I took a slow breath, inhaling the scent of expensive leather and filtered air that defined the 52nd floor of the Meridian Tower. I typed two words.

Me: Understood.

The response was immediate.

Brother: Thanks for being cool about this. I’ll make it up to you.

I set the phone face down. Cool. I was ice.

“Tell the board 2 p.m. works,” I said to David, my voice devoid of tremor. “And confirm that Davis & Polk is sending their full M&A team to the January 2nd meeting.”

“Already confirmed,” David said, stepping fully into the room. “Senior partners, associates, the works. It’s their biggest potential client acquisition of the year.”

I smiled, and for the first time that day, it reached my eyes. It wasn’t a warm smile. It was the smile of a predator realizing the trap had been sprung.

“Perfect.”