It was the smallest useful action available to me.

When I turned, Marianne was standing near the exit.

She had seen the exchange.

She did not smile.

She simply nodded once, as if acknowledging that I had finally understood which side of a simple question I should be on.

PART 8: A Conversation with Cordelia

Cordelia found me in the hotel lounge, where the event organizers had arranged a quiet space for sponsors to meet.

She arrived with her publicity adviser and an anger that seemed to occupy the whole room.