Chapter 48: Acclamation

5 December 2025

Nine men and one woman were arrayed around the sturdy oak table. They were dressed in finely tailored suits befitting their successful careers and their shared sense of understated fashion. Even Angelica had changed from her airport chic into a dark charcoal tailored trouser suit over a cream-coloured silk blouse accented with a pussy bow.

Similarly, the main boardroom was decidedly traditional. The design decisions had been left to Mr Vance and his contemporaries, and their tastes were conservative and imposing.

The heavy wooden conference table was the centrepiece, with high-backed leather chairs running the length of each side. The walls were panelled with rich dark wood and ornamented with oil-painted portraits.

Against the walls, the PAs took their positions, each flanking her superior. They were fashioned in softer and more feminine styles. Unlike the men, the women favoured colourful dresses with scarves or bangles. The only feature they shared was their eyes - each of them besides Ginny and Caroline had eyes the shade of luminous emeralds.

Arthur Vance sat at the head of the table in recognition of his position as chairman of the board. The others were positioned according to their seniority on the board, leaving Marcus Stone at the other end of the table. As the junior member, Marcus was also delegated the position of secretary. He would read the roll and be responsible for managing the minutes of the meeting.

Mr Vance tapped his signet ring against the table and called the meeting to order.

“Lady and gentlemen, welcome and thank you. May your judgement be true, and your loyalty to our institution unshakeable.”

The board members discussed and debated the items as they worked their way down the agenda. Everything went exactly as expected. And then they reached the new business.

Marcus rose from his seat. “I move to establish a Special Investments Division. The current market has become too volatile for the bank to remain on a single track. In particular, we have an opportunity to pursue more aggressive activities and to consider unconventional methods.”

“Seconded,” stated Gordon Drummond. Mr Drummond was two seats down from Mr Vance, and sat directly across from Bob. He nodded silently to Bob, and as he did, his PA Lydia France softly patted his back.

Mr Vance spoke up next.

“The motion is recognised. All right, Marcus. You have made the case, and we have all read the opening gambit. Run-down buildings in the outer districts are hardly a novel business plan. But the part of this that I don’t understand is what you propose to do with these particular properties. Why are we acquiring flats and a hotel for refurbishment, if we aren’t going to put them into use for new residents?”

“I can speak to that, Arthur,” said Bob as he rose from his chair.

“You have the floor, Bob.”

“Arthur, the reason for these particular properties is to pursue scientific research. Our new investment is exploring ways of impacting human behaviour. The only way that these techniques can be properly and safely tested is in a secure facility. And with human test subjects, we will need to have twenty-four-hour capabilities. Sleeping quarters. Kitchens. Toilets.”

“So you want to turn these places into boarding schools for your test subjects?” asked Angelica.

“I’m not sure that I would use quite that term, but yes. We will house and feed them while our partner performs the testing and training,” Bob explained. “And we shall also gain the fruits of those labours.”

“And what fruits are those?” queried Mr Warrington.

“Optimised versions of humanity,” Bob said dryly.

He saw that Arthur’s face was flushing. “I’m sorry, Bob, but optimised? What sort of bloody euphemism is that?”

“My apologies for offending your sensibilities, sir,” Bob said. “If we are successful, we will have women who are better prepared to serve as our assistants, or our housekeepers, or our lovers.”

“Hear, hear!” shouted Marcus. “Good show!”

“How do I place an order for a pair of those?” added Gordon.

Mr Vance knocked sharply on the table to bring the room back to order. “Enough of that, gentlemen.”

“Mr Vance, may I speak?”

Arthur gestured to Angelica.

“Marcus, Gordon, I am sure that you lot would love to have women on their knees to polish your knobs. I wouldn’t trust you with this if you put ten thousand pounds in my pocket. But…” - she paused as if to gather her thoughts. “But I don’t have to trust you. I do trust Bob, though. If Bob thinks this is a good idea, then he has my support.”

Mr Vance scanned the table and saw each of the attendees raising their hands or nodding in acclamation.

“When did you all turn into a flock of sheep?” Mr Vance thundered. “I expected better than this from you.”

A soft hand touched his arm.

“Mr Vance, sir, you need to keep calm,” said Elaine in a firm yet respectful tone.

He blinked several times as he looked into her cool green eyes. His mouth opened but he could only breathe and then stammer unintelligibly.

“That’s better, isn’t it, Arthur?”

“Yes, Elaine. Better. But it’s wrong, isn’t it?”

“No, sir. It’s just right to do what Mr Edwards suggests. Doesn’t it feel good?”

Mr Vance began to gasp. His eyes opened wide with shock.

“Sir? You know you’ll feel better if you relax and do what I told you.”

His hand slammed on the table while Elaine hovered over him. She whispered in his ear and rubbed his back, trying to get him to hear what she had been telling him for the past few days.

Bob jumped from his seat and went to Arthur’s side as well. The old man looked like he was in distress. This plan isn’t worth a man’s life, is it?

“Arthur, listen to me, man. Breathe. Slow down and breathe.”

Arthur’s eyes looked up at Bob. There seemed to be some level of recognition.

“Bob?”

“Yes, Arthur. It’s me. It’s okay.”

“Bob. Yes. It’s okay, Bob.”

Bob snapped his fingers and pointed to Elaine. “Get him some water.”

Elaine immediately followed Bob’s instruction. She grabbed a glass from the side table and poured water from the crystal jug. She then placed the glass in front of Mr Vance.

“Mr Vance, here’s some water. Drink this for me, please.”

Arthur’s head snapped back to his other side to face his PA. He saw her eyes and then saw the glass in front of him.

He reached for the glass. His hand was trembling as he lifted the water to his lips. Through force of will, Mr Vance managed to hold the glass still enough to get a few sips of the cool liquid.

“Thank you, Elaine. Thank you, Bob.”

His face was pale now, and he seemed smaller. The fight appeared to be gone from the formidable gentleman.

“Arthur, if you want us to take an adjournment, we can hold this over for another time,” said Bob softly. “We can afford to miss out on this opportunity if you don’t have confidence in the judgment of Marcus and me.”

The older man shook his head slowly. He pressed his hands onto the surface of the table and got to his feet.

“Lady. Gentlemen. I’m not as spry as I used to be. But I have learned a very important lesson over my years. Trust your people. I hired you years ago, Bob. And I hired Marcus more recently. I haven’t ever regretted those choices.” He paused, and his eyes darted back and forth. Elaine stepped up to his side again as if to support him.

Arthur took another deep breath.

“I have great concern about this project. I don’t see it justifying an investment of this size. But I won’t stand in your way.”

Mr Vance gestured for Elaine to accompany him. She made eye contact with Bob, and he nodded silently.

With his PA’s help, Arthur Vance slowly trudged out of the boardroom.

The minutes reflected that the motion carried without a dissenting vote. Bob Edwards was selected as chair of the Special Investments Division.

The Richmond Project had the green light.