He had won arguments that way for years.
Why should tomorrow be different?
By nine the next morning, the fourteenth-floor boardroom was full. Every director was present. Independent counsel sat beside the chair. The chief financial officer had prepared the approved transaction record. Susan Bellamy had the audit committee findings. Diane Kesler, accompanied by counsel, sat near the end of the table. Talia Brennan occupied a designated seat with a notepad and recorder visible in front of her.
An internal camera recorded the authorized evidentiary portion for the company's official record. Employees had access to a controlled internal stream of the nonconfidential proceedings. The broadcast was not an invitation for anyone to expose private financial documents; the sensitive material had been reviewed in advance, and certain details would remain confidential.
Malik arrived with Odell and Maya. He wore the same denim jacket he'd worn on the first morning. He had considered changing it for a suit, then decided against it.
"You don't need to dress like Preston to show that you belong," Odell had told him.
Malik had smiled. "I wasn't planning to."
As he entered the boardroom, Rachel stood and greeted him. She didn't make a show of it. She shook his hand, indicated his seat, and thanked him for attending.
Preston sat at the head of the table, expression rigid. His navy suit was immaculate. His silver cuff links shone beneath the lights. He glanced at Malik, then at Talia's recorder.
"I object to turning a board meeting into a media performance," he said before anyone had begun.
Independent counsel, Jonathan Pierce, responded evenly. "The permitted observation and recording procedures have been approved. You'll have the opportunity to answer the allegations in the appropriate sequence."
Preston leaned back. "Then proceed."
Rachel called the session to order.
"We're here to review the events that began eleven days ago in the main lobby of Yarrow Industries, the company's subsequent statements, the handling of the Ashworth Capital transaction, and evidence gathered during the independent investigation. We're not here to prejudge an individual. We're here to examine the verified record and fulfill our responsibilities."
She looked around the table.
"I want one principle to be clear at the beginning. The treatment of Malik Ashworth would have been unacceptable regardless of his net worth, his age, or the size of his investment. A person's dignity cannot depend on whether a board chair is waiting for them upstairs."
Malik lowered his eyes briefly. It was the first time he'd heard someone from Yarrow Industries state the issue without making the $350 million the reason the event mattered.
Rachel opened the visitor record. "At 9:56, Malik approached reception and identified himself. At 9:58, the executive guest list was still being searched. The invitation had been issued from Preston Yarrow's executive office the previous week."
She placed the document on the display.
Preston spoke. "As I've said, my office handles hundreds of invitations."