Chapter 2: The Investor Who Recognized the Wrong Woman
Richard Hayes tightened his grip on the investment proposal.
He had rehearsed this meeting for twenty-one days.
He had revised the financial projections, rewritten the executive summary, and stayed awake until two in the morning answering questions his board might ask. His company, Hayes Urban Development, had built a reputation for restoring neglected commercial properties across the Southeast.
Now it was struggling.
Two major projects had stalled. A lender had withdrawn its commitment, and the company's cash reserves were shrinking faster than Richard could reassure his employees.
Daniel Carter's investment could keep the company alive.
And Richard had just watched his prospective investor get publicly insulted over a glass of wine.
“Mr. Carter,” Richard began carefully, “I apologize if we've interrupted your lunch service.””
“You haven't,” Daniel said.
Richard glanced at Britney again.
She had recovered enough to straighten her shoulders, but the confidence she had displayed moments earlier was gone. She picked up her handbag and placed it on her lap.
“Richard,” she said, forcing a laugh, “I had no idea you knew the owner.””
Richard frowned.
“Why would you assume I didn't?””
“I wasn't assuming anything. It was just a misunderstanding.””
Daniel's eyes moved to the wineglass.
“Was it?””
Britney swallowed.
“Look, the wine spilled. I was frustrated. These things happen.””
“You said I spilled it on you,” Daniel replied.
“I was upset.””
“You said you wanted me fired.””
“I didn't know who you were.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“That seems to be important to you.””
Richard shifted uncomfortably.
“Perhaps we should move to the private dining room,” he suggested.
“We can discuss the proposal there.””
Daniel looked at the businessman.
“Before we do, Mr. Hayes, I'd like to ask you something.””
“Of course.””
“Have you eaten here before?””
Richard blinked.
“I'm sorry?””
“At this restaurant. Have you visited before?””
“Once, several months ago. I attended a charity dinner here.””
“And how was the service?””
Richard looked toward Angela, who was quietly replacing the wet table linen.
“Excellent,” he answered.
“Everything was handled professionally.””
Daniel nodded.
“Good.””
Britney let out an impatient breath.
“Can we please stop making this into something bigger than it is? I'm sure Mr. Carter has better things to do than discuss a little accident.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“You're right. I do have better things to do.””
For one hopeful second, Britney's expression brightened.
Then he continued.
“But I also have responsibilities to the people who work here.””
Angela stopped folding the linen.
Daniel noticed.
“Angela, would you tell me exactly what you saw?””
Britney's head snapped around.
“Are you serious?””
Daniel didn't look away from Angela.
“Please.””
Angela took a breath.
“Mr. Carter was carrying a tray toward the service station. Ms.
Britney reached across the table for her phone, struck her wineglass, and knocked it over. He caught the glass before it fell. The wine landed on his shirt.””
Britney shook her head.
“That is not what happened.””
Angela remained composed.
“I was standing at the host station. I had a clear view.””
“You're protecting him because he owns the place.””
“No, ma'am. I'm explaining what I saw.””
Britney turned to Daniel.
“Are you really going to interrogate your own staff in front of customers?””
“I'm asking a question about an incident that happened in front of customers.””
“And what about customer satisfaction?””
“Customer satisfaction matters,” Daniel said.
“So does honesty.””
The words landed harder than Britney expected.
Richard slowly lowered his proposal.
He had spent years negotiating with investors, and he knew when a conversation was no longer about the subject originally placed on the table.
This was no longer about wine.
Daniel was deciding what kind of man he wanted to be in front of a woman who had shown him exactly what she thought of people she considered beneath her.
“Mr. Carter,” Richard said quietly, “I understand that this situation is uncomfortable. I hope it won't affect our meeting.””
Daniel turned to him.
“Why would it?””
Richard hesitated.
“Because the investment is important to us.””
“I understand that.””
“My employees are counting on this deal.””
“So are mine,” Daniel replied.
Richard nodded, though he wasn't sure what that meant.
Daniel gestured toward the private dining room.
“Let's review your proposal.””
Richard exhaled.
“Thank you.””
As the two men started toward the corridor, Britney suddenly stood.
“Daniel.””
He stopped.
It was the first time she had used his name without an accusation attached to it.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” she said.
Daniel waited.
Britney adjusted the strap of her handbag.
“I was having a difficult morning. I shouldn't have raised my voice.””
Angela looked down at the linen in her hands.
Richard watched Britney with a new kind of attention.
Daniel asked, “Is that an apology?””
Britney's cheeks colored.
“I'm trying to explain.””
“Then explain.””
She glanced at Richard, apparently hoping he would intervene.
He didn't.
