Patrick stood beside a tall pyramid of champagne glasses in his tailored tux, fiddling with his expensive gold cufflinks while six Sterling Capital board members listened to him talk.

Chloe stood a little behind his left shoulder, smoothing her beige designer skirt with small, careful motions while she held a crystal glass of sparkling water.

I walked past a waiter carrying silver trays of smoked salmon and stopped three feet from Patrick’s elbow.

“Patrick,” I said quietly, waiting for him to turn.

“We need to discuss the corporate filing from March fourteenth.”

Patrick didn’t turn his head or his body toward me.