Vaughn stopped right in front of Carli. He puffed out his chest, trying to look intimidating.
Isla leaned against him. She reached up and touched the massive diamonds on her neck, making sure everyone saw them.
"Carli," Isla said. Her voice was high-pitched and sickeningly sweet. "Are you here all alone? That must be so sad for you."
A group of wealthy women gathered around them, holding their drinks, eager to watch the drama unfold.
Carli took a slow sip of her champagne. She looked Isla up and down, her eyes full of bored disgust.
Carli switched to flawless, Parisian-accented French. "Your dress is a cheap knockoff from last season. The stitching on the bodice is uneven. It makes you look wide."
Isla blinked. She didn't speak a word of French. She looked around, confused.
The old-money women in the crowd understood perfectly. Several of them let out sharp, mocking laughs.
Vaughn's face flushed red. He stepped closer to Carli. "Stop making a scene," he hissed. "You're embarrassing yourself."
"I'm not the one who brought a cheap escort to a Gutierrez event," Carli said in English. Her voice was loud enough for the whole circle to hear.
Vaughn's jaw dropped. He took a furious step forward.
Before he could speak, a blur of pink silk rushed out from the crowd. It was Lilah.
Lilah's cheek was covered in heavy foundation, but the swelling from Carli's slap was still visible. She was holding a massive glass of red wine.
Lilah pretended to trip over her own heels. She lunged forward, aiming the glass of dark red wine directly at Carli's emerald gown.
Carli saw her coming. Her reflexes were instant.
Carli took one smooth, elegant step to the right.
Lilah hit empty air. Her momentum carried her forward. Her high heels slipped on the polished marble floor.
Lilah crashed hard onto the ground. The glass shattered. The entire glass of red wine splashed back onto her own face and ruined her pink silk dress.
The sound of shattering glass made the entire ballroom turn and look.
Lilah lay on the floor, covered in wine and glass, looking like a bleeding pig. She burst into loud, ugly tears.
Vaughn dropped Isla's hand and rushed to Lilah. He pulled her up.
Lilah buried her face in Vaughn's chest. "She tripped me!" Lilah sobbed, pointing a shaking finger at Carli. "Carli pushed me!"
The crowd groaned in disgust. Everyone had seen Carli step out of the way. The lie was pathetic.
Carli looked down at them. "Idiots," she muttered. She turned to walk away.
"Security!" Vaughn screamed at the top of his lungs. "Get this crazy bitch out of here!"
His loud, crude voice echoed through the elegant room.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The heavy, rhythmic sound of a wooden cane hitting the floor came from the grand staircase.
The entire ballroom went dead silent. People quickly stepped back, bowing their heads in respect.
Isadora Gutierrez, the matriarch of the family, walked down the stairs. She was eighty years old, with stark white hair and eyes like a hawk. She held a black onyx cane.
Isadora walked straight toward the mess. She looked at Lilah crying and Vaughn yelling. Her face twisted in deep displeasure.
Then, Isadora's sharp eyes moved past them. Her gaze landed squarely on Carli.
