I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers on the armrest.

“Assign Sarah and David to their table,” I said.

Sarah and David were my personal assistants, trained to notice every detail.

“They will report everything to me,” I said.

“Every word Vivian and Claire say will be recorded.”

“Understood, Director,” Mr. Han said.

He made a quick note on his device.

“Is there anything else?” I asked the board.

The head of acquisitions raised his hand.

“We need your signature on the final transfer request, Director,” he said.

“Once you sign this, we officially seize their family home in the city as collateral.”

He slid a single sheet of paper across the polished wood.

I picked up my pen.

The silver casing felt heavy and cold in my fingers.

This was the house where Vivian had forced me to sleep in the smallest guest room.

This was the house where Claire had thrown her dirty laundry at my feet, calling me a useless charity case.

I pressed the pen to the paper.

Before the nib touched the line, my phone vibrated on the table.