He looked at the stain, then at the departing van. “Were you with those guests?”

Maya didn’t answer right away, because her phone vibrated. Ryan’s name appeared.

Don’t embarrass my family. Just go home.

She stared at the message for a long moment. The words were almost useful in their cruelty. They were clean. Documentable.

A second message appeared above the first.

Ms. Arden, the investors’ dinner begins at seven. Should we prepare the executive boardroom?