The security guard recognized Adrian before Adrian recognized him.The man was standing behind the glass doors of Cole Meridian Group, one hand resting on the security desk. He stared for a few seconds, then his face slowly changed.“Adrian?”Adrian stopped.Eight years had passed since he had last stood in this lobby.The building looked almost exactly the same.Black marble. Silver elevators. The huge Cole Meridian logo hanging behind reception.Only the people had changed.And the boy who had once been dragged through those doors was no longer a boy.“You came back,” the guard said.“So it seems.”The guard glanced toward the elevators, then lowered his voice.“You shouldn't be here.”Adrian looked at him.“That’s what people usually say when they don't want someone asking questions.”The guard shifted uncomfortably.“Mr. Marcus gave instructions.”“I’m sure he did.”“He said you're not allowed inside.”Adrian looked through the glass toward the lobby.“I’m not allowed inside my fa

By noon, Marcus had made three phone calls.None of them helped.The first bank refused to reverse the debt transfer.The second claimed the transaction had been reviewed and cleared.The third simply told him that whoever now controlled the debt had no obligation to negotiate.Marcus threw the phone onto his desk.“Find out who owns Apex Meridian.”His assistant stood across from him.“We're trying.”“Try harder.”“We've checked the corporate registry, investment records, and the major shareholder databases.”“And?”“The chairman is listed as Adrian Vale.”Marcus went still.“Adrian Vale?”“Yes.”“Who is he?”“We haven't found a public photograph.”Marcus stared at her.“Then find one.”She hesitated.“There's another problem.”“What now?”“Apex Meridian has been buying pieces of Cole Meridian for months.”Marcus frowned.“That's impossible.”“The records say otherwise.”She placed a folder on his desk.Marcus opened it.A warehouse in the eastern district.A logistics company.Two c

Adrian stared at the photograph.Daniel was alive.That was the first thing that mattered.The second was the man standing behind him.Adrian zoomed in.The photograph was too dark to identify his face, but the expensive watch on his wrist was clearly visible.Adrian had seen it before.At Cole Meridian.On the wrist of one of Marcus's senior executives.“Victor.”The call connected immediately.“I’m here.”“Send me the photograph I just received.”“You already sent it.”“Then look at the man standing behind Daniel.”Victor was silent for several seconds.“I see him.”“Do you recognize him?”“No.”Adrian looked at the watch.“I do.”“Who?”“Marcus's head of corporate security.”Victor cursed under his breath.“Are you sure?”“I saw him at the building yesterday.”“That means Marcus knows where Daniel is.”“Or Marcus wants us to think he does.”Victor paused.“You think Marcus is behind this?”“I think someone wants me to blame him.”Adrian opened another file.“Find the security chief

By nine in the morning, the Cole Meridian boardroom was already full.Marcus Cole sat at the head of the table.He no longer looked as confident as he had the previous evening.Neither did the directors around him.Adrian walked in with Victor and Elena.The conversation stopped.Marcus looked at him.“You're late.”Adrian pulled out a chair.“No. You started without me.”A few directors exchanged uncomfortable glances.Marcus tapped his fingers against the table.“This meeting concerns the future of Cole Meridian. It isn't a place for personal grudges.”“Then you shouldn't have invited me.”Marcus's expression tightened.“You don't understand what you're dealing with.”“I understand the numbers.”Adrian placed a folder on the table.Victor placed another beside it.Elena remained standing.Marcus didn't touch either folder.“What is this?”“Money that disappeared from three Cole Meridian subsidiaries over the last four years.”Marcus glanced at the documents.“Old transactions.”“Twe

Adrian stared at the photograph on his phone.The woman stood outside a London hotel, one hand resting on the strap of a black handbag.She looked directly at the camera.She wasn't hiding.That bothered him more than anything else.“Who is she?” Elena asked.“I don't know.”Victor took the phone from him and studied the image.“There may be a name attached to the original file.”He checked the image details.Nothing.Whoever had sent it had stripped the information.Elena looked at Adrian.“Then we find her the old-fashioned way.”Adrian nodded.“Start with the hotel.”Victor was already making a call.While he worked, Adrian looked again at the photograph.His father had been standing beside this woman the day before he died.And someone had just told him Richard had hidden Adrian.There had to be a connection.Victor ended the call.“The hotel is the Langford Royal. The photograph was taken three days ago.”“Three days?”Victor nodded.“She checked in under the name Claire Morgan.”