I almost refused to go. The thought of sitting across from Tessa again made my stomach tighten, and I didn't trust myself to distinguish useful questions from the ones heartbreak wanted answered. Did you ever really love me? When did you stop? Was I the last person to know? Those questions mattered to me, but Miriam reminded me that none of them would help recover the notebook or establish who had authorized the freight transfer.
The meeting took place in a modest conference room with a long table and a window overlooking a parking lot. Tessa arrived first. She wore a gray coat and carried a folder against her chest. Without the carefully chosen clothes and bright confidence I associated with her, she looked smaller, but I knew better than to mistake exhaustion for honesty.
She looked at me as I entered. "Daniel."
I nodded and sat beside Miriam. Tessa's attorney introduced himself, and we began with the practical questions. The archival container would be returned through a documented handover. Neither side would alter relevant electronic records. Northline's prospective transaction would remain canceled unless fresh, genuine authorization was provided, which I stated would not happen.
Tessa listened, taking notes. For twenty minutes she barely looked at me. Then Miriam asked whether she was willing to explain how my signature appeared on the release. Tessa's pen stopped moving. Her attorney advised her that she need not answer beyond what had already been provided in writing. I watched the muscles in her jaw tighten.
"I was managing the sale discussions," she said finally. "Daniel knew I was doing that."
"I knew you were handling inquiries," I replied. "Not authorizing a consignment."
"You were afraid to make a decision."
"Then the decision was no."
She looked directly at me. "You don't understand how much pressure I was under."
"I know about the loan."
Her face lost color. For a moment she looked toward her attorney, then back at me. "Adrian had no right to tell you my private finances."
"You had no right to use my property to secure them."