Photographs of him entering the Beacon Hill house at two in the morning were on every financial blog.

Excerpts from the private agreement had gone to the press.

A headline was climbing the business pages: ASHGROVE HEIRESS PAID MILLIONS FOR FAKE PARTNER TO DECEIVE BOARD. Meridian’s stock began to slide.

Emeka drove straight to Beacon Hill and found Ifeoma in her study, staring at a muted television.

“Anyone could’ve taken the photos,” he said, trying to steady his voice.

“We can spin it.”