Page 116 of Ruled By Rivalry

“And I quit.”

I wiggled out of his loose grip around me to take a step back. To look at him and signal the severity of his words. His actions. The situation.

“You can’t just—”

“I never cared, Maeve.” Another shrug, hands slipping into his pockets. “It’s very clear who the position should go to, but I know Hunter, and I know he wouldn’t give it to you. They could have a unanimous vote at Adeline Ashwood, and he’d still choose me.”

My head shook. My brows furrowed. He couldn’t just . . . “You can’t just—”

“I have things to fall back on, friends and family. The foundation.”

“Which is a nonprofit,” I reminded. “Billions, Elliot. You can’t just—”

“I have.” He nudged my shoulder, finally managed to get us moving again, down the hall in step with the few people not yet inside. I had no concept of time, but I assumed the entertainment part of the evening was about to start. I’d much rather argue with Elliot about the stupidity of his decision, though. “You might have to financially support me for a while there.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

There was a stage at the front of the massive room dotted with round tables. “We’re not done with this conversation,” I threatened, ignoring the flutters in my stomach. His words still hadn’t computed. “But my table should be somewhere over there.” In the back.

“Same.”

I gave him a look, tried to ignore the way they were dimming the lights. “I’m pretty sure the Ashwood table is by the stage.”

“I’m still an employee for tonight. And I’d much rather argue with you at a table full of people who hate me than spend a single second with my family. I had my place card switched with Rachel’s.” Hand on my back, a covert kiss to the crown of my head.

Eyes were upfront, someone had just taken the stage, so maybe no one would notice.

Or maybe everyone should.

I was smiling for real now, and I probably shouldn’t, seeing as Camila’s eyes were narrowed into slits at our approach and she was furiously whispering into her husband’s ear.

“Risky,” I said. “Seeing as you couldn’t possibly have known we’d make up and have sex in a spare room beforehand.”

“One way or another, you would’ve talked to me tonight, Maeve.” His steps slowed. “I’m a man who makes things happen, remember?”

How could anyone forget?

I had no time to respond before we reached the table, and every single look ranged from simple confusion to outright betrayal. Camila was wearing a mix of all of them, somehow. My chair was the one next to hers, and I was glad Elliot had taken Rachel’s place on my other side. The woman had always been too intimidating for me to feel at ease around.

Tense silence sat down with us. I played with my napkin, lined up my cutlery perfectly, and cleared my throat. Someone was saying something into the microphone on stage, but I couldn’t hear anything other than the suffocating quiet of our table.

As some sort of lifeline, I glanced at Elliot. His gaze had already been on me, and the eye contact seemed to do something to him. Set him into motion with a reassuring smile and a clear of his throat before he—

“I quit,” he said.

Well, addressing the elephant in the room was certainly one way to get over it. I still hadn’t quite processed what he’d done, so my eyes widened all over again.

At least the confession finally pulled something else onto Camila’s face. Surprised, she cocked her head, brows furrowing when she exchanged a glance with Oliver, whose mouth was simply hanging wide open.

On stage, the host was welcoming us, getting the audience to clap and whistle. No one at our table seemed to care. Camila’s eyes jumped to Elliot. “You what?”

“I quit,” he repeated, calmly, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Why?” Oliver.

“Because Maeve deserves that job, and I’m not sure Hunter cares.”