She reached out and picked it up by its polished barrel, holding it as if she meant to write on the bare tabletop.

Her fingers started shaking so hard the silver cap clicked against her ring.

She let the fancy fountain pen fall onto the polished oak, her hands trembling.

She backed away from the conference table before the lead lawyer had even finished reading Arthur’s signed statement.

The double doors swung shut behind her with a heavy thud, but I was three steps behind her in the carpeted hall.

“Garrett, please,” she said, stopping beside the water fountain.