It was because they watched, in real time, the moment Gavin comprehended the full scale of his folly — that for six years he had openly mocked the career of the woman who helped calculate risk for the very fund he had spent eight months begging to invest in him.

“I didn’t— I had no idea who you were,” Gavin stammered.

“And that,” I said, “was always your flaw.

You never once cared to learn a single real thing about me, unless it served your ego to know it.”

He wheeled back to my father, raising his hands, pleading now in front of his own shareholders.

“Mr.

Howard — please.

Whatever is between Sabrina and me, that’s a private marital matter.