Chapter 5
On Monday afternoon, Charlotte Lane arrived at Starlight Jewelry Group.
The receptionist recognized her. "Ms. Lane, Mr. Cooper is waiting for you on the 38th floor."
The investment department was on the 38th floor.
Ethan Cooper's office wasn't spacious, but it was very neat. Abstract art hung on the walls, and the shelves were packed with books on business and design.
He got up to pour her some water.
"Have a seat. I've reviewed your revisions, and most of them are fine." He flipped to the third page of the contract. "You want 8% as your share, but the best the group can offer is 6%."
"7%."
"6.5%."
"Deal."
Ethan smiled and extended his hand. "Deal."
Charlotte shook his hand.
"One more thing." Ethan put the contract away. "Mr. Lane wanted me to ask if you'd be available to meet him today."
"The founder of Starlight Jewelry Group?"
"Yes. He's on the 46th floor today."
Charlotte thought for a moment. "Sure."
On the 46th floor, there was the chairman's office.
As the door swung open, Charlotte spotted the elderly man standing by the window, facing away from her.
There was a photo on the desk, in which a young woman cradled a baby, her smile tender and warm.
The old man turned around.
"Have a seat."
Charlotte sat down on the sofa, and the old man took the chair opposite her, his back still perfectly straight.
"My name is Richard Lane."
"I know, Mr. Lane."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-eight."
"Where are you from?"
"I... I'm an orphan. I grew up in an orphanage in Harbor City."
Richard's hand paused mid-air as he held his cup.
"Harbor City," he repeated.
"Yeah. I was adopted when I was three, but my adoptive parents died in a car accident when I was sixteen. After that, I was on my own."
"May I see the silver pendant around your neck?" Richard asked.
Charlotte hesitated for a moment, then lifted the chain from around her neck, and handed the pendant to him.
The worn silver carried an intricate engraved design on the front, and on the back was the faint lettering of a single word, Lane.
Richard took it, and his fingers gently traced the character for "Lane."
His hand was trembling slightly.
"How did you come by this?" Richard asked.
"The orphanage said it came with me when I was sent there. There was nothing else," Charlotte said.
Richard passed it back to her gently and settled into his chair. For a long while, he said nothing at all.
"Charlotte, was your name given by the orphanage, or by your adoptive parents?" Richard asked.
"The orphanage. They said there was a note pinned to me when I arrived, with 'Charlotte' written on it," she said.
Richard closed his eyes for a moment.
"I see," he said. "Do a good job with the design contract. If you need anything, reach out to Ethan directly."
Charlotte could tell he wanted to say something more, but he didn't.
She stood up to leave.
As she reached the door, Richard said quietly from behind her, "Charlotte is a good name."
She looked back at him.
He sat by the window, sunlight falling across his face, and for a moment, she thought his eyes were rimmed with red.
After stepping out of Starlight Tower, Charlotte hopped into a taxi, and her phone started ringing.
It was an unknown number.
"Charlotte? It's Grace Ford."
Charlotte leaned back in the taxi seat, watching the buildings flash by outside the window.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"Let's meet up. Some things are better said face-to-face between women," Grace said.
"What do you want to talk about?" Charlotte asked.
"It's about David." Grace's voice came through the line carrying that familiar smugness Charlotte recognized, the pretense of innocence stretched thin over something unmistakably gloating. "There are some things you really ought to know."
"Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. I'll text you where to meet," Charlotte said and then hung up.
She sent Emily a message.
Charlotte: [Grace wants to meet up.]
Emily: [I'll go with you.]
Charlotte: [No, I'll go alone.]
Emily: [You're seven months pregnant.]
Charlotte: [I just need to sit there. No action needed.]