Rupert laughed, too loudly, the way you laugh to remind yourself you’re still in the room.

“This is absurd.

I have a signed employment agreement.

I’m the CEO of this company.”

General counsel Antonia Ridgeway stepped forward with a black folder, and she had the unhurried calm of a woman who has read the ending and is simply turning the pages to reach it.

“You have a conditional appointment,” she said.

“It requires final board ratification tomorrow morning.

And it is expressly conditioned on the immediate disclosure of any conflict of interest, any fraud, or any conduct damaging to the company.” She let that sit.

“Would you like to disclose anything, Mr.

Brandt?”