Page 224 of Terms of Exposure
"Concerns?" Farnsworth said, arching a brow. "Damien, you started this company from the ground up and I've never once considered your judgment compromised. And Ms. Sinclair—" he nodded toward me "—has demonstrated competence well beyond her years. Her APAC mitigation proposal will probably save us a quarter's worth of headaches."
"Hear, hear," Linda added, tapping her pen.
Relief flooded my veins.
"I have something to say," Nathan's drawl came from the other end of the table.
I braced myself. Damien sat a little taller, the air tightening around us. This was the moment we'd find out what Nathan had been planning—the one we'd been preparing for, the one I knew Damien had been quietly arming himself to face.
Instead, Nathan's smile shifted. Softened into something almost cordial.
"Congratulations," he said. "To you both."
The room went still. Relief flickered—then died just as fast.
I searched his face for the trap. The sarcasm. The hidden knife. But his expression was smooth, unreadable—a perfect mask.
Fuck.
I schooled the confusion off my face. This wasn't like him. No. He was playing the long game. I could feel it. The way a deer feels the wolf in the trees.
"If there are no other concerns," Damien said, "we request formal acknowledgment so HR can finalize compliance."
Linda lookedaround. "All in favor?"
All hands rose.
Including Nathan's.
My stomach dropped.
Fuck.
"Motion carries," Linda said. "Congratulations, both of you."
The meeting adjourned with official signatures, handshakes, and murmured congratulations. Linda winked at me. Farnsworth clapped Damien on the shoulder. Alicia said something about finally being able to stop pretending she hadn't noticed.
Nathan gathered his things slowly—leather folio, Mont Blanc pen, phone slipped into his jacket pocket. He didn't look at us. Didn't glance over with a smirk or a veiled threat. He simply... left. Nodding politely to the board members he passed, pausing to exchange a few words with Richter about some golf trip.
Normal. Cordial. Civilized.
It was the most terrifying thing I'd ever seen.
"Emma?" Damien's hand found my elbow. "You okay?"
"He didn't do anything," I whispered.
His expression hardened. "I noticed."
"He had the perfect opening." I failed to hide the concern in my voice. "A room full of board members. An official disclosure he could have challenged, questioned, picked apart." I watched Nathan's back disappear through the doorway. "And he just... congratulated us."
The air conditioning hummed overhead. Somewhere down the hall, a phone rang twice and went silent.
"I know," Damien said.
"That's not Nathan," I continued, words tumbling out. "Nathan doesn't let opportunities pass. Nathan doesn't play nice." I turned to face him fully, voice low. "What is he waiting for?"
"I don't know."
