Chapter 114

Back at my desk, I opened The Aureate Awards website to see what it took to enter as an individual. Violet Lin materialised like a ghost behind me, peering over my shoulder. ‘Ah, checking out the website?’ she said, her tone smug. She placed her cup of black coffee down on my desk with an exaggerated clink, as if making a point. ‘I guess you’ve heard the news, huh?’ ‘The way your voice carries, the janitor and his broom on the basement floor would have heard the news.’ ‘The spot’s mine.’ ‘I’m not deaf.’ ‘But you are stubborn. Still trying to get in, huh? Well, I wouldn’t waste time. Unless you’ve got thirty million spare cash lying around.’ She covered her mouth with a dainty hand. ‘Oops, I forgot. You don’t.’ ‘Do you plan on buying your way to the finals? I’m afraid all the gold in Fort Knox won’t suffice. You’d have to kill every other contestant.’ ‘Still sarcastic, I see. But I guess that’s all you can do now—talk. Meanwhile, I’ve got things to do.’ She picked off an invisible lint