Naomi swallowed.
“You're welcome, sir.”
Arthur studied her face for a moment.
Then nodded.
He didn't recognize her.
She couldn't blame him.
The last time he might have seen her in person, she was a child.
Over the next thirty minutes, the other executives arrived.
Charles Redding, the chief financial officer.
Martin Hale, a director representing a major institutional investor.
Peter Langford, head of corporate strategy.
Julian Mercer, Daniel's younger brother and a senior legal adviser.
And two additional board members who had traveled to New York for the signing.
They spoke about markets.
Interest rates.
The size of the transaction.
And the anticipated reaction from shareholders once the deal was announced.
Graham was confident.
He joked with the executives.
Reassured the nervous directors.
And repeatedly referred to the restructuring as the beginning of Northstar's most profitable era.
Naomi served coffee.
She watched Arthur listening.
The chairman seemed more cautious than the others.
At one point, he asked Daniel whether the public-benefit licensing obligations had been addressed in the final agreement.
Daniel nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Chairman. The supplemental package contains the necessary confirmations.”
Arthur frowned.
“From the appropriate parties?”
“Correct.”
Naomi felt a small pressure behind her ribs.
The appropriate parties.
The phrase sounded almost carefully empty.
Arthur continued.
“And the founder stewardship provisions?”
Daniel answered.
“Resolved through the consent certificate.”
Graham smiled.
“Arthur, we've reviewed this for months.”
The chairman looked toward him.
“Then one more question won't hurt us.”
A few men laughed politely.
Graham didn't.
Naomi moved toward the hospitality station.
She arranged fresh cups.
Then carried the silver tray back toward the table as Daniel opened the supplemental agreement.
Arthur asked to see the consent certificate.
Daniel placed the folder before him.
But before the chairman could examine it closely, Graham interrupted with a question about financing.
The conversation shifted.
Arthur moved the folder aside.
Naomi approached to replace his coffee.
She looked down.
The document was open to page nine.
The heading was visible.
FOUNDING STEWARDSHIP CONSENT AND CONTINUING AUTHORIZATION.
Her heart accelerated.
She shouldn't read confidential material beyond what was incidentally visible while performing her work.
She knew that.
But the next line was directly beneath the cup she needed to move.
And it contained her father's name.
Samuel Brooks.
Naomi stopped.
Her eyes moved toward the execution block.
Then the date.
October 27, 2026.
For a moment, everything inside her seemed to stop.