Throughout the entire afternoon, Melody talked about Gabriel with me, asking about his background and what he preferred in a woman.

"Sofia, do you think I should dress in a specific kind of outfit for the auction?" she asked.

I thought about that. Since the auction was a relatively private function, I said, "Just dress casually. You don't have to dress up too much." Private, smaller auctions tended to be less flashy than larger ones, and individuals dressed more casually.

"Okay. What's your brother's favorite color?" Melody continued.

I took a deep breath and handed her a reagent tube. "How would I know? If you wish to know, you can...