“Thank you for sharing your time with me tonight,” Sofia ended her luncheon speech with a polite, practiced smile, dipping her head kindly. She stepped off of the podium, drawing a soft breath as she began for the door. She smiled and waved to those who congratulated her, before turning a tired gaze onto the one she could let her guard down for.

“Another luncheon,” she huffed softly, standing on the steps just outside. She did it mostly for her father, of course; it wasn’t like she enjoyed these stiff events. She adjusted her dress as she took an offered cigarette. She placed it on her lip as she waited for it to be lit. “I swear, these things will be the death of me.”