I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the glittering lights of Manhattan.

The city looked beautiful, but it felt like a battlefield.

Alexander was sitting at the dining table, surrounded by paper printouts and his laptop.

The glow from the screen made him look older, tired lines etching his forehead.

“You should get some sleep,” I said, walking over to him.

“I can’t,” he said without looking up. “I have to make sure there are no gaps in this trail. The board members are pragmatic men and women. They care about numbers and liability.”

I sat down in the chair next to him.

“Will they really oust her?” I asked.

“If they see she used Sterling Holdings funds for personal, illegal activities, yes,” Alexander said. “They have to. It’s a clear violation of our charter.”

He stopped typing and looked at me.

“But more than that, it’s about control,” he said. “She has used her shares to veto my decisions for years. If she is removed, her voting rights are suspended pending a full audit.”

“And then?” I asked.