Every head in the room turned to the back.

Nigel squinted at me.

“Kate, please. This isn't the time. Renters may observe. Not speak.”

I walked slowly down the middle of the room, between the chairs, to the front.

“My name is Kate Ashby,” I said. “I'm the founder and Chief Executive of Hearthstone Homes.”

The room went completely silent.

“Last Friday, Hearthstone bought Larkspur Estates. Which means my company now owns the freehold of Kingsmere Gardens. The roads. The green. The play area. This clubhouse. The chairs you're sitting on.”

I looked around the room.

“And fifty of the houses. Including mine. Number fourteen Larch Close.”

Nigel's gavel slipped out of his hand and landed on the table with a clunk.

Penny Lockwood, at the door, dropped her whole pile of agendas.

“You…” said Nigel. His face was going through several colours. “You're… K. Ashby?”

“I'm K. Ashby,” I agreed. “I got your letter, Nigel. All three pages. I thought I'd answer it in person.”