Kalian sat in the position he always occupied, not at the head, which would have been too obvious, but to the right of it, the position of the man who is managing things rather than leading them, who has arranged for the relevant pressure to be applied and is now present to observe the results. His expression was the expression of a man attending a meeting he had already concluded.
Julian took his seat.
Amara sat beside him.
She had come because he had not asked her not to, which was the only invitation she needed. She sat with the posture she had been practicing for three days not the effortful composure of the boardroom crisis, but something quieter and more settled, the posture of someone who has passed through the worst available moment and discovered that they are still standing.
The board chair spoke.
