He stared at the blue patent folders as if they were venomous snakes.

The silence in the executive boardroom was absolute.

Nobody looked at my husband.

The twelve men and women seated around the polished mahogany table were staring at the open documents in front of them instead.

The wood reflected their faces like a mirror.

I sat at the head of the table.

Daniel sat on my right.

Aaron stood near the presentation screen, his hands gripping the edges of the wooden podium.