“My mother founded Keystone Holdings twenty-seven years ago,” I said.

“When she became ill, I took over its restructuring work, and I have run it since under her name, which is my name — the name you just heard.

My husband knew that I worked in finance.

He simply never considered my work important enough to understand, or to connect to the firm that has, as of this afternoon, bought the company he works for.”

A few people laughed — the startled, released laughter of a room that has been holding its breath.