We stood in silence until we heard the heavy front door open and close in the distance.

The sound of the rain seemed louder now that she was gone.

“What is your first order of business, Valerie?” Marcus asked.

He was adjusting his leather gloves.

“The warehouses on the south canal,” I said.

“The workers have been striking for three weeks because of the heating systems.”

“I want the contractors there tomorrow at seven.”

“Fix the heating, and pay them for the days they missed.”

Julian looked at me, a faint smile appearing on his face.

“That will cost two hundred thousand dollars,” Julian said.

“We have three million in the reserve account that my mother was going to use for the yacht club lease,” I said.

“Use that.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Julian said.

The word *ma’am* felt heavy, coming from him.

He had called me that when I brought him his coffee, but this time it was different.

Marcus Vance bowed his head slightly.

“We will be at the office at eight tomorrow,” Marcus said.

“The lawyers will have the physical keys to the executive suite.”