She wore the blue blazer.
She had three blazers she rotated through professionally and the blue one was the one she wore when she needed to feel like herself at full volume, not armor, just the version of her clothing that matched the version of herself she wanted to bring into a room. She had bought it two years ago after closing the best deal of her career at the Garret Agency and she had never worn it to anything that did not matter.
This mattered.
She was on forty-two at eight forty.
Damien was already there, at his desk, tie on, the formal version of himself that he wore for significant external meetings. He looked up when she came in and his eyes moved over her once, quick, and she saw the acknowledgment in them before he went back to his notes.
"The Alderton partners arrive at
