After Arundel (RP)

"That’s exactly the look I was going for" she smirks, clearly pleased with his reaction. Her eyes do narrow slightly when he mentions not going to work tomorrow. It was very odd. She knew just how busy everyone’s been at his department, now with the rainstorm, and something about his tone didn't sit right. But she pushes the thought aside for now, choosing to stay focused on her plans for the evening.

"Tomorrow? Sure, we can find something to do" she never objected to spending time with her husband, though she would have preferred if he suggested something concrete, rather than leaving things up in the air. "Just let me know when and where" she looked into his eyes, and gave his hand one last reassuring squeeze before heading out, picking up her coat and her umbrella on the off chance Henry wasn’t out waiting to pick her up on time like he was supposed to.

Emma hated waiting. The rain, and the cold, made the wait even worse then the sting of humiliation. Once again, Henry made her wait for him, as if his time had no value. She tried to push the feeling aside, but it gnawed at her like the biting wind. It wasn’t just the cold; it was the old bitterness creeping back, the memories of waiting for him on countless nights, standing now in the rain, on the street corner, like a common...

The sound of the engine interrupted her thoughts. She recognized Henry’s sleek Aston Martin through the misty rain, and stepped back quickly to avoid the splash of water from the tires. Characteristically of him, Henry didn’t bother to get out of the car and open the door for her. She was expected to climb in on her own, rather than him inconveniencing himself in the rain for some gallant gesture. She had just enough time to see Henry and Sarah walk out of the apartment to see her off when the car took off, barely managing to wave her husband goodbye before she was whisked away.

***********


Claridge turned out to be their ultimate destination. It was impossible to miss the opulence of the place. It had a fresh, modern look to it, while still managing to look effortlessly rich. Polished marble floors, intricate wall panels, and plush leather seating all came together to create a space that felt both cool and sophisticated.

She kept her composure as they were escorted to a private room – a dimly lit chamber with soft, golden hues, velvet-lined walls, and table set with crystal glasses and polished plates.

At the head of the table sat a bespectacled man with long sideburns and graying hair. His voice was slick and smooth, like a practiced politician or a snake oil salesman. Beside him was a tall, striking young woman, silent and still, more like an accessory than participant. Another man, older then the rest, with silvery hair meticulously combed, sat with his equally elegant wife. She was middle-aged, poised, and so perfect in her composure it was hard to imagine her ever letting go of control.

No one spoke as Emma shed her coat - deliberately slow. She could feel the heat of their gazes following her every movement, and she took her time, enjoying the effect she was having. She didn’t miss the hunger in Henry’s eyes, the longing for her body. It was exactly the reaction she wanted to draw out of him. He had made her wait on the street like some insignificant afterthought, and now he was the one squirming, unable to look away from the one thing he couldn’t possess.

She smiled politely when he introduced her, deciding against saying anything when he called her his ‘date’. Her expression didn’t change when he didn’t bother giving her the names of any of the others. It wasn’t an accident, or an oversight, but a clear sign of disrespect, something he had perfected over the years.

The conversation quickly shifted to business once they were seated. Henry’s world, not hers. He dove into talks of recent acquisitions and business ventures, sounding so comfortable and authoritative, while she couldn’t help but feel out of place. She had no way to contribute, and the more they talked, the more obvious it became. He was in his element. She, on the other hand, was just a pretty face.

Her attention sharpened, though, when the bespectacled man said something about an upcoming retreat, asking Henry if he will be bringing ‘Emma, Claire, or perhaps Christine’ with him. It was the first time she has been referred to by name, and for a moment, she knew his question was part of a show. Everyone in the room was playing a part, but for once, she wasn’t going to let them control the narrative: "If it’s anything like the snooze fest you’ve been having tonight," she interjected with a smirk "then there is no need for me to travel all the way for a nap. I can fall asleep right here in this chair."

