Elise froze, her scalp stinging where Tia’s fingers had caught her hair. For a heartbeat, she couldn’t breathe, her chest tight with the shock of it.

Slowly, Elise turned, her eyes locking on Tia’s. The older woman’s fury was sharp and unmasked now, no trace of the elegant smile she wore in front of the guests. Elise’s pulse hammered, but she forced herself to stand without trembling.

“What is it, Mrs. Mendoza?” she asked at last, her voice level though her throat felt tight.

“You embarrassed me,” Tia hissed, stepping closer. Her grip slid from Elise’s hair to her arm, her fingers digging in hard enough to bruise Elise. “In...