The card read \u201cHartley Capital Partners, Managing Director,\u201d followed by a name Gerald knew too well. He set it down. \u201cYou are the lead investor in the Northgate fund,\u201d he whispered. \u201cMy lender told me an anonymous group had bought my loan.\u201d Preston stood so fast his chair scraped the floor. \u201cDad, you said that was handled,\u201d he said. Daniel stared at me, stunned, while Olivia\u2019s eyes filled with sudden tears.<\/p>\n
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Gerald finally understood that the man he had judged by his jacket had been watching his company. \u201cFrank,\u201d Margaret said, her voice cracking, \u201cwe were only worried about our daughter.\u201d I looked directly at her. \u201cThen you should have asked about Daniel\u2019s character instead of my boots,\u201d I said. Then I took out my phone and opened a single email. \u201cThursday at nine, your lender\u2019s board votes on whether to call the loan, and my signature alone decides it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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