“There is a difference between innocence and deliberate ignorance,” I said.

“The prosecutors won’t care about the difference,” Sarah said.

She sat down at the table and opened the top folder.

“We have a meeting with the Vanguard Group tomorrow morning,” she said.

“They want to move their entire real estate portfolio to us.”

“That’s our biggest account yet,” I said.

“If we land them, we’ll need to hire three more analysts by the end of the week,” she said.

I took a sip of the coffee. It was hot and bitter.

“Then let’s prepare the pitch,” I said.

We spent the next three hours going over the numbers.

I felt a sharp focus that I hadn’t felt in years.

This was my work, built on my terms.

Around eight in the evening, the office had grown quiet.

The other employees had gone home, leaving only Sarah and me in the soft glow of the desk lamps.

My phone vibrated on the polished wood table.

I picked it up, expecting it to be another client inquiry.

It was a number I didn’t recognize.