CHAPTER SIXTY ONE – THE RULES OF NETWORKING

The event was being held in a swanky hotel ballroom, all gleaming chandeliers and polished marble. Joan's heels clicked against the floor as she made her way inside, trying to project an air of belonging. She collected her name tag from the registration desk and scanned the room. Clusters of people stood chatting, many of them seeming to know each other already. Joan took a deep breath and approached a group near the refreshment table. "Hi there," she said, pasting on a smile. "I'm Joan Keppler. Mind if I join you?" A woman with sleek gray hair turned to her, returning the smile. "Of course not. I'm Dr. Eleanor Simmons. This is Dr. Chen and Dr. Patel." Joan shook hands with each of them, her palms embarrassingly sweaty. "It's nice to meet you all. Are you enjoying the event so far?" Dr. Chen nodded. "It's always good to catch up with colleagues. Where are you practicing, Joan?" Joan felt her cheeks warm. "Oh, I'm... actually not practicing at the moment. I recently completed my m