Several days passed without anyone resigning dramatically, deleting company records, or interrupting a midnight dinner.
By Ever Holdings standards, this qualified as peace.
Legal, Internal Audit, and independent forensic specialists continued their work behind closed doors. Martin Vale's involvement remained unproven, and nobody had identified whoever accessed the missing records.
Meanwhile, my professional life had improved considerably.
Augustus approved my revised Meridian concept note for preliminary Commercial review. Not the liaison position itself, naturally. That would require assessments, approvals, and probably a ceremonial sacrifice to the corporate governance department.
Still, progress was progress.
I was enjoying that thought when Mother called.
"Darling, you haven't forgotten tonight?"
I checked my calendar.
"Tonight?"
"The family dinner. Laurel's, at Summit Heights. Both families."
Of course.
