Diana returned to Ashbourne headquarters while the board meeting was still in session. Reginald sat at the head of the table, with the Northstar implementation plan Elena had built from the ground up spread out before him. The others had been waiting for Diana to return with news that the handover was complete, so when they saw her walk in carrying the entire stack of untouched files, everyone’s expression changed.
Reginald looked at her. “Northstar confirmed it?”
Diana set the documents on the table and tried to keep her voice calm. During the entire drive back, she had gone over what had just happened again and again. If she admitted outright that Marcus refused to recognize her because Elena was more capable, then the board’s decision from the previous night would instantly become a j
