Thursday
AMARA' S POV
She wears the black dress.
The same one from the first day. The professional one. The one that says: I am not thinking about anything except the work.
She puts it on at six AM in her Brooklyn apartment and looks at her reflection and thinks about how much has changed since the last time she wore it and stood in front of this same mirror telling herself the same lies.
She is not lying to herself today.
That is the difference.
Damien texts at six-fifteen.
"Board ratifies at eleven. Are you nervous?"
She looks at the message for a long moment.
"Terrified, she texts back. Not about the vote."
His reply comes fast.
"Same."
* * *
The conference room is full by ten forty-five.
Meridian's board on video. Five faces in five boxes. The weight of three billion dol
