The room went silent.

Daniel stared at me. Then he laughed again, but it came out wrong. “Grace. Seriously. This isn't the time. Security will—”

“Sit down, Daniel,” I said.

I'd never said those words to him before. I'd never told him to do anything.

He didn't sit. But he didn't speak either.

Marcus placed a folder in front of Arthur Bell. “The share register, the certificate, and the probate papers for the late Edward Whitmore. Whitmore Holdings belongs to his daughter. Mrs Grace Hart is its sole director.”

Arthur Bell put on his glasses and read. The Sterling team leaned over to look.

Vanessa's face had gone the colour of paper. “That's not... Daniel, tell them.”

Arthur took off his glasses and looked at me. Then he stood up and held out his hand. “Mrs Hart,” he said. “I knew your father. I wondered when we'd meet you.” He turned to the room. “The documents are in order. Mrs Hart controls sixty-two per cent of this company.”

Every head turned to Daniel.

His mouth opened and closed. His hand gripped the back of his chair so hard his knuckles went white.

“That's impossible,” he whispered. “You... you never did anything.”

I pulled out the chair at the other end of the table and sat down.

“Let's begin,” I said.