The board meeting started at nine.
Liam had called it himself—which was the specific kind of signal that a board learned to read over time. When the CEO called the meeting rather than waiting for the scheduled quarterly, it meant something had happened that he wanted to control the narrative around before someone else did. Reeves had learned this in his twelve years on Ashford Technologies' board. He walked in already prepared to be unhappy.
Liam was already seated when the board filed in. No laptop open. No presentation queued. Just him, a single folder, and the specific stillness of a man who had decided exactly how this morning was going to go.
Reeves sat down and looked at the folder and said nothing.
Martinez came in last. Poured himself coffee at the credenza. Sat.
Liam waited until everyone was settled.
