"You'll know soon."
The call ended.
Victor stared at the phone.
Then it rang again.
This time it was his attorney.
"Victor."
"What?"
"Where are you?"
"Luxe."
"You need to leave."
Victor frowned.
"Why?"
"Because something has happened."
"What?"
"Your board is meeting tonight."
Victor laughed.
"My board?"
"Yes."
"At nine-thirty?"
"They called an emergency meeting."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Why?"
His attorney hesitated.
"They're voting."
"On what?"
"Your removal."
Victor stared.
"That's impossible."
"It isn't."
"Who called the meeting?"
Silence.
"Tell me."
"Marcus Reed."
Victor's face went pale.
"No."
"Yes."
"That's impossible."
"Victor..."
"He's nobody."
His attorney sighed.
"That's where you're wrong."
Victor looked toward the entrance.
The rain had stopped.
Marcus was gone.
"Who is he?"
The attorney answered quietly.
"The majority shareholder."
Victor felt the ground shift beneath him.
"Of what?"
"Of Luxe."
Victor stared at the building.
"That's impossible."
"His father owned forty-seven percent."
Victor's breathing changed.
"His father died."
"Yes."
"Five years ago."
"Correct."
"His shares were transferred."
"To Marcus."
Victor sat down.
His mind raced.
He remembered the young man's face.
The leather jacket.
The boots.
The calm voice.
The sentence.
You decide based on clothing.
Victor suddenly understood.
Marcus had not been trying to get inside.
He had been inspecting the place.
His attorney continued.
"And Victor..."
"What?"
"He owns the debt."
"What debt?"
"The one you used to expand."
Victor's face went white.
"That's not possible."
"It is."
"How?"
"His father bought the notes years ago."
Victor stood.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"They didn't know he was coming tonight."
Victor looked toward the entrance.
"What does he want?"
The attorney was silent.
"Tell me."
"I think he wants you to learn a lesson."
Victor hung up.
He immediately called security.
"Find Marcus."
"Where?"
"Everywhere."
"Why?"
"Just find him."
The guard looked confused.
Victor walked outside.
Rainwater covered the pavement.
The city lights reflected in the street.
He looked down the block.
No sign of Marcus.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message.
One sentence.
"You were right. I don't belong there."
Victor stared.
Another message arrived.
"Neither do you."
Victor felt anger rise.
He called the number.