The low murmurs and clinking of glasses faded in the background as Elise shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The way Alejandro touched her did not help, and worse was the piercing glares from the ladies around her.

It became so intense that Elise felt like she was being watched from a distance. Unable to hold it any longer, she quietly tilted her head to the left, and glanced over her shoulder. She scanned the room searching for whosoever it was that was staring intently at her until her gaze collided with a pair of sharp dark eyes.

A young lady stood a few tables away, aware that Elise was staring...