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Clara glances toward Blaire and says that's probably the cleanest formulation, and I add that it is.

Blaire looks at me again, and this time the surprise is more obvious. I almost understand why. She is waiting for me to complicate this, to assert control, to remind everyone that the Trust belongs to my family and the final decision eventually comes through me, but I have no intention of doing that here. This is her room.

By the time the meeting reaches valuation strategy, I have stopped looking at the file unless someone addresses me directly, because I am watching Blaire. Not in the way I watched her at the reception. This is different. She is completely absorbed in the work now, and the guardedness she carries around me fades whenever she turns toward the screen or answers a technical question. Her confidence is not performance. She has earned it, and there is something intensely attractive about watching someone become exactly what they were capable of becoming.

Blaire closes one of the folders and says that if the updated valuation is back by Friday, Charlotte can review the range before she arrives, which gives us enough time to prepare an initial offer without wasting a week.

Helena says she can make that happen, and Simon glances toward his notes and says he'll have the final provenance memo to Clara tomorrow.

"Good," Clara says.

"Once I have it, I can finish the internal legal summary."

Blaire looks around the table and says she doesn't think we need anything else from this meeting, and Helena checks the agenda and agrees.

Chairs begin shifting, though I stay where I am. Blaire closes her laptop and slides it into her bag, and she has not looked at me for several minutes, which I know is deliberate.

Helena gathers her folders and asks whether I need anything else before we break.

"No," I reply. "This was enough."

Blaire looks up then, her expression polite and nothing more.

"Good," she says.

I almost smile, and she notices. Her eyes narrow slightly before she stands, and that reaction tells me more than anything she said during the meeting. She is irritated that I came. She is even more irritated that I behaved myself. I can work with that.

Helena is halfway to the door when she pauses and looks back at Blaire.

"Before everyone scatters, do you still want to inspect the Reinhardt in person?" Helena asks.

"Yes," Blaire replies as she slips her laptop into her bag.

"I'd rather see the condition myself before we start working off the updated valuation."

Simon closes his folder and says he was going down anyway, that the brooch is in the same secured section.

Helena looks at me.

"Ross, did you want to come?"

Blaire's expression changes before she can stop it, something slight but still there, and I decide not to let it pass.

"I haven't seen either piece in a while," I say.

"I'll come."

"Of course you will," Blaire says quietly.

Helena glances toward her.

"Sorry?" Helena asks.

Blaire gives her a small smile.

"Nothing."

I almost smile too. Almost.