Here they go again, talking about her as if she wasn’t even there. The subtle implication that she was nothing more than eye candy, there to look pretty and keep her mouth shut was hard to miss. Her smile was a bit too controlled as she fought to suppress the spark of flaring inside her. She couldn’t count on Henry to defend her; she knew he would never stick his neck out for her, even if he felt any differently then any of the men about her. That, more than anything, made her decision for her. If she wanted to people to notice her for more then her looks, she had to say something disruptive, get them to notice her.

"Thank you, but I’ve already ‘powdered’ at home" she smiled sweetly at the woman who invited her to accompany her to the bathroom. She wasn’t going to be ushered away like a child. She wanted to know what was really going on.

She didn’t hesitate once the women left the room. She turned her attention back to the older man and leaned forward slightly, meeting his eyes to make sure she had his undivided attention: "So, how do you know Eliot Parry?" she threw the bait out. She knew they had some interest in the vampire lord, and wanted to see if they suspected anything about his true nature. If they did, it could be the leverage she needed to play a different game, right above Henry’s unsuspecting head "Is he part of your... club?"

Really? That was it?

Disappointment settled once she realized they only knew of Eliot Parry through Henry. She was never one to be impressed by wealth or influence. If they weren’t connected to anything otherworldly, she couldn’t care less about them, or their exclusive little club. Just like they clearly didn’t care about her.

She’d already made her decision. No point in continuing to engage in conversation with any of them, not when they clearly had no interest in her beyond what she looked like. She will play their game, smile and conform. At least she could find some enjoyment in the evening, even if it wasn’t for the company. She never had the chance sit down in an exclusive place like this before. A fine dinning experience and a few glasses of expensive wine were more than enough to make the night worthwhile, no matter how dull the conversation might be.

"I’m sorry, I overstepped my bounds" she shifted with a light apologetic smile and an almost demure voice "I’m not really accustomed to... these kinds of meetings." She let the words hang in the air, with just the right amount of hesitation to make it seem genuine. "I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Blame it on the exuberance of youth"

It was the perfect act. Just the right amount of contrition, just the right amount of innocence. If they wanted to think she was an airhead, so be it. She was happy to play along, and let them think her as one.

"Thank you for the invitation" she said politely, choosing her words carefully. "But I’m sure I’d only get in the way. I don’t really belong in a place like that… I’d probably just end up being a distraction." It wasn’t lost on her that it was the older man, not Henry, who invited her. That struck her as odd, especially considering they had only just met. He hadn’t even paused to consider whether Henry would prefer to bring someone else. It was a subtle tell of the power dynamic between the two men. Interesting.

Her gaze shifted to Ekaterina when the young woman returned and took her seat. Emma had seen enough of the club scene to recognize the signs. She’d lost count of how many times she’d been invited to indulge, but no matter how tempting and enticing they made it look, it wasn’t a habit she could afford. Still, she didn’t judge. Everyone had their vices.

She turned back when he mentioned "protection." Now she knew for sure: these people didn’t know a damn thing about Elliot, or the supernatural world, if they considered the Vampire Lord of London to be a mere ‘thug’. Hell, they didn’t even know he has gone missing!!

But she couldn’t afford to blow the game now, after she had already used the "protection" angle to justify being invited to meet them. So she took another sip of wine, stalling to gather her thoughts. She needed to appear interested, even though she knew she would eventually turn down their offer.

"Elliot?" she feigned nervousness "I plan to keep my distance from him, now that Henry filled me in." She offered Henry a quick, thankful smile "But, just in case he becomes more... insistent, what exactly did you have in mind?"

"Oh. Publicity?" she repeated after him "So, like, if everyone knows I’m with Mr. Parry, that makes me safer… does that mean I should, like, spend more time with him?" She glanced between Reginald and Henry, as if looking for their approval. Of course, she would never think of doing anything without Henry’s say-so.

