Daniel would be forced to attend to protect his reputation.

And Clara would have to watch her secrets hang on the wall for the world to interpret.

I grabbed a clean canvas from the rack and dragged it to the center of the room.

The wooden frame scraped against the floor.

I picked up a large palette knife and scooped up a glob of dark grey paint.

I had three days before the board vote.

Three days to paint the truth.

My phone, still black and silent on the desk, suddenly let out a single, sharp beep.

It wasn’t a text message this time.

The power indicator light began to pulse with a steady, red glow.

I froze, the palette knife hovering inches from the canvas.

The screen didn’t turn on, but the red light continued to blink.

I walked slowly back to the desk.

The red light pulsed faster.

I reached out my hand toward the device.

From the hallway outside my studio door, I heard the faint, heavy clunk of the freight elevator cabin settling into place.

The metal gate of the freight elevator screeched open.