a board to ke

to strip your authority

llowed me into my office, clutching a legal fil

esk, facing the skyline like it m

," she continued. "A publicity move to avo

en waiting fo

esk. "And you handed it to them in a

ace her. "Wat

she has no legal background, no boardroo

ect me. I married her to ple

if the board proves y

. "They

vote is in three hours. They're g

towards the hallwa

an eyebrow. "Wh

now. If I'm going down

"Do you want her

her at t

n't belon

s my

mean she can p

n let's see what happens w

. They laughed about something. I watched

n't loud. But

belong i

s in it n

ped smiling. Her gu

to talk

herself. Tessa

another clause, I'

bout th

move. "What

oting to r

fted. "Beca

less decision. They're using our

's my pro

you wi

"You do not e

I need them to believe yo

me to play the part o

e believable. St

er. "So you can

es

head. "What's

t at the table. Rea

ani

en this is over, you won't walk away with a payout. You'll walk away wi

like she didn't r

ou offer tha

m running o

er eyes searched mine like she

f I sa

o that meeting a

own. "Do I g

ey pus

I embarr

on

brow. "You think

be asking

ly. "Give me fi

ar in a black tailored suit I'd never seen before

tar

" she

ook le

That's the poi

t, a rundown of the voting rules, and which m

every name i

ve never done this

aper. "Just because I was bro

e conference roo

isors. Half a dozen shareholders pr

walked in, eye

uce her. She di

k the seat on my right like

're here to see if Mr. Cross's recen

towards me. "

k I got di

ed and s

about the timing, the lack of tr

raised

n blinked.

ould like

showing signs of discomf

propriate?"

hink I'm here to play dress-up

om qui

st

who received a contract in exchange for financial security. But I didn't come here to be ornamental. I came b

around. "So

om was

ke. "You admit the mar

iance you've ever approved. At least we

her scrambling for a way to s

about me. This is about legacy. Power. And the fact that for the fi

eyes locked on

w v

ongest silen

ward. "I motion to remo

s ra

n

w

o

it st

stayed

on f

e until the gav

ting ad

p with her before s

ave to do all

to me. "Y

hy

ed of others und

e door. I tou

ai

pa

"You saved me

my gaze.

say thank you

not ha

I w

then back up. "

earne

alk into that room, don't

to the car. I

sa was standing at t

wildcard,

's m

her eyes. "So, ar

"What does

her phone. A

ss

t on

, "So how much did he pa

ssa's

uin him if I