Instead, he saved the number and sent it to Daniel.
For the first time in twelve years, the people connected to his father's downfall were responding to his investigation.
That meant he was getting closer.
It also meant somebody was watching him.
At 8:40 a.m., Adrian entered Whitmore International through the main lobby.
The reception staff greeted him politely. Olivia Grant, the receptionist who had witnessed Victoria's humiliation the previous day, rose from her desk.
"Good morning, Mr. Cole."
"Good morning, Olivia."
She glanced toward the elevators.
"Mr. Whitmore asked whether you could meet him before the board session."
"I'll go straight to his office."
Olivia hesitated.
"There is something else."
Adrian waited.
"Yesterday, after you left, Ms. Hayes asked me to send her a copy of your visitor records."
"Did she explain why?"
"She said it was a routine security check."
"And did you send them?"
"No. I asked the security director to verify the request first."
Adrian nodded.
"That was sensible."
Olivia looked relieved.
"I wasn't sure whether I should tell you."
"You did the right thing."
He continued toward the elevators.
Richard Whitmore's office occupied the top floor of the building. Unlike the extravagant conference rooms below, it was decorated with old photographs, framed architectural drawings, and shelves of books that appeared to have been read rather than displayed.
Richard stood beside the window when Adrian entered.
"You look as though someone has threatened you."
"Someone has."
The chairman turned.
"What?"
Adrian showed him the message.
Richard read it carefully.
"Who sent this?"
"I don't know yet."
"Have you reported it to security?"
"Not yet. I wanted to understand whether it was connected to the company."
Richard returned the phone.
"It may be. Or someone may be attempting to frighten you into making a mistake."
"Either way, I intend to continue."
Richard studied him for a moment.
"That sounds very much like Thomas."
Adrian's expression softened.
"You knew my father well?"
"Better than you might think."
"Then perhaps you can explain why Whitmore International was involved in the collapse of his company."
Richard's face changed.
He walked back to his desk and slowly sat down.
"I was hoping we could discuss that when the time was right."
"The time was twelve years ago."
"I know."
"My father lost everything. Four thousand people lost their jobs. And someone inside this organization knew the accusations against him were false."
Richard lowered his eyes.
"I won't pretend otherwise."
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
For twelve years, he had imagined what it would feel like to hear a senior Whitmore executive acknowledge that his father's company had been destroyed unfairly.
He had expected anger.
He had expected denial.
He had not expected Richard Whitmore to look ashamed.
"Then tell me what happened," Adrian said.
Richard folded his hands.
"There are things I know, and there are things I only suspected. I cannot give you a complete account until I have verified the documents."
"Who was responsible?"
"I don't know the full extent of the conspiracy."
"Was Ethan Blackwood involved?"
Richard looked up sharply.
"Why do you ask about Ethan?"
"Because his private investment network appears connected to the company advising us on Northstar."
Richard was silent.
Then he said, "Ethan was a junior analyst when your father's company collapsed. He was not in a position to make the final decisions."
"That doesn't mean he wasn't involved."
"No. It doesn't."
Adrian leaned forward.
"Richard, I need you to understand something. I'm not here to protect Whitmore International's reputation. I'm here because the truth has been hidden for twelve years."
Richard nodded slowly.
"Then we will find it."
He opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"I want you to read this."
Adrian accepted it.
Inside was a copy of an internal memo dated three days before the bankruptcy filing.
The first page contained a recommendation to suspend all negotiations with Cole Manufacturing.
The second page contained a handwritten note.
Proceed with the risk disclosure. The board must not learn that the original report was altered.
There was no signature.
But the initials at the bottom were unmistakable.
V.H.
Adrian looked up.
"Victoria Hayes."
Richard nodded.
"She was working in corporate strategy at the time."
"And you kept this?"
"I found it during an internal records review several years later. I should have investigated it immediately."
"Why didn't you?"
Richard stared at the paper.
"Because by then, the company was involved in several major transactions, and I was told the memo referred to a routine dispute over valuation assumptions. I accepted that explanation without examining the evidence."
Adrian felt a wave of anger rise inside him.
"My father died believing nobody had been willing to listen."
Richard did not defend himself.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Adrian placed the memo on the desk.
"You can spend the rest of your life regretting what happened. That won't bring my father back, and it won't restore the years his employees lost. What matters now is whether you're willing to expose the people who did it."