Ava looked at the velvet rope.
She had not crossed it.
“Requested based on what policy?”
Claire stared.
“What?”
“Is there a distance requirement?”
“That’s not the issue.”
“Then what is?”
Claire lowered her voice.
“You’re making guests uncomfortable.”
Ava looked around.
“Which guests?”
Claire said nothing.
One of the women in sequins murmured:
“Honestly, this is embarrassing.”
Ava heard.
So did Claire.
Still no correction.
The woman continued:
“If you want the car that badly, buy more tickets.”
Laughter.
Small.
Contained.
Enough.
Ava turned toward her.
“Did you?”
The woman blinked.
“What?”
“Buy raffle tickets?”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
The woman smiled.
“Twenty.”
Forty thousand dollars.
“Good.”
Ava nodded.
“HavenBridge can use it.”
The woman seemed disappointed that the answer was not defensive.
Claire cut in:
“That’s enough.”
Ava looked at her.
“I agree.”
“Then please leave the display area.”
“No.”
The word was quiet.
Claire blinked.
Ava continued.
“I’m staying until I read the plaque.”
Claire’s face hardened.
“Security.”
There it was.
Two guards approached.
Ava did not move.
One was a large white man around forty-five.
The other a younger Black woman.
Both wore black suits and discreet earpieces.
The older guard spoke first.
“Is there an issue?”
Claire answered:
“This guest is refusing to leave the restricted display area.”
Ava looked down at her feet.
Still outside the rope.
The Black guard noticed too.
Her eyes moved toward Claire.
“Restricted area is inside the rope.”
Claire’s expression changed.
“She’s disrupting the event.”
The guard looked toward Ava.
“Ma’am, are you a guest?”
“Yes.”
“Invitation?”
Ava opened her clutch.
Claire sighed dramatically.
“She’s at table fourteen.”
Ava paused.
So Claire had checked.
Interesting.
The guard asked:
“Any threat made?”
“No,” Ava said.
Claire answered at the same time:
“She’s refusing instructions.”
The Black guard glanced toward Claire again.
“From event staff?”
“Yes.”
“Regarding?”
“The car.”
The older guard seemed uncomfortable.
Ava handed over her invitation card.
He checked.
Valid.
He returned it.
“Ms. Mercer?”
“Yes.”
The Black guard’s expression changed slightly at the name.
Recognition?
Perhaps not.
Then Margaret Ellison appeared.
She had been speaking with another board member near the rear tables.
“What is going on?”
Claire turned.
“Margaret, I have this handled.”
Margaret looked toward Ava.
Then Claire.