Aurora waited in a small side room off the main venue, dressed elegantly but simply, something nervous in her posture that hadn't been present at the foundation launch weeks earlier.

"I'm sorry to intrude on today of all days," she said immediately, standing as Ivy entered, Sterling arriving a moment later still in his shirtsleeves, tie loose around his neck. "I promise I won't take more than a few minutes."

"What is it," Sterling asked, careful but not unkind.

"I've spent the past few weeks deciding whether to actually go through with this, and I realized this morning that I didn't want you starting your marriage with unfinished business hanging...