I steadied myself and began: research focus, results, future plans. Not a single tremor in my hands, not a hitch in my voice. Every word landed where I aimed it, and I held nothing back.
Dustin listened closely, occasionally making notes, occasionally glancing up at me. His gaze was deep and unreadable.
When the defense was over, he asked me several technical questions, all of them extremely difficult, all aimed straight at the core.
I kept my composure and answered every one.
A slight nod. He offered no verdict either way, just: "Go home and wait for the notification."
I bowed and left, but something in my gut told me with fierce certainty.
I stepped out of the review room and there was Les. He'd found out about the selection somehow and had been waiting, and the moment he saw me, he closed the distance.
"Madge, you applied for the Core Research Lab selection. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't owe you updates on my life."
"We haven't broken up!" His voice cracked with urgency. "You promised you'd stay in the capital with me. The Core Research Lab is in the Northwest—you'd actually drag yourself out there just to get away from me?"
"Les, we're done."