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“Food.” Sebastian picks up his fork.

“Try not to overanalyze it.”

I give him a look before opening the container.

“You came all the way upstairs to be annoying?”

“I was already in the building,” he says.

“The inconvenience was minimal.”

For the next several minutes, we talk business. I bring him up to speed on the partnership my father and I declined that morning, and Sebastian listens without interrupting until I finish.

“They would’ve renegotiated,” Sebastian says.

“They would’ve changed the wording, not the structure,” I reply.

Sebastian considers that while taking another bite.

“You’re probably right.”

“That sounded painful.”

“It was.” Sebastian points his fork toward me.

“I still think they’re worth keeping warm. Their network is valuable even if this particular deal isn’t.”

I nod. “That’s your lane.”

“Exactly.” Sebastian settles back in his chair.

“You stop us from making stupid long-term decisions. I make sure we don’t insult half of Europe while doing it.”

“That’s a generous interpretation of your role.”

“It’s an accurate one,” Sebastian says with a grin.

The exchange is familiar enough that neither of us needs to defend it. Sebastian reads people quickly and understands relationships, timing, and opportunity in ways that make him particularly effective outside the boardroom. I’m more interested in what survives after the introductions, dinners, and handshakes are finished. Our approaches are different, but they work because neither of us needs to be the other.

I take another bite before asking, “Did Margaret ever send the revised list of pieces they’re considering selling?”

Sebastian’s eyes narrow slightly.

I notice immediately. “What?”

“Nothing,” he says, although his expression says otherwise.

“That look wasn’t nothing.”

He sets his fork down. “You’ve developed a surprising amount of interest in the collection audit.”

“It’s our collection.”

“Yes, Ross. I’m familiar with the ownership structure.” His mouth curves.

“You asked Margaret about Hartmann yesterday too.”

“That was relevant.”