Margaret regained her composure, albeit shakily. “This is some kind of misunderstanding,” she said, her voice a brittle echo of its former assurance. “Our lawyers will straighten this out. They’ll—”

Alicia raised a hand, silencing her. “The documents are ironclad, Mrs. Whitmore. Your family’s dealings, the offshore accounts, the under-the-table transactions—everything is on record. Tonight was to be a celebration of your power, but instead, it marks its end.”