The hall exploded in applause that was louder and more sustained than what Alexander had received. I glanced toward the judges’ table, where faculty members were scribbling notes with expressions that ranged from impressed to shocked.
From the front row, Julian started a slow clap that gradually built into enthusiastic applause. “Magnificent!” he called out. “Absolutely savage! I do love watching monopoly capitalism get eviscerated in public.”
“Mr. d’Aubigny,” Dean Whitman’s voice was sharp. “Please contain your commentary.”
“Of course, Dean. But you have to admit, that was rather spectacular.”
Alexander was still standing at his podium, staring at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Not anger, exactly, though there was definitely frustration there. Something that might have b
