Dominated By Him
"Are you paying attention?"
"Yes, of course," I lied, straightening in my chair.
Mrs. Benedetti's expression suggested she didn't believe me for a second. "Then perhaps you can tell me the significance of white chrysanthemums in Italian-American tradition?"
I stared at her blankly, having absolutely no idea. The silence stretched uncomfortably until she sighed with the long-suffering patience of someone dealing with a particularly slow student.
"Death and mourning, Mrs. Romano. Sending white chrysanthemums to a rival family would be considered a direct threat." She made a note on her ever-present tablet. "I'll be sure to mention your... distraction... to your husband this evening."