But inside, she was already making her own conclusions. Elliot was missing, and no "protection agency" was going to defend her from a supernatural vampire. But that wasn’t the point. She just needed to get through the night and move on to meeting Benji’s contacts. A vampire hunter, even a retired one, was looking more and more appealing than these clueless gentlemen.

She took another sip of wine, keeping her expression deliberately blank as she skimmed the menu. She made a point of furrowing her brows, pretending to be utterly lost in the options, before looking back at Henry with an almost apologetic smile.

"I’m sorry," she said with a small, nervous laugh. "I don’t know what half of these dishes even mean…" Her voice trailed off, a hint of embarrassment creeping in. She hinted he should order for her just like he is loved to, fully playing the role of someone utterly out of her depth.

"Oh my god, he does sound scary," her voice was full of feigned awe. "I definitely want nothing to do with someone like that. I better keep away then!"


Internally, she was far from convinced that any amount of "publicity" would deter Elliot if he ever truly wanted to make her disappear. She had seen the police commissioner at the party in Arundel. He could make any case vanish for the right favor, probably like he has already done many many times before. There was a reason the authorities never looked too closely at Elliot, no matter how many bodies he dropped, right?

She turned her attention to the meal, letting the conversation slide for the moment. The food was superb, and for a moment, she allowed herself to get lost in the indulgence. A few sips of wine, and her mood lightened. For the first time in a while she was able to relax and just enjoy the moment; forget all about the scheming and plotting.

It was a shame Ekaterina barely spoke English, because she looked more like her sort of people than any of the others. Less full of herself, for one. She tried to engage her in conversation, and even managed to exchange some fashion tips with her, feeling an odd sense of camaraderie despite the language barrier. She followed her Instagram account too. Who knows, maybe she could contact her one day to get the inside scoop on that little club, in a much more inconspicuous way.

Meanwhile, there was a part of her that found a little guilty pleasure in watching Henry. The way his new friends weren't giving him the attention he clearly wanted, and how they were leaving him in a sort of subdued, mopy state. It was almost too satisfying. For all the humiliation he’d put her through, this felt like a small, sweet victory. Sweeter than the desert they were served.

As dinner came to a close, and everyone began to make their way out, she chose to play along and get in the car with Henry, though her mind was already turning toward the next phase of her evening. She slipped into the passenger seat, casual but clearly enjoying herself.

"That was a lovely evening, don't you think? Very interesting people" her tone was light, almost playful "The seaside villa you mentioned earlier… The man I talked to mentioned one too. I mean, I’m sure both are beautiful, but I was just curious if all members of the club own one" She paused, glancing at him to check his reaction, while inwardly she felt guilty over enjoying rubbing salt in his wounds "And what’s this ‘retreat’ thing they keep bringing up? Have you ever been to one? I’m really curious what goes on at a place like that"

Even though she couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction as she watched him squirm throughout the evening, she wasn’t vindictive enough to wish for him to fail - despite the way he had treated her in the past.
"I’m sorry. I was just... caught up in the moment, I guess" she said softly "I didn’t mean to make things uncomfortable for you, especially with your business dealings." She made sure to appear genuinely apologetic, even though, truth be told, she thought most of the blame lay on him. Maybe if he introduced her properly or bothered to include her in the conversation, she wouldn’t have felt the need to interrupt so rudely. Still, she acknowledged that she might have overstepped. She had no intention of sabotaging him.

"They all seemed like important people" She offered a small, reassuring smile. "I’m sure you’ll fit right in with them"

Her phone beeps interrupted the moment. She quickly checked it, making sure to like each of Kat’s photos as well as sending her a quick message: "Had a great time tonight, and you were the best part. Let’s do it again sometime!" She didn’t mind having Ekaterina as a friend, but it was also important for her to keep the connection open. Who knows when it might come in handy?

Looking up from her phone, she flashed Henry a playful smile. "I didn’t realize you actually read my columns" she teased him "I didn’t think they’d be your type of reading."