The final board hearing was scheduled for Friday at nine. I arrived with Nina, a box of documents, and a jar of persimmon jam in my bag.
The board met in the same room where Celeste had first shown me the fake letter. I sat at the end of the table. Julian sat across from me, no longer in the company's executive chair. His shares had been placed in escrow pending sale, and his badge was gone.
Celeste sat at the head of the room.
The board's attorney explained the findings: the letter had been drafted by the former estate office, submitted without a verifiable authorization trail, and signed by someone whose identity could not be established. The company had not proved I agreed to the partnership. It had also failed to notify me before announcing my participation.
Then Celeste spoke.
"T
