The Aldren Capital offices were on the fourteenth floor of a glass building in the financial district.

Adrian had been there a dozen times.

He knew the receptionist by name, knew which elevator ran faster, knew that the senior partner, Gerald Aldren, kept his best meetings for the window table in the corner office.

Gerald was not at the window table when Adrian walked in.

He was standing near the door, which was unusual.

His expression was careful in the way that expensive men's expressions become careful when they are deciding how much a relationship is worth.

"Adrian." He extended his hand.

"I appreciate you coming in."

"I heard you had some questions."

"Sit down."

They sat.

Gerald folded his hands on the table.

"I received a call yesterday evening from someone representing Victoria Marsh.

She indicated that the events at your wedding were — her word — symptomatic of a larger pattern of instability.

She mentioned erratic decision-making.

Concerns about your judgment."

"And you believed her."

"I didn't say that.

I said I received the call.

I'm telling you about it because we have a significant investment relationship and I thought you deserved to hear it directly."

Adrian nodded.

"I appreciate that."

He reached into his jacket and set his phone on the table.

The recording app was already open.

"With your permission," Adrian said, "I'd like to play you something."

Gerald looked at the phone.

Then at Adrian.

"Go ahead."

Adrian pressed play.

Victoria's voice filled the quiet office.

Calm at first, then sharper.

*I protected you.

You were building something.

Elise was not the right person for where your life was going.

I made a decision that needed to be made.*

Then Adrian's own voice: *Did you forge my signature?*

Silence on the recording.

Then Victoria: *I love you.*

Adrian's voice: *You don't know what that word means.*

He stopped the recording.

Gerald was looking at the phone.

"There's more," Adrian said.

"Including her lawyer leaving the room.

Including a direct threat against my business interests made this morning through a representative named Daniel Frey — that conversation was also recorded."

Gerald was quiet for a long moment.

"The woman she mentioned — the one with the children."

"The mother of my children.

A woman Victoria arranged to disappear four years ago using forged documents bearing my signature.

She is currently in a care facility.

I met her yesterday for the first time since Victoria told me she had d*ed."

Gerald looked out the window.

"That's a serious allegation."

"I have the original forged documents.

I have a handwriting expert.

I have a witness who was present when Elise was shown the documents and told I had abandoned her.

The legal filing goes in today."

Gerald turned back to him.

"Adrian.

I want to be straightforward with you.

When I got that call last night, I was concerned.

Not because I doubted you — but because the call was very well constructed.

She knew exactly which words to use."

"She's good at that."

"She is." Gerald picked up the phone from the table and handed it back.

"I'll need a copy of that recording for our files.

Purely procedural."

"My lawyer will send it over this afternoon."

Gerald stood and extended his hand again.

"The investment relationship stands," he said.

"And if she contacts anyone else in our network, I'd like to know about it."

Adrian shook his hand.

"I'll keep you informed."

He rode the elevator down alone.

In the lobby, he checked his phone.

His lawyer had sent a message: *Filing submitted.

Confirmation received.

It's official.*

He stood in the middle of the lobby for a moment.

Then his phone rang.

Clara's name on the screen.

He answered.

"Adrian." Her voice was different.

Tighter.

"Something happened.

You need to come."