The Institution That Loved Her Useful

The timing made both gestures look theatrical. Only one was planned.

Celia played the donor footage in the boardroom. Farah defended naming rights as standard development practice and accused Rowan of covert recording.

"The camera was authorised," Celia said. "The transfer of contributors' ownership was not."

She placed her resignation beside the promotion letter.

The board accepted the first and suspended the second.

Before Celia reached the lift, the museum's solicitor emailed. Because museum equipment and staff time had been used during early interviews, the institution claimed copyright and physical custody of the recordings.

Years of Celia's own meticulous paperwork now armed the claim.

At the Marlowe, Nina read the letter.

"Then we withdraw every voice," she said.

If the museum wanted an archive without consent, they would give it silence.