“He does,” Elias replied. “Or he thinks he does.”

“He told me that if I filed the petition today, the board would force you out by Monday.”

Elias turned his head slightly, his profile sharp against the glass.

“And you believed him?” Elias asked.

“I wanted to,” I said. “I wanted to believe someone was on my side.”

“No one is on your side, Ava. Not in this building.”

He turned around fully now, crossing his arms.

“Daniel wants my chair,” Elias said. “He has wanted it for ten years.”

“Then why did you keep him close?” I asked.

“Because you keep your enemies where you can see them,” Elias said.

He walked back to the desk and picked up the silver pen.

“But he underestimated you,” I said.

Elias frowned, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

“He thinks I’m stupid,” I said, leaning forward.

I placed my hands flat on the cold wood of his desk.

“He thinks I will just sign whatever he wants and take the blame when it goes wrong.”

Elias looked at my hands, then up at my face.