Chapter 2 - THE MAN EVERYONE KNEWVictor did not finish call in kitchen.
He walked into hallway.
That somehow made it worse.
Marjorie followed.
“Mr. Foster, perhaps we should discuss this privately.”
Victor kept walking.
Brandon grabbed mother’s arm.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“Stop.”
She looked at son.
For first time, Brandon seemed genuinely frightened of something other than Marjorie.
Howard Bell approached quietly.
Marjorie knew him.
Senior executive at North Atlantic Capital.
One of Hale Group’s largest lenders.
She whispered:
“Howard, what is happening?”
Howard looked toward hallway where Victor stood on phone.
Then at her.
“What did you do?”
The question offended her.
“What do you mean?”
Howard lowered voice.
“Why is Victor Foster here angry?”
“He’s Natalie’s brother.”
Howard stared as though Marjorie had just admitted she had been playing with loaded weapon.
“I know who he is.”
“I mean, why is he involved in Hale business?”
Howard looked at Brandon.
Brandon’s face gave answer.
Marjorie turned.
“Brandon?”
He whispered:
“Victor introduced us to North Atlantic.”
Marjorie’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“And Stanton Logistics.”
Her face changed.
“And Meridian?”
Brandon did not answer.
Howard did.
“Victor.”
Marjorie slowly looked back toward kitchen.
Natalie was still holding Ella.
The woman Marjorie had spent years dismissing as “Brandon’s pretty wife.”
The woman she ordered to wash dishes.
The woman whose brother had quietly opened doors the Hale family publicly took credit for entering.
Victor returned.
No dramatic announcement.
He put phone away.
Brandon asked:
“What did he say?”
Victor:
“Who?”
“Jonathan Cross.”
“Exactly what I expected.”
Brandon stepped closer.
“You can’t cancel things overnight.”
Victor looked at him.
“I didn’t.”
“I told him I’m withdrawing every Foster introduction, guarantee of confidence, and co-investment connected to your family.”
“That’s different.”
Brandon’s mouth opened.
Victor continued:
“If the Hale family is strong enough to stand alone, nothing happens.”
Marjorie regained some confidence.
“Exactly.”
Victor turned to her.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
Howard Bell looked away.
Because there was plenty to worry about.
The Hales had spent three years building expansion on relationships Victor introduced.
Not illegal dependence.
Not ownership.
Something more subtle.
Trust.
When Victor Foster said a family was worth meeting, people took meeting.
When he said he no longer stood behind introductions, people asked questions.
Victor did not need destroy anyone.
He simply stopped carrying them.
Natalie finally spoke.
“Victor.”
He immediately turned.
“Can we go somewhere?”
“Anywhere.”
Brandon looked at wife.
“Natalie, don’t leave.”
She stared.
He had remained silent when mother humiliated her.
Now he was speaking because business was threatened.
That realization changed something.
“I asked you to speak ten minutes ago.”
Brandon froze.
Natalie shifted Ella slightly.
“You couldn’t.”
“Now suddenly you can.”
“Natalie—”
Victor did not interrupt.
He never answered for his sister unless necessary.
Marjorie did.
“This is ridiculous. A few dishes?”
Natalie looked at her.
“It was never dishes.”
That silenced room.
Victor picked up birthday cake.
Then glanced at Brandon.
“My sister is leaving.”
Brandon’s jaw tightened.
“Victor, she’s my wife.”
Victor’s eyes cooled.
“Then perhaps you should have acted like her husband.”
He walked beside Natalie.
Not ahead.
Not pulling.
Beside.
At doorway Natalie looked back.
At balloons.
Flowers.
Guests.
A birthday party supposedly thrown for her.
She had never blown out candles.
Victor opened car door.
Before she entered, she whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
He frowned.
“For what?”
“For ruining the party.”
Victor stared at her for several seconds.
Then said:
“You didn’t ruin anything.”
May you like
He looked toward mansion.
“You just stopped pretending it was a celebration.”
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