Penelope's POV
The golden afternoon sunlight streamed through the stadium's open roof, casting elongated shadows across the rows of neatly arranged chairs. I sat stiffly in my assigned seat, fingers tracing the embossed Woods Group logo on the event program as my mind wandered far from the celebratory atmosphere.
"What are you spacing out for?" Megan's voice suddenly cut through my thoughts, accompanied by the sweet scent of vanilla frosting as she plopped down beside me. A delicate strawberry cupcake balanced precariously in her left hand, its pink icing threatening to smear across her business casual blouse. "Pretty impressive venue, huh?"
