Adrian stopped.
"Something funny?"
The man shook his head.
"No, sir."
Adrian stared at him.
"Then don't."
The man lowered his eyes.
Malik looked at Adrian.
Adrian said quietly,
"I owe you an apology."
"For what?"
"Earlier."
Malik smiled.
"You don't have to."
"I do."
Malik looked at him.
"Then apologize."
Adrian nodded.
"I'm sorry."
"For?"
"For deciding who you were before I knew you."
Malik nodded.
"Thank you."
They sat near the water.
The waiter brought coffee.
For several minutes, neither man spoke.
Then Adrian asked,
"What did your father tell you about me?"
Malik smiled.
"Too much."
"Like what?"
"He said you were stubborn."
Adrian laughed.
"He wasn't wrong."
"He said you were brilliant."
Adrian smiled.
"He was probably wrong about that."
Malik shook his head.
"He said you could see opportunities other people couldn't."
Adrian looked at the water.
"And?"
"He said your biggest weakness was that once you believed you were right, you stopped listening."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"That sounds like him."
Malik leaned back.
"Was he right?"
Adrian didn't answer.
"Yes," he finally said.
The conversation continued for hours.
Malik told Adrian about his childhood.
His mother.
His father's workshop.
The boats they built together.
The stories Thomas told about the early years.
Adrian listened.
For the first time in fourteen years, he heard his friend's voice through someone else.
It hurt.
But it also felt good.
Then Malik asked a question.
"Why did you two stop speaking?"
Adrian looked down.
"Because I wanted to sell the company."
"Why?"
"Money."
Malik nodded.
"And your father?"
"He refused."
"Why?"
"He thought it would destroy what we built."
"Did it?"
Adrian looked around the yacht club.
"Maybe."
Malik waited.
Adrian continued.
"I sold my share."
"To whom?"
"An investment group."
Malik's expression changed.
"Which group?"
Adrian told him.
Malik went silent.
"Why?"
"Because that name was in my father's records."
Adrian frowned.
"What records?"
"The same people who bought our company."
Adrian's face changed.
"What are you saying?"
Malik pulled out his phone.
He showed Adrian several documents.
Adrian studied them.
The company that had bought his share years ago had later purchased several marine technology firms.
Including one owned by Thomas.
Adrian stared.
"Thomas never told me."
"Because he discovered something."
"What?"
"Someone had been stealing his patents."
Adrian looked at Malik.
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Then why bring this to me?"
"Because my father believed you knew."
Adrian stood.
"I didn't."
Malik remained seated.
"I believe you."
"Then why—"
"Because you were there."
Adrian froze.
"Where?"
"When the first patent disappeared."
Adrian remembered.
A meeting.
A document.
A signature.
A man named Victor Crane.
One of the investors.
Adrian's face went pale.
"Victor."
Malik nodded.
"You know him."
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
"Dead."
"How long?"
"Ten years."
Malik looked at him.
"Convenient."
Adrian sat down.
"You think he stole the patents?"
"My father thought so."