I qualified.

The room spun around her and she felt sick. Even the air made her nauseous. All she could think about was getting out of there. She looked for an opening in the crowd to make her escape.

Lucien and Mia stood in the crowd watching. Audrey looked at him, hoping he would help her. But he just stared. She should have known better than to think Lucien had her back.

Audrey became more upset. Tears stung her eyes but she refused to cry. She would not give these people the satisfaction. She did her best to hold back and took a few breaths. As she opened her mouth to speak, Mia stepped forward.

​ “Leila,stop that. That isn’t nice of you at all,” she admonished. “Please forgive my friend. She didn’t mean it. She was just puzzled that’s all. People tend to get confused when a polished stone is trying to be presented as a diamond,” her tone was sweet, but Audrey had been around enough people to know that Mia was being vicious. It was clear Mia thought Lucien was way out of Audrey’s league, and it