At 5:30 a.m., I showered.
I dressed in a charcoal suit.
I wore my mother’s watch.
Then I opened the encrypted drive one more time.
At 7:45, Claire and I entered Whitmore Meridian through the private elevator.
The receptionist stood when she saw me.
“Mrs. Whitmore.”
“Good morning, Anna.”
Her eyes dropped toward my left hand.
I was still wearing my wedding ring.
I had forgotten.
I removed it in the elevator.
I placed it inside my handbag.
That was the last time I wore it.
The boardroom doors opened at eight.
Seven directors were present.
Two joined remotely.
Adrian’s chair was empty.
Evelyn’s chair was not.
She sat near the end of the table.
Her expression was rigid.
She owned non-voting preferred shares and still attended important meetings.She could speak.
She could not decide.
That had always irritated her.
It irritated her more that morning.
Martin Shaw, the independent chairman, called the meeting to order.
