Three weeks after the firing, the district attorney indicted Blair Sefton on felony assault, grand larceny, and embezzlement.

Stripped of Conrad’s protection and facing overwhelming evidence, her defense collapsed; at sentencing, her polished arrogance dissolved into frantic tears as she tried to blame him for coercing her.

The judge was unmoved and sentenced her to three years, with full restitution to the company.

Conrad fared no better.

Facing civil fraud suits from the shareholders and the loss of his corporate assets, he signed an uncontested divorce settlement.

Under the terms Adira negotiated, I kept the whole of my inheritance, our home, and full control of the Renwick Trust shares.