Chapter 3 - THE MAN AT HER TABLE
Elena had built Mercer Global from nothing.
Or so she thought.
She had been twenty-six when the first investment arrived.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
Anonymous.
At the time, she had believed an angel investor had seen potential in her small real-estate company.
Now she wondered whether angels had anything to do with it.
Thursday evening, Marcus Vale walked into Elena’s charity gala smiling.
He was sixty-eight.
Silver-haired.
Elegant.
Respected.
He kissed Elena lightly on the cheek.
“My favorite entrepreneur.”
Elena smiled back.
“My favorite mysterious investor.”
Marcus’s expression didn’t change.
But his eyes did.
Only for a fraction of a second.
That was enough.
Dinner began.
Elena waited.
Marcus talked about philanthropy.
Politics.
Markets.
Then Elena placed the old photograph beside his plate.
Marcus stopped talking.
“Where did you get this?”
“Interesting question.”
“Elena.”
“Thomas gave it to me.”
Marcus went completely still.
There it was.
Not surprise.
Fear.
“My father is alive.”
Marcus picked up his wine.
His hand remained steady.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For whatever lies he told you.”
Elena leaned forward.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“For twenty-five years?”
Marcus sighed.
“Your father was complicated.”
“He said you threatened me.”
Marcus’s expression softened.
“Elena, your father stole millions.”
“Then why wasn’t he arrested?”
“He ran.”
“Why didn’t you report him?”
“I was protecting you.”
Elena almost laughed.
Everyone seemed to have spent twenty-five years protecting her without bothering to tell her.
“Did you invest in Mercer Global?”
Marcus stared at her.
Then he smiled.
“I wondered when you’d find that.”
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were brilliant.”
“Why hide it?”
“Would you have accepted my money?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
Elena leaned back.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Your father abandoned you.”
“You profited from his disappearance.”
“He’s manipulating you.”
“Then prove it.”
“I can.”
Marcus reached into his jacket.
He placed a small key on the table.
“Safe-deposit box.”
“Where?”
“First Manhattan Trust.”
“What’s inside?”
“The truth about Thomas Mercer.”
Elena stared at him.
Marcus stood.
Before leaving, he leaned closer.
“Be careful what you decide to believe.”
Then he whispered:
May you like
“Your father didn’t disappear to protect you.”
“He disappeared because he thought you were already dead.”
