His phone vibrated on the table.

He glanced down, and the screen lit briefly before he turned it facedown.

I saw only three lines: BOARD APPROVAL RECEIVED.

AGGREGATE TRANSACTION VALUE: $2.4 BILLION.

FINAL SIGNATURE REQUIRED: SILAS ROWE.

The soup spoon slid from my hand and struck the bowl.

Silas closed his eyes.

“I owe you an explanation,” he said.