Chapter 6 - The Price of a Clean Answer
Evelyn called Adrian from Nora’s office.
“Does your company control Mercer Atlantic’s debt?”
“One portion, yes.”
“You knew?”
“I learned the full position yesterday.”
“Were you planning to tell me?”
“Yes. I asked my legal team to prepare the conflict information first.”
She stared at the folder.
“You should have called.”
“You’re right.”
The agreement came so quickly that she lost the next sentence she had prepared.
Adrian continued.
“I have an interest in the outcome. You need independent advice, and I shouldn’t be discussing terms with you.”
“Then why introduce Simone?”
“Because she’s good. She doesn’t report to me.”
“Does she work for your company?”
“No. But let her disclose every prior engagement. You should verify that independently.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
It would have been easier if he became angry.
Anger would have told her where to stand.
Instead, he offered documents.
She asked for distance.
He agreed.
For four days, they had no personal contact.
Cross Harbor appointed a separate committee to handle its position. Evelyn’s team evaluated competing proposals and challenged the lender’s valuations.
She discovered that Adrian’s company could lose money even if the operating business survived.
That fact did not erase the conflict.
It made it measurable.
Nora explained the choices.
Evelyn asked questions until the terms stopped looking like a foreign language.
On Thursday, Charles appeared at the office with his attorney.
Evelyn had agreed to one supervised meeting concerning the business.
Nothing more.
He looked older.
For a dangerous second, she wanted to comfort him.
Then he said, “You’ve made your point.”
The feeling vanished.
She sat opposite him.
“What point?”
“That you won’t be pushed around.”
“You locked the door.”
His attorney shifted.
Charles lowered his voice.
“I was under extraordinary pressure.”
“So was I.”
“I built that company for you.”
“No. Grandfather built it. The employees kept it working. You borrowed against it until nobody could breathe.”
His cheeks colored.
“You’ve been listening to strangers.”
“I’ve been reading the accounts.”
Silence settled.
Charles looked toward Nora.
“Could we have a moment alone?”
“No,” Evelyn said.
He returned his attention to her.
“I’m still your father.”
She felt the old pull of that sentence.
The childhood instruction hidden inside it.
Forgive me before I ask.
“Then you should have acted like it.”
His eyes dropped.
For the first time, she saw something other than outrage.
Whether it was remorse or defeat, she could not tell.
She did not need to decide that day.
After he left, Evelyn shook so badly she spilled water across the table.
Nora handed her a towel.
No one told her she had been brave.
They simply gave her time.
Friday’s negotiations lasted eleven hours.
Mercer Atlantic’s viable operations would be offered for sale through a supervised restructuring process. The proposed buyer group included an established regional operator and an employee participation plan.
Evelyn would invest a limited amount only after independent review and approval of final terms.
Her father would receive no management role.
Cross Harbor would accept a negotiated loss.
Other creditors would vote according to the process.
Nothing was guaranteed.
But there was a path.
At nine that night, Evelyn stepped outside.
Adrian stood across the street beside a closed coffee shop.
He had sent one message asking whether she wanted a ride.
She had said yes.
“You stayed away,” she said as she approached.
“You asked me to.”
She searched his face.
“I’m still angry.”
“I know.”
“But I’d like dinner.”
His expression softened.
“Somewhere with terrible lighting and no contracts?”
“For a start.”
They found a diner three blocks away.
Evelyn ordered pancakes at ten.
Halfway through the meal, she laughed without preparing herself first.
Adrian looked up.
She expected a comment.
May you like
He only passed the syrup.
That was when she began to believe she might like him for reasons that had nothing to do with being rescued.
