Daniel studied his face.
“You did not sleep.”
“No.”
“Clearly.”
Adrian closed binder.
“Meeting adjourned.”
Halcyon called within three minutes.
Bankers within four.
Adrian ignored.
Daniel followed into office.
Door shut.
“You are putting eight billion dollars at risk over a schedule reviewed by three firms.”
“Then fourth review won’t hurt.”
“What are you doing?”
“Due diligence.”
“Stop.”
The word came sharper than Daniel intended.
Adrian looked.
Daniel softened immediately.
“You’re exhausted.”
“Something happened last night.”
“What?”
Adrian walked to window.
“What do you do behind my library wall?”
Daniel stopped.
Adrian turned.
“Grace Harper saw you.”
Daniel’s face changed.
Not enough for jury.
Enough for Adrian.
“She’s mistaken.”
“She saw you and Pierce.”
“We had security inspection.”
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Because you were abroad and it was routine.”
“At one in morning.”
“Security doesn’t keep banker hours.”
“What problem?”
Daniel paused.
“Potential access breach.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You remember the year Dad switched whisky because he complained about label.”
“Do not tell me you don’t remember a breach at my house.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Adrian.”
“Call Pierce.”
“What?”
“Call him.”
Daniel stared.
Then did.
Roland Pierce did not answer.
Voicemail.
Daniel lowered phone.
“Happy?”
“No.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Someone knocked from behind the wall.”
Daniel went pale.
Barely.
But Adrian saw.
“And?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know.”
“Who did you think was there?”
Daniel’s eyes hardened.
“What are you accusing me of?”
“I haven’t accused you.”
“Yet.”
Adrian stared.
Daniel looked away first.
That had never happened.
“You’re destabilizing company because of something in your house.”
Adrian said:
“I never said they were connected.”
Silence.
Daniel recovered too late.
“You said new information.”
“I assumed.”
“Did you?”
Daniel’s face changed.
The paternal layer thinned.
Underneath was a man Adrian did not know.
“I have spent thirty-six years protecting your family.”
“From what?”
“From yourselves, often.”
Adrian laughed softly.
There it was.
Daniel continued:
“Your father trusted people too easily.”
“Julian was reckless.”
“You—”
“What about me?”
“You carry guilt until it becomes indecision.”
“I made you capable of running this company.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“You made me dependent on you.”
Daniel stared.
Adrian continued:
“You were there for every crisis.”
“You always had answer.”
“You always knew who to call.”
“You always knew what had to stay quiet.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Be careful.”
“With what?”
“Everything you think you understand.”