I spent the next couple of days scouring the markets and running thorough checks on all of the producers I could find. I ensured none of them had any connections either to Lucas or his supporters, and made absolutely certain that their ingredients and chefs were the best in the business.
I went home full every night from taste-testing, but it was worth it, and by the end of the week I had put together a fool-proof proposal for the catering at the Alpha Ball. My picks had been carefully vetted, and I was confident nothing could go wrong.
I had to make a final pastry selection, and for that I went to the open air market in the center of the city. It was held in the main park, and was surrounded by a beautiful canopy of flowering trees.
There were dozens of vendors, all showing off thei
