Daniel’s face drained of color as the restaurant slowly fell silent around us. Investors nearby began watching while Celeste tried to laugh off the disaster unfolding at the table. I simply sipped my champagne and let the truth do the work.
Then my attorney, Marcus, walked into the restaurant with members of the investment board. He handed Daniel formal suspension papers and informed him that all accounts had been frozen pending a fraud investigation.
Celeste panicked when the board member noticed the diamond bracelet bought with company funds. Evelyn tried to defend her son, but I reminded her that the original investment contract gave me controlling authority in cases of fraud.
For the first time, Daniel realized the restaurant, the business, and the power had never truly belonged to him. He had only been standing inside something I built-
