The card read “Hartley Capital Partners, Managing Director,” followed by a name Gerald knew too well. He set it down. “You are the lead investor in the Northgate fund,” he whispered. “My lender told me an anonymous group had bought my loan.” Preston stood so fast his chair scraped the floor. “Dad, you said that was handled,” he said. Daniel stared at me, stunned, while Olivia’s eyes filled with sudden tears.

Gerald finally understood that the man he had judged by his jacket had been watching his company. “Frank,” Margaret said, her voice cracking, “we were only worried about our daughter.” I looked directly at her. “Then you should have asked about Daniel’s character instead of my boots,” I said. Then I took out my phone and opened a single email. “Thursday at nine, your lender’s board votes on whether to call the loan, and my signature alone decides it.”