“Explain this, Thomas,” Mark said, his voice rising an octave.

“I signed the management agreement six months ago,” he added, his chest heaving.

“The board approved my signature.”

Thomas looked down his nose at Mark.

“The board approved your signature based on a false declaration of assets,” Thomas said.

Mark’s eyes widened.

His gaze darted to the heavy velvet curtains, then back to the lawyer.

“You signed a transfer request yesterday morning,” Thomas continued, his voice calm and level.

“You attempted to move four million dollars from the Hartwell foundation to an offshore holding company.”

I watched Mark’s hand drop to his side.

His fingers twitched against the seam of his velvet trousers.

“That was a re-allocation for investment purposes,” Mark stammered.

“It was entirely within my purview as managing partner.”

“It was not,” Thomas said.

He adjusted his spectacles with one hand.

“Clara Hartwell’s will contains an explicit protective covenant,” Thomas said.

“Any unauthorized attempt to misappropriate the estate’s protected assets triggers an automatic, immediate freeze.”

The silence in the hall was absolute now.

Even the wind outside seemed to have dropped against the high glass windows.