She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead as eight of the ten board members silently raised their right hands.

“The motion carries,” Arthur said, drawing a black line on his legal pad.

“Spencer, you’ll clear out your office by three o’clock this afternoon.”

I picked up my empty leather bag, snapped the clasp shut, and turned toward the glass doors.

Spencer followed me out into the marble antechamber, his shoes skidding a little on the polished floor.

“Vivian, wait,” he said, grabbing the edge of the heavy wooden door frame.

I stopped by the brass elevator buttons and turned to face him.