“The council that controls Hawthorne’s restructuring fund.”
Still nothing.
He lowered his voice.
“The fund backing our refinancing.”
For the first time, Adrienne stopped looking confident.
Halden Urban Resorts had expanded too aggressively during the previous three years.
Two hotel renovations had gone over budget.
A waterfront development had stalled.
Interest expenses had climbed.
Publicly, the company remained glamorous.
Privately, it needed new financing.
Hawthorne Stewardship had been expected to provide it.
Adrienne knew that much.
Marcus had talked about the deal constantly.
She just hadn’t known the names of the people behind it.
“He’s that Noah Quinn?” she whispered.
Marcus stared at her.
“There is only one Noah Quinn at Hawthorne.”
Adrienne looked at Lena.
Then at Noah.
Then back at Marcus.
“But she said he worked in investment governance.”
Noah heard her.
“I do.”
The answer was so simple that a few guests looked away to hide their expressions.
Adrienne’s cheeks burned.
Marcus stepped closer to Noah.
“I didn’t realize you were coming tonight.”
“I was invited.”
“Of course. I meant—”
Marcus stopped himself.
For the first time that evening, someone else seemed to control the room.
Noah didn’t appear interested in doing so.
He pulled out the empty chair beside Lena.
Then he looked at her again.
“What happened?”
Lena shook her head.
“Not here.”
Adrienne suddenly moved toward them.
“Noah.”
He turned.
Her entire manner had changed.
The playful cruelty had vanished.
Her voice was gentle now.
Almost warm.
“I hope you know I was just teasing Lena.”
Noah said nothing.
“You know how sisters are.”
Still nothing.
Adrienne forced a laugh.
“Families joke.”
Lena looked at her in disbelief.
Ten minutes earlier, Adrienne had wanted the entire room to hear her.
Now she seemed desperate to make the room forget.
Adrienne continued.
“I certainly didn’t mean any disrespect.”
Noah finally spoke.
“You weren’t talking to me.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You weren’t humiliating me.”
His gaze moved toward Lena.
“You were humiliating your sister.”
Adrienne’s face stiffened.
“So why are you apologizing to me?”
Nobody moved.
Adrienne opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Noah’s voice remained calm.
“If Marcus hadn’t recognized me, would you be apologizing right now?”
Adrienne looked at Marcus for help.
He offered none.
“That’s not fair.”
“It was a question.”
“I said I was joking.”
Lena stood.
“No.”
Adrienne turned toward her.
Lena’s voice shook slightly, but she continued.
“You always call it a joke afterward.”
“Lena—”
“When I was sixteen and you told everyone at dinner that my dress came from a thrift store, it was a joke.”
Adrienne looked around the room.
“This isn’t the place.”
Lena almost laughed.
“You chose the place.”
Adrienne went silent.
“When I got my first job and you asked whether I needed you to lend me ‘real adult money,’ that was a joke.”
“Lena, please.”
“When I bought my apartment, you told people it was adorable that I was proud of something so small.”
Their mother stared at the table.
Several relatives looked uncomfortable.
Not because the accusations were surprising.
Because they remembered them.
“You’ve spent years making me the cheapest thing in every room,” Lena said. “And whenever I objected, you told me I couldn’t take a joke.”
Adrienne’s eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know you felt like that.”
Lena nodded slowly.
“That might be the worst part.”
Marcus’s father, Richard Halden, appeared beside the table.
He was a broad man in his sixties who rarely looked uncertain.
Tonight he did.
“Mr. Quinn,” he said, “perhaps we could speak privately.”
Noah glanced at him.
“About what?”
Richard hesitated.
“The Hawthorne financing.”
Noah’s expression cooled.
“My wife is talking to her sister.”
“I understand. But considering the circumstances—”
“The circumstances are unrelated.”
Richard frowned.
“I’m not sure I follow.”
Noah looked directly at him.
“My marriage is not part of Hawthorne’s due diligence.”
A murmur moved through the room.
Marcus’s father lowered his voice.
“We’ve been told the investment committee delayed its vote.”
“Correct.”
“Can I ask why?”
Noah was silent for a moment.
Then he pulled out his chair but remained standing.
“You can ask.”
Richard waited.
“The answer is employee claims, safety records, and accounting discrepancies.”
Marcus stiffened.
His father stared at Noah.
“What accounting discrepancies?”
“That would be a question for your finance team.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“There’s been a misunderstanding.”
Noah looked at him.
“Three maintenance contractors submitted identical inspection reports for properties in different states.”