At the head of the table sat an empty chair.

Alexander walked to his position at the opposite end of the table.

He did not sit down.

He stood, leaning his hands on the back of his chair, waiting.

I reached over and switched on the intercom console.

A soft static filled the room, followed by the clear sound of rustling papers and quiet muttering from the board members.

“Where is Victoria?” one of the men asked. He had thick white hair and a sharp, aristocratic nose.

“She is on her way, Arthur,” another board member replied.

Just then, the double doors of the boardroom swung open.

Victoria walked in.

She was wearing a dark blue suit, her expression one of utter confidence.

She didn’t look like a woman who had been confronted with her crimes a few hours earlier.

She looked like a queen arriving to address her subjects.

“Good morning, everyone,” Victoria said, her voice smooth and carrying easily through the intercom.

She took her seat at the head of the table.