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