That one rings a bell with me. You tried to give her a compliment,
and she see the opening and does something a civilized person would
only do when confronted with something really bad like an insult or threat. This chick wanted to hurt someone who dared to be nice to
her. A smile and a quick word, is graceful when parting in such situations.

Let's think of the great things you might have said if you could have known her true colors: I don't mind smoking at all, but I've reserved
this space at the bar for attractive women. Any others what to take a crack at the "should have said"?

This has kind of thing has only happened to me a few times in my whole life, but when it does it makes me sad that someone could be so mean to a stranger. Maybe if you had played coy she would have asked, "what sort of work do you do" (read: Are you rich enough for me to consider?). I try to avoid places such women frequent.

I must admit that I have an occassional fantasy about having such a woman be attracted to me for all the wrong reasons (money, power, looks, status -if I had them) and then mentally tormenting her by making her feel as inadaquate as she does to others. Maybe it would make a good stupid revenge movie like First Wives Club for guys.