"Would you like to answer that?"
The attorney was a white American man in his fifties, with thinning hair and narrow rectangular glasses.
He placed his napkin beside his plate.
"I'm not certain which provisions you're referring to."
She opened a slim leather portfolio that the general manager had brought to her chair.
Then she removed a document.
"Section fourteen, subsection C, of your latest draft agreement."
The attorney's expression tightened.
She continued.
"It grants your acquisition vehicle certain development participation rights involving property assets associated with the restaurant."
The billionaire frowned.
"That sounds standard."
"Does it?"
He nodded.
"We would be investing substantial capital."
She turned toward the attorney.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the definition of associated property assets includes an access corridor that isn't owned by the operating company."
The attorney looked at the document.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
The billionaire glanced toward him.
"Is that correct?"
The attorney adjusted his glasses.
"The agreement uses a broad definition to account for potential future redevelopment."
The owner nodded.
"Redevelopment of what?"
The attorney hesitated.
"Adjacent commercial space."
She reached into the portfolio again.
A second document appeared.
She laid it on the table.
It was a redevelopment diagram obtained through a lawful review of publicly available planning records and materials supplied during negotiations.
The drawing showed the restaurant building, the neighboring properties, and a proposed luxury hotel complex occupying much of the block.
The billionaire leaned forward.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"From records connected to one of your development partners."
The attorney looked toward the businessman sitting at the far end of the table.
He was a white American property developer in his late forties, with carefully styled hair and an expensive charcoal suit.
Until that moment, he'd said very little.
Now he leaned back.
"That's a preliminary concept."
The owner looked at him.
"Then you recognize it."
"Of course."
"Why wasn't it included in the acquisition presentation?"
He shrugged.
"Because it wasn't finalized."
She nodded.
"And yet the proposed agreement seems designed to obtain rights that would make that concept easier to develop."
The developer folded his arms.