Caroline took the black fountain pen from the center of the leather blotter.

She lined the nib up with the signature line on page three and wrote her full name in clear, steady script.

The heavy oak door of the conference suite clicked shut behind them at eleven fifteen.

In the wide marble hallway, the muted roar of morning traffic on Westminster Street echoed up through the open stairwell.

Grant walked three paces behind her, his thick leather soles squeaking on the polished terrazzo floor.

Caroline stopped beside the brass elevator doors and turned around to face him.