Chapter 191
Vespera acted fast, clapping a hand over Rebecca’s mouth as if about to drag her off and silence her for good. She practically yanked her into the elevator. The shot her a look that seemed to say, “Say one more word, and I’ll strangle you.” She was already neck-deep in trouble; there was no need to stir up more ambiguity. She didn’t need this.
Rebecca just laughed to herself. She thought things must have gotten intense in there. If she had known, she would have barged in too. She was genuinely upset she missed the show. Rebecca nodded and gave a thumbs-up as if to say, “I swear I won’t say anything.” Only then did Vespera let her go.
The three stepped into the elevator. As it descended, Dominic’s expression was noticeably cooler than before. Nothing dramatic, but enough to be felt. Like something about him had suddenly become less approachable. The quiet pressure he exuded filled the elevator, making the air feel unusually heavy.
Once they exited the building, Rebecca, knowing they’d shown up out of concern for her, felt touched and insisted on treating them all to a late-night meal. Dominic said he wasn’t eating and left with Calvert. “He’s mad,” Rebecca whispered to Vespera. “Yeah, I noticed. No need to spell it out,” Vespera thought. Dominic hadn’t been thinking straight since the whole incident at the villa, anyway. She would just let him stew.
She changed the subject. “Weren’t you offering food? He’s not eating, but Yaz and I still are. You still treating?” Rebecca nodded eagerly, “Of course!” She drove Vespera and Yasmine to a cozy broth-and-grill spot, where the three of them ate and chatted late into the night.
Yasmine hadn’t interacted much with Rebecca before, but after tonight, she realized that Rebecca was a refreshingly bold, sharp, and confident woman with both charm and brains. Sure, Yasmine could be a little over the top, but she liked people who weren’t fake.
“So, Ms. Sayder, did you manage to find any real evidence against Tina today?”
“Ms. Sowle is a slippery old fox,” Rebecca said with a cold, disappointed smile. “I thought after setting things up twice already and then hitting her with the finale today, she’d finally crack. But nope. When it came to the key details, she just dodged and deflected. Ugh.” She downed two big gulps of beer in frustration.
“Totally expected,” Yasmine said, not surprised in the least. She twirled her fingers and took a small bite of some grilled vegetables. “People don’t become villains by accident. They’re good at finding noble-sounding excuses for the terrible things they do. Those redemption arcs you see on TV? Total bullshit. People like her never think they’re wrong—the only ones at fault are the people they think should disappear.”
“Ms. Ralston, you’ve got a sharp eye for human nature,” Rebecca said.
“Just call me Yaz. Can I call you Becca too, like Vera does?”
“Sure,” Rebecca smiled. She pulled a business card from her purse and handed it over. “Yaz, if you ever run into legal trouble, come find me. I’ll give you a…”
Yasmine blinked, then laughed behind her hand. What a business-minded woman. She slipped the card into her bag. “No problem. I’ll even send a few friends your way sometime.”
“Thanks,” Rebecca said cheerfully.
When they came out of the broth-and-grill restaurant, Yasmine’s driver was already waiting outside. She waved goodbye to them and walked away gracefully, her steps full of quiet confidence.
Vespera asked Rebecca for her keys, and the two of them drove to Rebecca’s apartment. As soon as they stepped inside and dropped their bags, Rebecca pulled Vespera down onto the couch, eyes sparkling. She pulled out her phone and opened an app, looking way too excited. “Know what this is?”
“Not guessing. Just tell me already,” Vespera said, leaning in, intrigued.