Gladys's words set the crowd ablaze. I lunged forward, ignoring the pain, but Elliot seized my arm and held me in place.
"This isn't the real Bloodstone Qilin. Anyone with eyes can see it's a fake." He scoffed. "She was just trying to use this knockoff to swindle the Farleys out of their money."
Elliot put the artifact back in its box and shot me a warning look.
"This thing's been lost for centuries. How would a servant end up with it? It's obviously a fake!"
"She's right. Something this precious, and even the Farleys couldn't track it down? But somehow she found it?"
The crowd murmured in agreement. No one believed someone of my station could possibly have gotten her hands on the Bloodstone Qilin.
"This woman made a counterfeit, and I'm going to teach her a lesson she won't forget!" Gladys pulled out her phone and dialed. "I'm sending you straight to the police!"
Within minutes, the wail of a patrol car cut through the air. Elliot grabbed my arm without ceremony and dragged me toward the front entrance.
"Imogen, if you beg me right now, I can make this go away."
I didn't even look at him. Beg? He could keep dreaming.
I hadn't broken any laws. Why would I beg anyone for anything?