There was no grand entrance.

I simply joined the call from a conference room, on a crutch, my leg in its cast, and took the seat at the head of the table while Blaise rose and buttoned his jacket.

“Everyone,” he said, “I’d like to introduce Gabriella Winstead — the founder of Northvale Holdings, chair of the board, and its majority owner.”

I had thought about how I wanted this moment to go, and what I had decided was that I did not want a moment at all.

I had seen how these things could be staged — the doors flung open, the slow walk, the gasp, the villain undone before an audience.

I wanted none of it.