The fight went about as well as a fight between Frosts could. There was no clear victor, but Emma managed to extract herself from the situation with dignity and without appearing as though she were truly backing down. Once she was out of Adrienne's grasp, Emma headed again to the drink table for a tall glass of champagne. To all outward appearances, Emma seemed normal. She threw fake smiles at old acquaintances, slipping in and out of conversations like an old pro. But the entire time she walked the floor, she felt eyes on the back of her head.
Things only really got bad when a photographer approached her. The man, slightly drunk, took Emma by the wrist and had her approach her parents. Emma did her best to try and excuse herself but failed. When the man insisted upon a family photo, Winston shook his head, muttered something dark, and the photographer walked away. Emma's face changed just slightly at whatever the remark had been. An untrained eye would not have caught the subtle change. Emma wasn't sure if she found herself stuck with her family or if she'd just chosen to do something stupid and hang around them. What she did know was that the lingering guilt she felt about having betrayed her father was ending rather quickly with all the insults that were being slung her way tonight.
With unusual public bravado, Emma smiled in a way that made a shark seem friendly and said, "Do repeat that, father. What did you call me?"