"I live here."
Her smile tightened.
"For how long?"
Malik studied her.
For a moment, he considered the question odd.
Then answered.
"I bought the house recently."
Victoria's expression changed.
She looked toward the garage.
Then back at him.
"Interesting."
Malik took a breath.
"Can I help you with something?"
She smiled coldly.
"No. Just making sure everything is legitimate."
Then she walked away.
Malik watched her.
For a moment, he felt the familiar irritation of being judged before anyone knew anything about him.
He had experienced it at business meetings, car dealerships, and luxury hotels.
But he didn't want to begin a conflict with a neighbor.
He had enough problems to solve at Whitmore Communities.
So he returned to washing the Ferrari.
And let the conversation go.
That decision would make Victoria believe he was easier to intimidate than he really was.
The morning of the confrontation began with a message from Malik's financial director.
The investment had cleared its final conditions.
Northstar's funds had been transferred through the agreed closing process, the required share issuance was complete, and the updated ownership records reflected Northstar's controlling fifty-one-percent position.
The board's transition arrangements were now effective.
Malik read the confirmation while standing in his kitchen, drinking coffee from a plain ceramic mug.
He felt relieved.
Not triumphant.
The acquisition carried risks.
Some of the company's problems were still uncertain, and the amount of money involved was substantial even by the standards of someone who had sold a successful technology business.
But the transaction gave him a legitimate path to investigate the practices that troubled him and help the company become more responsible.
He called Rachel Bennett.
"Closing's complete."
She smiled.
"Congratulations."
Malik looked toward the garden.
"Now the difficult part starts."
Rachel laughed.
"I was going to say the same thing."
They discussed the first board meeting.
The audit committee would receive a proposed review plan, and management would be asked to preserve records relating to homeowner charges, outside vendors, and disputed collection practices.
Malik made one point especially clear.
"I don't want us to start by assuming everybody at Whitmore Communities did something wrong."
Rachel agreed.
"Some employees may have raised concerns already. We need to protect legitimate records and give people a way to speak honestly."
Malik nodded.
"Exactly."
Then he looked toward the garage.
His Ferrari stood beneath the overhead lights.
He'd been meaning to take it for a short drive.
The weather was beautiful, and his afternoon schedule didn't begin until after lunch.