The ballroom’s grand doors opened with a gentle creak, and in walked Marcus Crane, my mentor and the CEO of Hayes Capital. He was impeccably dressed, his signature silver hair neatly combed back, exuding an aura of authority that silenced the whispers and halted the murmurs.
“Richard,” Marcus addressed my father with a calm yet commanding tone, “We need to talk about conduct.” His presence was an unexpected twist in the evening’s saga, one that shifted the focus away from familial theatrics to a more serious matter. Marcus had always been a significant figure in my life, guiding me through the complexities of business and personal growth with a firm yet supportive hand.
My father, taken aback, stammered, “Marcus, this is a family matter—”
