Eventually, they separated.
Adrian built his empire.
Thomas disappeared from his life.
Then Thomas died.
Adrian never saw him again.
At least, that's what he thought.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Adrian unfolded it.
His eyes moved across the first sentence.
"Adrian,
If you are reading this, my son has finally found you."
Adrian stopped.
He continued.
"I know you will be angry."
He looked up at Malik.
"Why would I be angry?"
Malik shrugged.
"I don't know."
Adrian read again.
"I need you to remember something."
"Before we became businessmen, we were friends."
Adrian's eyes became wet.
He kept reading.
"You once promised me that if anything happened to me, you would protect my family."
Adrian's breathing stopped.
He looked at Malik.
Malik said nothing.
Adrian continued.
"I know you forgot that promise."
The letter shook slightly in Adrian's hands.
"But I never did."
Adrian looked toward the water.
He couldn't continue.
"What happened?"
Malik asked.
Adrian folded the letter.
"Nothing."
Malik frowned.
"That's not true."
Adrian looked at him.
"Your father and I had problems."
"I know."
"You don't know everything."
"I know enough."
Adrian's voice became defensive.
"He made choices."
"So did you."
Adrian stared at him.
Malik continued.
"My father never blamed you."
Adrian looked away.
"That's not what I remember."
"What do you remember?"
Adrian was silent.
Then he said,
"I remember losing my best friend."
Malik nodded.
"So did he."
Adrian looked at him.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"Everyone wants something."
"I don't."
"Then why come?"
"Because my father told me to."
Adrian looked at the letter.
"What else did he say?"
Malik answered,
"He said if I ever came here, I should first watch how you treat people."
Adrian's face changed.
"What?"
"He said your business would tell me more about you than your words."
Adrian slowly looked around the marina.
Malik continued.
"He said if you were still the man he knew, I should trust you."
"And if I'm not?"
Malik looked directly into his eyes.
"Then I should walk away."
Adrian felt a chill.
He looked at the young man.
The expensive clothes.
The gold chains.
The confidence.
Suddenly they didn't bother him anymore.
He realized Malik hadn't come to impress anyone.
He had come to judge him.
The same way Adrian had judged him.
Adrian folded the letter.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Inside."
Malik smiled.
"I thought I didn't belong."
Adrian looked at him.
"I was wrong."
They walked toward the clubhouse.
People turned to watch.
Adrian opened the door.
Malik entered.
A waiter approached.
"Mr. Cole, your table is ready."
Adrian shook his head.
"Not today."
The waiter looked surprised.
Adrian pointed toward Malik.
"Set a table for two."
"Where?"
"By the water."
The waiter nodded.
As they walked, Adrian noticed something.
Several club members were whispering.
One man looked at Malik's clothes and laughed.