After all that tough talk, Julie hesitated. If she stepped back now, she would be like shooting herself in the foot. How could she show her face in the social circle after that?

Just as she felt lost, a crisp voice cut through the tension.

"Ms. Amberson, why use a sledgehammer on a mosquito? Leave this small-time troublemaker to us."

Two sharply dressed, beautiful young women strolled in side by side.

The one in red exuded arrogance—it was Eleanor Welch!

The one in white radiated a cold