“Thank you all for coming on such short notice.

As many of you know, my wife, Simone, has been going through a difficult personal breakdown — and I’m afraid it’s begun to bleed into the business.

What she’s attempting here is a hostile takeover of the company, based entirely on personal grievances that have nothing to do with any of you.” The investors shifted in their chairs.

It was a good performance.

It was, I had to admit, very nearly convincing.