Marcus asked me to wait outside the boardroom for two minutes. Through the glass wall, I could see everything.

Daniel stood at the head of the long table in a new suit. Five board members. The two from Sterling Group. And Vanessa, back upstairs already, in the seat beside him as if it were hers.

She leaned in and whispered. Daniel glanced at the glass, saw me, and laughed out loud. “Apparently my ex-wife is in the building,” he announced. “Don't worry. She'll be gone soon.”

A few people chuckled politely.

“Right,” Daniel said, clapping his hands. “Item one: the Sterling investment. Item two: Vanessa Cole joins the board as Chief Operating Officer. Item three: a performance bonus for the CEO. Which is me.”

More laughter.

The chairman, an older man named Arthur Bell, cleared his throat. “We need the majority shareholder's vote, Daniel. Whitmore Holdings holds sixty-two per cent.”

“Yes, yes. Their trustee is on his way. It's a formality. The old boy hasn't said no to me in twelve years.”

Marcus opened the door and stepped in.

“Good morning. I'm Marcus Hale, counsel to Whitmore Holdings. The company's director is here to vote in person.”

“Wonderful,” Daniel said. “Bring him in.”

Marcus held the door open.

I walked in.