stylized "JI" in blue and silver-visible for blocks. Three days after James St. James Sr.'s death, Harper Knox stoo

city, custom mahogany furniture, and tasteful art selected by Harper herself over the years. Yet despite

elt empt

ive coordinator who managed the support staff for the C-suite. "The board members a

at her watch. "

voice even though they were alone. "Mr. Williams is

r James Sr., had always fancied himself next in line. The fact that James Sr. ha

n minutes," Harper said, "with

osed her eyes. She hadn't slept properly in weeks, between the hospital vigils and managing the company in his absen

g the feeling aside. Lat

folio containing not only the quarterly projections but comprehensive transition plans she'd been quietly preparing for months.

ed absence. The son hadn't even confirmed his attendance

St. James Sr.'s executive assistant. She barely recognized the young woman in the picture-twenty-five, fresh-faced, standing awkwardly besi

the background. "You're here to observe. This is where the real business happens. Watch

James Sr. had never wanted a traditional assistant. He'd want

formation from Harper Knox, recent architecture graduate desperate for any job in a brutal economy, to Harper Knox, the perfect

und the massive table, all but two of them men, all of them wat

voice steady. "Thank you all f

egin, I want to express on behalf of the board our deepe

er acknowledged it with a nod. "Thank you, Harol

her seat at the right of the chair that James Sr. would have occup

quiring attention. Page three outlines the communication strategy for shareholders and major clients, which my team ha

the only one who didn't treat Harper as support staff. "But we need to discuss

r replied. "Mr. St. James's attorneys have assure

essed. "The markets don't like unc

nce, you'll see Mr. St. James's recommendation for a temporary executive committee comprised of yourself,

ght off guard. "He di

eighing the strengths and weaknesses of each board member, considering every contingency. "There's als

two steps ahead of everyone else in the room. The letter outlined in his characteristic no-nonsense style ex

voice smooth despite the abrupt question. "Will

uneasy, though James Sr. had valued his aggressive approach to acquisitions. "Mr. St.

the heir apparent. Five years you've been with us, Harp

re not the concern of this board," Harper

at many of us have considerably more experience with than a son who's b

matters at hand. We have three days until the reading. Our priority s

e efficiency that had become her trademark. By the meeting's end, the temporary executive committee was in pl

Novak lingered. "Harper," he sai

eping her expr

esturing to the presentation she was

m the best," s

or comfort. "I'm curious-what are your plans now? Wit

e art of the professional deflection. "My immediate plans involve

ter that? A woman with your... connections might find many doors open to

disgust. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Novak. If yo

shoulders to sag slightly. One more day. She just needed to hold everything together for one more day until the funeral. Then t

m Natalie: JJ landed at JFK 20 m

r for the funeral or merely the will reading remained to be seen, but his arrival changed

ended to keep, bu

. Three weeks' notice, already signed and dated the previous week. She'd planned to

, after the funeral, she would hand it to Jamie St. Jame

ally reclaim her own dreams. And if the son was ha

in thirty minutes. Harper straightened her spine, adjusted her pearl necklace-another

ssistant, rig