The Ward boardroom still had twelve chairs.
Celia noticed because the missing thirteenth had once been hers.
Nobody stood when she entered. That was fine. She had not returned for courtesy.
Her uncle closed the meeting folder with two fingers. "This is a private session."
"I know." Celia set a slim black drive on the table. "That is why I waited until everyone responsible was in the room."
A junior counsel reached for the drive. Celia touched his wrist before he could lift it.
"Careful," she said. "That copy is for the regulators. Yours arrives in twelve minutes unless I cancel the courier."
For the first time in three years, her uncle looked at her as if she belonged to the family.