On Monday, Dennis’s attorney sent Elaine a letter demanding the return of what he called stolen corporate documents.

The letter also claimed I had intentionally sabotaged the abandoned acquisition by giving the buyer misleading financial information.

I read it three times.

“I never contacted the buyer,” I said.

“Then we respond with the facts,” Elaine said.

“Not with a counter-threat.

And we don’t give away privileged analysis in the process.”

She prepared a measured reply.