across the table and lowered his voice。 ？Are you really as bright as your dad claims？？
Blair sat up even straighter； twirling her little ruby ring around and around on her ring finger
beneath the tablecloth。 ？I think I？m smart enough to go to Yale；？ she replied evenly； remembering
her speech。 ？I？m in all the APs at school。 I？m at the top of the class。 I？m the chair of the social
services board and the French club。 I？m a peer group leader。 I？m nationally ranked in tennis。 And I
ran the organizing mittee for five charity events this past year。？
Their drinks arrived and Owen raised his glass。 ？And why Yale？？ He took a sip。 ？What can Yale
do for you？？
It seemed odd that Owen wasn？t taking notes or anything； but maybe he was testing her； trying to
get her to let down her guard and admit that she really was just a flake who？d been born with a
silver spoon up her well…bred ass and only wanted to go to Yale to party with frat boys。
？As you know； Yale has an excellent prelaw program；？ she stated； determined to give intelligent；
straight…to…the…point answers。 ？I？m thinking of going into entertainment law。？
？Excellent。？ Owen nodded approvingly。 He scooted his chair forward and winked at her。 ？Look；
Blair。 You？re an intelligent； ambitious girl。 I already know you？re perfect for Yale and I promise
I？ll do everything I can to convince them to let you in。？
He looked so handsomely earnest while he was saying this that Blair felt her cheeks heat up。 She
took a sip of wine to cool herself off。 ？Thank you；？ she responded gratefully。 She took another sip
of wine and let out an enormous sigh of gratitude and relief。 ？Thank you。 Thank you； thank you；
thank