"Is that so?" Sharon gave Lisette a once-over, her gaze sharp and unimpressed. "Honestly, from head to toe, you can''t hold a candle to Callie. And from what I''ve heard, you''re nothing but a conniving little waste of space. What makes you even think you canpete?"


    Sharon smirked. "Since you''re so dissatisfied, I guess I''ll just have to teach you a little lesson."


    "You messed with me and Callie? Girl, you just tried to break into Fort Knox with a butter knife."


    She let out a lightugh, the kind that made your skin crawl.


    "First, you try to steal my boyfriend-unforgivable. Then, you go after my bestie? Oh, honey, you''re in for it now."


    "Even I couldn''t take down Callie myself, but since you''re still not convinced, let me show you what it means to really lose."


    As Sharon spoke, she suddenly raised her hand.


    Almost immediately, a guy in a crisp suit came hustling over, obviously her assistant.


    He handed Sharon a riding crop, and then turned to address the growing crowd. "Folks, if you could all just step back a bit, please? We wouldn''t want anyone to get hurt by ident!"


    "Our Miss Sharon here just needs a minute to take care of a little trouble. Once she''s done, you can all go back to enjoying your evening!"


    "This troublemaker picked the wrong person to mess with, so Miss Sharon''s gonna give her a little lesson!"


    "So please, mind your own business, alright? This crop doesn''t exactly have eyes!"


    He gave a polite nod to the crowd, but the message was clear: stay out of it.


    As if on cue, a squad of security guards in matching ck suits appeared, forming


    a tight circle and pushing the rest of the party guests back.


    Lisette tried to slip away, but found herselfpletely boxed in. Panic started to rise in her chest.


    She''d thought nothing serious would happen. Who could''ve guessed Sharon really had this kind of pull? She looked at the crop in Sharon''s hand and felt her stomach drop.


    Damn it, this woman was Calliope''s friend, too.


    There was no way Sharon would let her off the hook. She''d probably get the beating of her life, all for Calliope.


    The thought sent a chill down Lisette''s spine.


    "Ms. Lynn, told you, it was all just a misunderstanding! I had no idea Mr. Hawthorne was your fiancé. If ed. known, I''d never have spoken to him!"


    s


    "And whatever''s going on between me and Calliope is our business. It has nothing to do with you!"


    Sharon stood nearby, arms crossed and clearly amused by Lisette''s panic.


    "Sorry, sweetheart, but I just love getting involved in my best friend''s business."


    "Anything to do with Callie is my


    business, whether you like it or not.


    And as for you? I''ve heard all about you and I''ve never liked wha heard." Content Belongs to s


    "You came knocking on my door tonight. If I don''t teach you a lesson, who would I be?"


    Lisette''s expression soured. "There are so many people here, Ms. Lynn. Are you really going to do this? Aren''t you afraid I''ll call the police?"


    "Go ahead and call them," Sharonughed. "If that''s going to help, by all means, try it."


    Lisette realized, with a sinking feeling, that calling the cops would be useless.


    She nced desperately toward Valerian Jewell, silently pleading for help.


    Valerian looked anxious, like he wanted to step in, but the wall of burly security guards made it clear he wouldn''t get far.


    Lisette''s heart sank. She''d thought he might throw caution to the wind ande to her rescue.<fn8ba8> Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn8ba8>


    Out of reflex, she nced at Monty and Zelda-the two who''d egged her on so eagerly earlier. Now, they both looked


    way pretending they didn''t even know her.  s


    Lisette felt crushing disappointment. She''d never imagined she''d end up sopletely and utterly alone.


    "Ms. Lynn, I get it, I was wrong. I''m sorry, alright? Please, just let me go."