Chapter 15 - 3:57 PM
Nobody celebrated with champagne.
The bank didn’t ring a bell.
There was no dramatic announcement.
The money moved.
The deadline was met.
Then everyone kept working.
That disappointed Eli in a strange way.
He had spent the entire day watching a transaction that began with laughter and ended with more paperwork.
Real money was boring when handled correctly.
Camden signed final acknowledgment forms.
Nora said:
“The escrow receipt satisfies today’s instruction. Subsequent acquisition closing remains subject to transaction conditions.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Everyone keeps warning me.”
“That’s our job.”
Camden smiled.
Dana finally said:
“May I apologize now?”
Camden thought.
“Yes.”
She stood.
“What happened this morning was unacceptable. We had legitimate reasons to verify an extraordinary request. We did not have legitimate reason to substitute assumptions about your appearance for verification.”
Camden nodded.
Dana continued.
“You should not have been humiliated in front of other clients.”
“No.”
“We are reviewing it.”
“Okay.”
“You can file a formal complaint.”
“I probably will.”
Dana seemed relieved by the honesty.
Camden looked toward Eli.
“You.”
Eli stiffened.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not pushing harder.”
“You told her to verify.”
“Then I stopped when she told me no.”
Camden looked at him.
Eli continued.
“I knew procedure might matter.”
“But?”
“She’s my boss.”
Camden nodded.
“Next time do it sooner.”
Eli swallowed.
“Yeah.”
No gift.
No promise to make him personal banker.
Just accountability.
Camden picked up the Obsidian card.
Eli asked:
“What does 047 mean?”
Camden looked at it.
“I don’t know.”
Eli laughed.
“Seriously?”
“My mom’s instructions said keep it.”
“That’s it?”
“Basically.”
“So we spent all day terrified of a number nobody understands?”
“It got me kicked out.”
“Your hoodie did that.”
Camden smiled.
“Fair.”
Outside the room, Marcus Grant waited.
The security officer looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Ross.”
“Camden.”
Marcus nodded.
“Camden.”
He paused.
“I’m sorry I escorted you out.”
“You didn’t touch me.”
“Still.”
“You were told to.”
Marcus looked toward Victoria’s empty station.
“That doesn’t always make it right.”
Camden considered.
“Did you think I was dangerous?”
“No.”
“Fraud?”
Marcus hesitated.
“I thought something was off.”
“What?”
“You didn’t look like anybody I’ve seen ask for ten million dollars.”
Camden nodded.
“Me neither.”
Marcus laughed.
That broke the tension.
Then Camden’s phone rang.
Graham.
He was standing ten feet away.
Camden looked at him.
“Why are you calling?”
“To annoy you.”
Camden answered anyway.
Graham walked closer.
“Redmont accepted the revised framework.”
“I know.”
“No. Final committee vote just passed.”
Camden’s face changed.
“Employee trust?”
“In.”
“Information rights?”
“In.”
“Allentown?”
“Eighteen months.”
Camden exhaled.
Graham continued.
“Closing in thirty days if diligence holds.”
“So it’s done.”
“No.”
Graham’s voice hardened.
“Never say that about a transaction until it closes.”
Camden rolled his eyes.
“Okay.”
Graham looked at him.
“You did well.”
Camden stiffened.
“Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t make today proof I’m ready for everything.”
Graham smiled slowly.
“You read the letter.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Camden adjusted his backpack.
Then asked:
“Will you disclose the 3.8 million to the employee committee?”
Graham sighed.
“Yes.”
“Board?”
“Yes.”
“Public transaction summary?”
“If counsel says appropriate.”
“Not good enough.”
Graham stared.
“Camden.”
“You told me to own the decision.”
“I did.”
“I’m owning the information too.”
Graham looked irritated.
Then proud again.
“Fine.”
Dana walked Camden toward the lobby.
Wealthy clients still sat in the lounge.
Some recognized him from the morning.
One woman looked away.
Another watched.
Camden did not care.
At the glass doors, he stopped.
Same place where Marcus had escorted him out five hours earlier.
Dana said:
“Transportation?”
“No.”
“A car can take you.”
“I’m going to Penn Station.”
“You came from New Jersey?”
“Yes.”
“By train?”
“Yes.”
She almost asked why someone connected to ten million dollars took the train.
Then caught herself.
Camden noticed.
He smiled.
“Good save.”
Dana laughed.
He stepped outside.
Gray hoodie.
Old backpack.
Ten-million-dollar wire completed.
May you like
Nothing about him looked different.
That was the point.
