“Step aside,” Nathan said.

His voice was quiet, but it had a cold authority that made the guard stop.

“Sir, we have strict instructions from the vice-chair,” the guard said, looking at the floor.

“I am still the chief executive officer of this company,” Nathan said.

He did not wait for an answer.

He pushed past them, his shoulder brushing the guard’s arm.

I followed close behind him, keeping my eyes fixed on the back of his grey wool jacket.

Nathan grabbed the polished brass handles of the boardroom doors and flung them open.

The room went completely silent.

A dozen men and women in expensive dark suits sat around a long, oval mahogany table.

At the far end of the table sat Eleanor.

She wore a pale cream suit, her silver hair pinned back perfectly.

A crystal glass of water sat on the wood in front of her.

She did not look surprised to see us.

She slowly stood up, placing her palms flat on the table.

“Nathan,” Eleanor said, her voice smooth and measured. “You are interrupting an executive session.”