Aryyah stood outside the boardroom on the forty-fifth floor of Petersons International headquarters at 1:55 PM, her hand resting on her seven-month pregnant belly while she tried to calm her racing heart; through the glass walls she could see twelve board members already seated around the massive conference table, their expressions ranging from curiosity to open hostility.

"Mrs. Petersons, they're ready for you," Morrison's associate Patricia said, appearing beside her with an encouraging ...