Sera spent the first hour with her legal team.
She sat at the head of the conference table with Ada on her left and Pryce on the phone from his office, and she went through the inquiry email line by line. She asked four questions. She got four clear answers. She thanked everyone and ended the meeting in forty-one minutes.
Then she asked Ada to get her the editor of the publication.
Not the journalist who had sent the inquiry. The editor.
Ada came back in eight minutes with a name and a direct line. Sera looked at it. She picked up her phone and called.
The editor answered on the third ring with the careful warmth of someone who had been told who was calling and had decided to be available.
"Ms. Montague. Thank you for reaching out directly."
"Thank you for taking my call." Sera's vo
