He cupped his hands around her ear and said loudly enough for her to hear him over the crowd, “Nice coup!”
She cupped her one hand at his ear: “Just starting. Join my team.”
He cupped his hands: “I’m not a team player.”
She responded: “Then be my lackey. Or else.”
He cupped her ear for the last time that night: “Else!” And, smiling as much as he could, he waved to the crowd, walked off the stage, turned, and clapped for Gretel. He offered his applause partly as an empty gesture, but also grudgingly in appreciation of how wickedly crafty she was. Realizing that some people were dividing their attention between Gretel and him, Kurt sat down at a table near the exit. He would leave quietly, after the audience focused on the meeting and turned its attention away from him.
Sidney took the
