“That’s a lot of money for one evening,” I said, holding my hands steady on the tiny watch gear.

“Appearance is everything when you’re stepping into a regional director job, Emily,” Daniel said.

He took a printed order form out of his portfolio and spread it flat on the wood.

“The committee expects the guest of honor to look the part.”

He took a folded white paper from his coat pocket, glanced at the letterhead for three seconds, and dropped it into the wicker wastebasket next to the sideboard.

“What was that letter?” I asked him.