speaking to me after a very public disagreement eighteen months earlier.

Adrian had repeated that story so often that many executives now believed I was simply the chairman’s estranged daughter clinging to her husband’s growing career.

What Adrian never understood was that the disagreement had been planned.

Dad and I had discovered financial inconsistencies inside Adrian’s division.

But Adrian was one of the company’s most celebrated executives, and removing him without clear evidence could have created enormous problems for the board.

So I stepped away from several company responsibilities.

Dad publicly distanced himself from me.

And Adrian became increasingly confident.

I looked toward the curtains beside the stage.

“Dad,” I said quietly, knowing Adrian’s microphone would still pick it up. “It’s time.”

The curtains opened.

Nathaniel Grant walked into the ballroom carrying a red leather folder.

Adrian’s smile disappeared instantly.

Dad didn’t address Adrian first.

He walked down the steps,