It was just a thing that happened, incidentally, off to the side, while she was doing something that actually mattered.

Chapter 4 — A Perfect Score

“We will now begin the awards presentation,” the host announced, and Delphine sat bolt upright and reached under the table to slap Auberon’s leg.

“Put the phone away.

Get ready.” The announcer worked through the lower awards — third place, second, the consolation prizes — and with every name that was not Auberon’s, Delphine’s nails dug deeper into her handbag, her impatience curdling toward rage.

“Why haven’t they called him?” she hissed.