A pause on the line.

“Shall we release the audit findings tonight, as well?”

Over the past nine months, forensic auditors had traced unauthorized wire transfers, altered invoices, and a steady stream of payments from Ellington Enterprises to a shell consulting firm registered under Ravenna Cavendish’s maiden name.

I had known about the affair for longer than I’d let anyone see.

I had held off acting, after the first discovery, because some foolish part of me still held onto the memory of the young Ferdinand who used to split a cheap coffee with me and swear he loved my quiet modesty.

He had mistaken that discretion for weakness.