“Fine, you can stay.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief.
“But,” I added, my smirk widening, “only if you admit right here in front of everyone that you were the one who didn’t belong here tonight.”
Emily stiffened.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
I crossed my arms.
“Say it. I was wrong and I didn’t belong here tonight.”
Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the stairs, the hushed murmurss of the guests who had witnessed the whole thing.
Her pride was battling her survival instinct. I could see the war raging inside her.
I leaned in just a little.
“Or, you know, I could just have security escort you out. Your choice.”
Emily swallowed heart. Her hands trembled slightly as she exhaled, then muttered under her breath.
“I was wrong and I didn’t belong here tonight.”
“Louder,” I said, enjoying this way too much.
She clenched her jaw, then forced the words out, just loud enough for the room to hear.
“I was wrong, and I didn’t belong here tonight.”
I let the words hang in the air for a moment, savoring the taste of long overdue justice.
The room was dead silent, all eyes on Emily as she stood there, humiliated and furious, her face a deep shade of red.
I could tell she thought this was over, that she had swallowed her pride just enough to keep her precious party intact.
But she was wrong.
I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head.
“Wow, that was actually painful to watch.”
I sighed dramatically.
“But you know what? I changed my mind.”
Emily’s head snapped up.
“What?”
I turned to the security guard.
“Get her out of my hotel.”
For a moment, Emily just stood there blinking like she hadn’t actually processed what I said.
Then she let out a short, nervous laugh.