“Check the appointment.”
Adrian said nothing.
The young associate moved toward the tablet.
Adrian snapped:
“Don't.”
That one word changed everything.
Everyone heard.
The associate stopped.
Marcus stared from the floor.
There it was.
Not uncertainty.
Not confusion.
Refusal.
The associate looked toward him.
Then ignored Adrian.
He walked to the tablet.
Adrian stepped forward.
“I said leave it.”
The young man’s hand reached the screen.
Adrian grabbed his wrist.
“Do not access executive records without authorization.”
A woman’s voice came from the rear.
“What the hell is happening?”
Everyone turned.
Richard Ellison walked into the showroom.
Sixty-three.
Silver hair.
Dark suit.
No tie.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
Richard stopped.
He saw the officers.
Then the crowd.
Then Marcus on the floor.
Everything drained from his face.
For a moment, he simply stared.
“Marcus?”
The room went silent.
The officer holding Marcus’s arm looked up.
Richard moved forward.
Fast.
“What are you doing?”
Adrian stepped between them.
“Mr. Ellison, we had an unauthorized—”
Richard pushed past him.
Not violently.
Enough.
He crouched near Marcus.
“Marcus.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Morning, Richard.”
Richard’s face tightened.
“Get off him.”
The first officer frowned.
“Sir, step back.”
Richard stood.
“He is my guest.”
“We're conducting—”
“You are restraining a private client who has an appointment with me.”
The officer looked toward Adrian.
Adrian’s mouth opened.
Nothing.
Richard pointed toward Marcus.
“Release him.”
The bald officer asked:
“Can you confirm his identity?”
Richard stared at him.
“Yes.”
“I invited him.”
The officer slowly lifted his knee.
The other loosened Marcus’s arm.
Marcus rolled onto one side.
Then sat up.
Pain radiated from his knee.
His cardigan had twisted around his shoulder.
One sleeve pulled high.
His chain hung crooked.
He looked toward his phone.
Screen cracked.
Richard saw.
Then looked at Adrian.
“What did you tell them?”
Adrian swallowed.
“He was in the private collection area.”
“Yes.”
“He was supposed to be.”
Adrian’s face changed.
“I didn't have him on my schedule.”
Richard walked toward the tablet.
“Move.”
The associate stepped aside.
Richard tapped the executive schedule.
Entered his code.
The screen opened.
Top appointment.
10:10.
MARCUS HALE
Richard stared.
Then opened details.
His jaw tightened.
He turned the tablet toward Adrian.
The manager read.
CONFIDENTIAL ACQUISITION REVIEW