Black Ice
Samuel said to Elena.
"Stay hopeful, Samuel," Elena replied sharply.
Samuel seethed with a roll of his eyes but remained silent.
"Every year," I spoke into the microphone, my voice echoing off the high ceilings, "this competition showcases the sharpest minds our business school has to offer. But this year, the judging panel faced a scenario we have never encountered in the history of this university."
The background noise in the auditorium stopped right away.
"The grand prize winner," I kept going, holding up the thick black leather binder that had the winning proposal, "submitted a portfolio that didn't just meet our criteria—it redefined them."