounge. Alexander immediately leaned in, lowering his voice, “What took you two so long?”

Esmeralda was still simmering from Selma’s words and the way Sylvie had been so condescending. She couldn’t hold it in any longer and recounted the whole

scene.

“They really act like they’re the lady of the manor, don’t they? The way they look down their noses at Elodie-when she’s the real Mrs. Silverstein! And yet they have the nerve to mock her?” Esmeralda’s voice rose, her anger barely contained.

Her outburst caught the attention of Galen and the other two engineers from the tech department, Janice and Seymour, who glanced over curiously.

“Wait, Ms. Thorne is Mrs. Silverstein? She’s married?” Galen hadn’t caught all the details, but those two words-Elodie and wife-stood out. He turned to her, wide- eyed. “Ms. Thorne, who’s your husband?”

Seymour chimed in, “Yeah, how come we never heard about this? Is he in our field?”

Elodie didn’t reply.

Esmeralda quickly changed the subject, affecting a stern tone. “Alright, enough gossip. Go on, order the food.”

The others exchanged glances, frustrated but realizing they wouldn’t get any more details.

After they’d quieted down, Esmeralda voiced her real concern. “If Elodie really shows up at the party with Jarrod, and Jarrod decides to pretend she’s nobody, just leaves her out to dry…ugh, I’d be furious just thinking about it.”

It was obvious what was going on. Henrietta didn’t know the two had divorced, so she insisted they both attend. Jarrod wanted Elodie there to keep up appearances for Henrietta’s sake. But once they arrived then what? Would Jarrod actually play the loving husband in public, or did he have something else in mind?

Alexander, who had been thinking all this through, finally spoke up. “Actually, I was invited to Raleigh’s birthday gala too.”

Elodie and Esmeralda both looked at him in surprise.

He drummed his fingers on the table before continuing, “Here’s what I propose: Elodie, you come as my guest. That way, you’re there, but it’s got nothing to do with Jarrod. Plus, there will be plenty of industry folks at the gala-good chance for VistaLink Technologies to network and build business connections. We just focus on what actually matters.”

Elodie considered it. From VistaLink Technologies’ standpoint, it made perfect sense. If Jarrod was the only one asking her, she might have looked for an excuse to avoid it. But with Alexander involved, and clear benefits for their company, her hesitation faded.

As for whatever Jarrod might be planning… well, that was his problem.