"Yes, it is."


    "That''s right, Hall A."


    Bianca and Henry answered almost in unison.


    Halley''s brow furrowed even more. "Is there another IPO roadshow happening here today?" he asked after a moment''s thought.


    Bianca''s smile faltered. Henry lookedpletely bewildered. Could it be that Halley wasn''t here for PerseTech?


    Both of them fell silent, unsure how to answer.


    "Never mind, I''ll just call," Halley said, his patience wearing thin. He pulled out his phone and dialed Dn, not wanting to bother Noreen while she was busy.


    Dn answered and was there in a sh to collect him. The two halls were close enough that it only took him a minute to arrive, not even giving Bianca enough time topose her expression. He gave Bianca and Henry a polite nod of acknowledgment before turning to Halley.


    "The venue was changed to Hall B at thest minute," Dn exined. "I forgot to let you know."


    "Well, you should have put up a sign or something," Halley grumbled. "What if other guests got lost like I did?"


    "We did," Dn said. "And everyone on the invitation list was notified."


    "I didn''t see any sign on my way in."


    "I''ll have someone check on it."


    Halley was already at the door when he remembered Henry. He turned back. "Aren''t youing?"


    Henry hesitated. "I''m here to support a friend."


    Halley didn''t ask any more questions. The two of them left, in full view of Bianca, Henry, and everyone else in Hall A who had been watching the exchange.


    Bianca''s face was a mask of humiliation Henry''s wasn''t much better. He stared after them, his expression hardening. He assumed Dn had brought Halley here to boost Noreen''s event, Didn''t Dn understand that someone like Noreen, all beauty and no


    substance, would only fall harder the higher she was propped up? It was like he was under a spell. Was Noreen really that captivating?


    Sensing the awkwardness, one of the socialites approached Yvonne to ask what was going on. Yvonne went over to Bianca, her voice low but her smile still firmly


    in ce. "What happened? Why did Academician Joyner just leave?"


    With Henry standing right there, Bianca kept her answer formal. “He went to the wrong hall. I didn''t invite him, as didn''t want people to think I was trying to ride on his coattails, especially since havent even been epted into his graduate program yet."


    Yvonne nodded approvingly. "That was the right thing to do. Your work should always speak for itself." She then returned to her circle, adding that it was no wonder Bianca was so exceptional with such a principled mother.


    Henry was impressed. "Ipletely agree with your approach," he said,forting. Bianca. "You''re talented and visionary. You''ll earn everyone''s respect in time. As for those who rely on shortcuts, they''ll only find their paths growing narrower."


    Yvonne exined the situation to her friends, casually mentioning Bianca''s n to


    apply to Academician Joyner''s program. The women were in awe.


    "I know all about Academician Joyner! His program is notoriously difficult to get


    into! Only someone as brilliant as Ms. Lowell would even qualify! My son wouldn''t stand a chance!"