“I was embarrassed,” Britney admitted.
“And I reacted badly.””
Daniel studied her for a moment.
“Thank you for acknowledging that.””
She seemed relieved.
Then he added, “But an apology doesn't erase what happened.””
Her relief disappeared.
“Of course not. I understand.””
“Do you?””
Britney's fingers tightened around her handbag.
“Yes.””
Daniel turned away.
Richard followed him toward the private dining room, carrying the proposal with both hands.
As they passed the host station, Richard leaned closer.
“Mr. Carter, may I ask you something privately?””
“Go ahead.””
“Do you know Britney?””
Daniel stopped beside a tall window overlooking the street.
“No. Should I?””
Richard's expression changed.
“I thought perhaps you did.””
“Why?””
Richard looked down at the folder.
For several seconds, he appeared to reconsider saying anything at all.
Then he opened the proposal to a page near the back.
“Because she attended one of our preliminary meetings.””
Daniel glanced at the document.
“What kind of meeting?””
“An introductory meeting with a potential private partner. Someone who claimed she could connect us with a group of investors.””
“Did she represent herself as an investor?””
“Not exactly. She said she had access to people who could provide capital.””
Daniel's gaze sharpened.
“And did she?””
Richard shook his head.
“Not that we could verify.””
Daniel looked back toward the dining room.
Britney was seated again, staring at her phone. Her thumb moved rapidly across the screen.
“Was there a problem?”” he asked.
Richard lowered his voice.
“She requested a fee before arranging the introductions. When our legal team asked for documentation, she stopped responding.””
“How much?””
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.””
Daniel's expression remained controlled.
“Did your company pay her?””
“No. We refused.””
“Did she provide any actual introductions?””
“One name. She claimed the person was connected to a major investment group, but the contact information led nowhere.””
Daniel said nothing.
Richard closed the folder.
“I don't want to make accusations without evidence. We simply decided not to proceed.””
“That's sensible.””
Richard looked troubled.
“Mr. Carter, if this has any connection to your decision about our proposal, I want you to know that I don't employ her, and I never authorized her to represent us.””
“I understand.””
Daniel entered the private dining room and took a seat at the head of the table.
Richard placed the proposal in front of him.
For the next twenty minutes, they discussed projected revenue, debt obligations, property valuations, and the terms of a possible investment.
Daniel asked difficult questions.
Richard answered them carefully.
By the time the meeting ended, the businessman looked exhausted but cautiously hopeful.
“I know the numbers aren't perfect,” Richard admitted.
“But the projects are sound. We have good people. We need capital and enough time to finish what we've started.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“I can see the potential.””
Richard's shoulders relaxed.
“Does that mean—”
“It means I'll review everything with my team. I don't make commitments simply because a situation is urgent.””
“Of course.””
Daniel stood and extended his hand.
“I'll contact you after the review.””
Richard shook it.
“Thank you for hearing me out.””
After Richard left, Daniel returned to the dining room.
Britney was still there.
Her phone lay faceup beside her handbag. She had ordered a fresh glass of wine, but she hadn't touched it.
When Daniel approached, she stood immediately.
“Mr. Carter, may I speak with you?””
“About what?””
“About the misunderstanding earlier.””
“Angela already explained what happened.””
“I know. And I appreciate how professionally she handled it.””
Daniel waited.
Britney forced a small smile.
“I was hoping we could put this behind us.””
“That depends on what you mean by ‘this.’”
“The incident. The argument. Everything.””
Daniel glanced at the untouched wine.
“Why does it matter so much to you?””
She looked genuinely offended by the question.
“Because I don't want a small mistake to affect anyone's future.””
“Whose future are you worried about?””
Britney's smile faltered.
“Yours. Your staff's. Mine.””
“Mine?””
She nodded quickly.
“I have a business relationship with several people in the hospitality industry. I wouldn't want an unfortunate encounter to create problems.””
There it was again.
Not an apology offered freely, but a warning disguised as concern.
Daniel pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.
“Britney, do you know why I sometimes work on the restaurant floor?””
She shook her head.
“Because I want to know how people behave when they think nobody important is watching.””
Her eyes flickered.
“And what have you learned?”” she asked.
Daniel folded his hands on the table.
“That depends on what people do next.””
For the first time, Britney looked frightened.
Then her phone vibrated.
She glanced down at the screen.
Whatever she read drained the color from her face.
Daniel noticed the name displayed above the message.
Richard Hayes.
Britney quickly turned the phone facedown.
But Daniel had already seen the preview.
It contained seven words.
We need to talk about the documents.
May you like
And beneath the message was a second notification from an unfamiliar number.
*Your name has come up again. Call me immediately.*
