"Enjoy your party, Mr. Hale," she said. "Enjoy all of it." Preston mistook the words for surrender. He raised his glass as she and Julian walked away, already preparing to tell the story at another gathering.
Helena Marsh entered the terrace a few minutes later. She saw Imani near the elevator, her jacket sleeve still damp, and Julian beside her with a face that warned against asking casual questions. She looked from the two of them toward Preston and Sienna, who were replaying a video on Sienna's screen. The connection was immediate and unpleasant.
"Imani," Helena said, crossing the room. "What happened?" Imani handed back the towel to the waiter, thanked him once more, and replied that the celebration appeared to be going as planned. Helena's gaze moved to the stain on the jacket. "Preston did this?"
"He was nearby," Imani answered. "Sienna's phone will probably provide a more accurate view than I could. Please make sure the recording is preserved. And Helena, don't let anybody pressure the waiter about what he saw."
The board chair turned toward Preston with the expression of someone seeing a person she had known for years from an angle she could no longer ignore. She had walked into countless difficult negotiations and delivered unwelcome news without hesitation. Tonight she found herself briefly unable to speak. The man she had recommended to lead Sterling Vane was celebrating a position he did not yet hold by publicly humiliating the person who could decide whether he ever held it.
Preston saw her approach and smiled. "Helena, you just missed the entertainment." She stopped a few feet away. "Preston, what did you do?"
The question surprised him because of the seriousness in her voice. "Relax. Just some woman from the lobby. She invited herself to the party."
Helena stared at him. "You will find out Monday at ten o'clock why that answer is unacceptable," she said. Preston laughed uncertainly, waiting for a smile that never came. Helena turned away and left him holding his champagne.
Sienna approached a moment later. "What was that about?" she asked. Preston watched Helena disappear into the elevator. "She's under pressure from the new owners," he answered. "Everybody's nervous. By Monday she'll remember which executive keeps the business moving."
Kelsey had heard the exchange from the entrance. She stood beside the guest list, looking at Imani's name and the confidential notation beneath it. For the first time, she began to suspect that the women and men in the executive suite had not merely been cruel to a guest. They had been careless about something consequential, and the consequences were approaching.
Preston returned to the terrace and asked the event photographer to take another picture of him beside the banner. He spread his arms as if welcoming applause and urged the assembled managers to raise a glass to the next chief executive of Sterling Vane. A cheer moved across the terrace, although several directors joined reluctantly. Sienna posted a clip of the toast with the words TO MONDAY written across the screen.