He looked toward Grant only once.
It was enough.
At nine fifteen, the charity portion of the program began.
Children’s hospitals.
Housing initiatives.
Scholarships.
Nearly twenty million dollars was pledged.
Grant barely listened.
He kept watching the staircase.
Everyone did.
The museum’s grand staircase descended from a private mezzanine reserved for trustees and major donors.
Rumors circulated.
The Bellamy chairwoman had arrived.
No one knew where.
No one knew what she looked like now.
Grant checked his speech.
He would speak first.
He would announce Holloway Meridian’s future expansion and describe Bellamy as a “strategic long-term partner.”
Then the chairwoman would appear.
Then, Grant believed, she would publicly confirm financing.
At nine thirty-two, the master of ceremonies stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our next guest leads one of the most influential private investment groups in the United States.”
Grant straightened.
Delaney touched his arm.
The emcee smiled.
