Silence rang louder than voices.
As Ruediger stepped into the room, declaring himself the very man Chairman Alvord and Vincent had all been desperate to meet, it was as if the tension thickened abruptly.
They were sucked dry of air and flooded instead with disbelief.
Chairman Alvord stood stiffly, his hands curled into fists beside him. Vincent's lips parted and his face turned pale.
As for George, he remained frozen, staring at Ruediger like a ghost had appeared in the flesh. He had heard and seen photos of the chairman's abandoned eldest son. He also learned that the crimson-haired man worked under his best friend, Nathaniel Faulkner.
But...
He was Mr. R?!
Nathaniel, calm and unfazed, swept his gaze across the room. There was a mockery on his curling lips. Then, he gestured toward the empty chairs on the side where Julian was seated.
"Shall we begin?" he said, ridicule glinting in his brown eyes, "We have an important meeting, no?"
