“We did that ourselves.”

“We took what wasn’t ours.”

Nathaniel Vale stepped to the library table and laid out three thick folders bound in blue leather.

“These are the transfer deeds,” Nathaniel said.

“The board has already been called for an emergency meeting at nine tomorrow morning.”

“The legal team has prepared the public statement.”

“The Sterling name will remain on the building, but the management will transfer immediately.”

Marcus Vance looked at me.

“You will need to sign these tonight, Valerie,” Marcus said.

“The Syndicate requires your signature to freeze the old accounts before the banks open.”

I walked over to the desk.

The green leather surface was dusty.

I could see the faint outline of a glass ring where Julian had left his drink earlier.

I picked up the heavy fountain pen that sat in the bronze holder.

It was Arthur Sterling’s pen.

It felt heavy in my fingers, much heavier than the plastic pens I used to sign my time sheets in the basement.

“If I sign this, what happens to Julian?” I asked.

I looked at Julian.

He looked up, his eyes meeting mine.