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When Seb stepped out of the lift on the executive floor, he walked slowly down the corridor toward Cedric’s old office He recognized no one, and no one recognized hi Farthings of all Cedric’s lieutenants

He didn’t have to knock on Sloane’s door because it swung open when he was a couple of paces away

“Good to see you, Seb,” said Sloane “It’s been too long,” he added before he ushered hi to shake his hand

The first thing that struck Seb as he entered the chairn of Cedric No acknowledgement of his thirty years’ stewardship of the bank No portrait, no photograph, no plaque to reeneration of his achievements Sloane had not only replaced him, but had airbrushed him out of existence, like a Soviet politician who’d fallen from favor

“Have a seat,” said Sloane, as if he was addressing one of the bank’s junior clerks

Seb took a closer look at his adversary He’d put on a few pounds since they’d last met, but it was cleverlythat hadn’t changed was the insincere smile of a man most people in the City were reluctant to do business with

Sloane took his seat behind the chairman’s desk and didn’t waste any more time with banalities

“Seb, soht as you will already have worked out why I wanted to see you”

“I assu to offer s”

“That’s not exactly what I had in h followed, to accompany the insincere smile “However, it’s been clear for so the bank’s stock on the open market, and you now only need another twenty-two thousand shares to cross the threshold that would allow you to automatically take a place on the board, or to nominate someone else to represent you”

“Be assured, I’ll be representing myself”

“Which is why I wanted to talk to you It’s no secret that we didn’t get on hen you worked under me—”

“Which is why I resigned”

“It’s also why I feel it would be inappropriate for you to be involved in the day-to-day running of the bank”

“I have absolutely no interest in the day-to-day running of the bank I assume you have capable staff to carry out that job That was never my intention”