The drinks party was the same as any other faculty event she was forced to attend. A whole series of ass-lickers trying to outdo each other while simultaneously fawning over the professor. In some ways it was worse because the prize was so much bigger. The small conference room was a bland brown shell, that reeked of coffee and stale food. The wine was warm and cheap and half a box of cheese crackers scattered over a dozen small plates didn’t really count as cocktail snacks. But she’d done her duty and spoken to all the search committee. She glanced at her watch and headed stealthily toward the door. Surely no one would notice if she left. ‘Helen, my dear.’ With a barely suppressed sigh, she turned and faced her two least favorite men in the universe: Professor Hart and her ex-husband, David Campion. She inclined her head. ‘Peter. David.’ ‘You look very professional tonight, Helen.’ David’s smile was as proprietary as the professor’s. ‘I try to fit in the best I can.’ She glanced down at her black pants suit and crisp white blouse.
