"Would you care for something to drink, sir?"
"Sparkling water, please."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing stronger?"
"Not tonight."
"Of course."
She exchanged a glance with Ethan.
The dinner began with harmless conversation about the weather, the city's property market, and the company's upcoming investor presentation.
Then Victoria leaned forward.
"Mr. Cole, I wanted to discuss the tone of this morning's meeting."
Adrian set down his glass.
"What about it?"
"You placed the acquisition team in an unnecessarily difficult position."
"I identified discrepancies in the valuation."
"You questioned months of work in front of the board."
"That was the purpose of the review."
Victoria smiled without warmth.
"You're very literal."
"I find it useful in business."
Ethan joined the conversation.
"Perhaps we can be more constructive. Your concerns are understood, but the company cannot delay every major decision because an outside adviser has reservations."
"Agreed," Adrian said. "Which is why I recommended a defined review period rather than an indefinite delay."
"And if the review confirms the original valuation?"
"Then the board can proceed with greater confidence."
Victoria leaned back.
"You make it sound very simple."
"It should be."
One of the executives, a man named Peter Lang, laughed.
"That's what people say when they've never had to run a company."
Adrian looked at him.
"Have you run one?"
Peter's smile faltered.
"I oversee regional operations."
"Then you know the cost of an incorrect acquisition."
Peter looked toward Victoria.
She ignored him.
"Let's speak plainly," she said. "What exactly do you want from Whitmore International?"
"The truth about its financial position."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing else."
"Not a consulting contract? Not a board seat? Not an opportunity to increase your influence?"
Adrian shook his head.
"I didn't come here to ask for a position."
"Then why come at all?"
For a moment, Adrian considered telling her everything.
He could have explained his father's company, the bankruptcy, and the twelve years he had spent tracing the events that destroyed it.
Instead, he asked a question.
"Do you remember Cole Manufacturing?"
Victoria's fingers stopped moving.
Only for an instant.
Then she lifted her glass.
"That was a long time ago."
"Yes."
"I remember the name."
"Do you remember the acquisition negotiations?"
Victoria smiled.
"Whitmore reviewed hundreds of companies during that period. I couldn't possibly remember every detail."
"Of course."
Ethan watched Adrian carefully.
"Why bring up an old transaction?"
"Because history tends to repeat itself when people refuse to learn from it."
Victoria placed her glass down.
"Are you accusing someone at this table of misconduct?"
"No."
"Then perhaps we should discuss the matter at hand."
Adrian nodded.
"Certainly."
The main course arrived.
For several minutes, the conversation moved to other subjects.
Then Peter Lang glanced at Adrian's suit.
"Forgive me for asking, but do you always dress so casually for meetings with senior executives?"
Adrian looked down at his jacket.
"Is this casual?"
Peter laughed.
"Compared with what most people wear here, yes."
Victoria joined in.
"I suppose Mr. Cole believes a man should be judged by his intelligence rather than his wardrobe."
"Is that unreasonable?" Sophia's voice came from behind them.
Everyone turned.
She stood beside the table, holding a folder.
Victoria's expression darkened.
"Sophia. I wasn't aware you were joining us."
"I'm not. I was asked to deliver the revised Northstar documents to Mr. Blackwood."
Ethan extended his hand.
"I can take those."
Sophia hesitated.
"The instructions specify that Mr. Cole should receive the review copy."
Victoria laughed softly.
"How convenient."
Sophia ignored her and placed the folder beside Adrian.
"These include the corrected liability schedule and the independent technical assessment."
Adrian opened the folder.
"Thank you."
Sophia nodded.
Then she looked directly at Peter.
"For what it's worth, the most expensive suit in this room wouldn't make an inaccurate valuation any more reliable."
Silence fell across the table.
Peter's face turned red.
Victoria stood.
"That is enough."
Sophia remained calm.
"I apologize if my comment was inappropriate."
"It was."
"Then I'll leave."
She turned toward Adrian.
"Good evening, Mr. Cole."
"Good evening, Sophia."
After she departed, Victoria slowly sat down.
"Your colleague appears to have misunderstood the purpose of professional courtesy."
Adrian closed the folder.
"No. I think she understood it perfectly."
Ethan's smile vanished.
Victoria looked at Adrian with open hostility.
"Let me offer you some advice. People who challenge established authority rarely last long in organizations like this."
Adrian stood and placed his napkin beside his plate.
"Then perhaps the organization should examine why it finds honest questions so threatening."
He reached for his jacket.
"Thank you for dinner."
Victoria stared at him.
"You're leaving?"
"I believe the discussion has reached its conclusion."
He walked toward the exit without waiting for a response.
Outside, the air was cold.
Adrian stood beneath the restaurant's awning and called Daniel.
"How was dinner?" Daniel asked.
"Informative."
"Did they insult the suit?"
"Several times."
"Excellent. People reveal more when they think they're superior."
Adrian looked through the window.