Chairwoman Hawk is here."
Sidney's pen stilled mid-signature as he glanced up from the stacks of documents on his desk. He nodded curtly to his assistant, signaling permission to let the older woman in. He had been anticipating this confrontation for some time, though not so soon. He had assumed that Chairwoman Hawk was still overseas. Clearly, he had underestimated her timing.
The office door opened, and in swept the matriarch herself, exuding her usual authority. Chairwoman Hawk did not walk in like some leisurely guest; she advanced with the unmistakable precision of someone accustomed to command. Her cane struck the floor once, a sharp, deliberate sound, before she used it to tap his leg lightly, a silent admonishment. Sidney hid his wince, already knowing what came next. She bypassed the chair opposite his desk and made her way to the couch by the window—neutral territory as far as she was concerned.
