He did not move toward Derek.
He simply placed himself beside Maya.
Not in front of her.
Beside her.
“She does not need forever,” he said.
“She needs tonight.
Tomorrow can be dealt with tomorrow.”
Derek looked from him to Maya.
“You don’t know her.”
“No.”
“She lies.”
The owner’s expression remained unreadable.
“Then threatening her in front of witnesses was an unusual way to prove that.”
Derek realized what he had done.
His eyes flicked toward the manager, the guards, the tablet.
The entrance recording.
His own words in the booth.
His attempt to force Maya to leave.
He had walked into The Obsidian believing secrecy protected him.
Instead, he had chosen a room built around observation.
He stepped backward.
“This isn’t over.”
Maya’s body tensed.
The owner looked at the security team.
“Escort him and his companions out.
Preserve tonight’s security footage.
Record their names and vehicle details.
They are not to enter again.”
Derek’s face reddened.
“You can’t—”
“I already did.”
The guards approached.
Derek looked at Maya one last time.
His voice dropped.
“You’ll regret embarrassing me.”
Maya felt the threat exactly as he intended her to feel it.
But this time, four other people heard it too.
The manager’s expression hardened.
The guard holding the tablet looked down at the screen.
And the owner said quietly, “Add that to the incident report.”
Derek finally understood that every additional word was making his position worse.
He turned and walked out.
The two men who had entered with him were escorted from the club as well.
The velvet curtain fell closed.
For several seconds, Maya remained standing beside the table.
Her body had not yet understood that the immediate danger was gone.
Her hands were still shaking.
The owner noticed.
He reached for the water carafe, poured a glass, and placed it near her without touching her.
“You can sit.”
Maya stared at him.
“Am I fired?”
It was the first question that came out.
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“For hiding under my table?”
She nodded.
