Chapter 1: The Man Who Stood Up
Chapter 1: The Man Who Stood Up
The ballroom fell silent.
Adrian released the wheelchair brakes.
Then, with steady determination, he rose to his feet.
A wave of gasps swept through the two hundred guests.
Claire's father nearly dropped his champagne glass.
"You... you can walk?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"The wheelchair was part of my rehabilitation after an accident."
He looked at Claire.
"Today was the first day my doctors cleared me to stand for extended periods."
Then he turned back to her family.
"But that isn't why you're frightened."
The twelve executives who had entered the ballroom stopped behind him.
One stepped forward and handed Adrian a folder.
"Everything has been verified."
Adrian nodded.
He addressed the room calmly.
"My name is Adrian Hayes."
"I serve as chairman of the investment group preparing to acquire your company's outstanding debt."
Claire's father's face lost all color.
"You..."
"It was you?"
Adrian continued.
May you like
"When Claire told me how she was blamed for exposing accounting irregularities, I asked independent auditors to review your company."
"They found far more than she ever knew."
