He drove her to school, walked her to the door, kissed the top of her head. "Good day," he said. "Good day, Daddy," she said, then over her shoulder as she went in. The note to Olivia is on the kitchen counter. He stopped the what, but she was already inside.
He went home before heading to the site. On the kitchen counter was paper with Olivia written on the front in Amara's careful 8-year-old handwriting. He stood there for a long moment debating whether to look. He looked inside. It said, "Thank you for trying to cook dinner.
It was really good, except the part that was a little burned. My daddy says that's how you learn. He says almost everything that's worth knowing how to do, you have to burn first. I think you are very smart and I like talking to you. Amara Carter, age 8.
Marcus read it three times. He folded it back up. He put it in his jacket pocket next to his heart without fully examining why he put it there instead of somewhere else. He drove to the site. He worked.
And he did not say anything to Deshawn about what was in either pocket. Wednesday morning, Marcus put on the shirt he wore when he wanted to look like he meant business without looking like he was trying to. He drove the truck to downtown Atlanta and parked two blocks from the building because downtown parking was its own economy and he wasn't interested in paying for it. Richard's office was on the 14th floor. The lobby was the kind that communicated money through restraint.
Nothing flashy. Just quality, the kind that had been there long enough to stop needing to prove anything. The receptionist brought Marcus coffee, black. He noticed she didn't ask. Richard came out to get him personally, which was the kind of detail that meant something to Marcus because he noticed those kinds of details.
They shook hands and went in, and Richard closed the door behind them, and they sat at the table, not the massive formal conference table, but a smaller one to the side. More like two people having a conversation than a meeting. How are you, Marcus? Richard said first. Honest answer or social answer?
Richard smiled. You know which one I want. 60 Days, Marcus said. Maybe 65. It's moved from 60 to 90 to 60.
Coastal took another client. I was expecting. He said it flat. Without self-pity, just the information. Deshaawn's still in.
Tommy's still in. But I can see the edge from here. Richard nodded slowly. I want to offer you something, he said. And before you respond, I want you to hear all of it.
Because your instinct will be to refuse, and I need you to get past that instinct and actually listen. Marcus looked at him. I'm listening. I want to invest in Carter Restoration, not a loan equity. I'd take a minor stake.