Chapter 22

Now he made his way to the punch bowl.

“Just a second, Dr. Futé. I’ll get you a cup.” Barbra, one of the kitchen staff, turned to take a crystal cup from the box on a small table behind her. Only directors were given those cups; as head of Medical, Max was entitled to one.

And since he knew the reasoning behind only directors being given crystal cups, Max understood why.

Barbra ladled some punch into the cup and offered it to him with a smile. “Merry Christmas.”

“Joyeux No?l.” Max returned her smile and accepted the cup.

He wandered around the cafeteria, pausing here and there to exchange Christmas greetings with the agents and support staff he’d come to know, then returned to the directors to…schmooze, as he’d learned to call it.

The chatting continued until M. Wallace tapped his huge signet ring against the crystal cup he held, and as soon as there was silence, he began to speak.