Nathan checked his phone… there was no messages from Sera, which meant she was fine. "Sure, I could eat."
They walked three blocks to an Italian place with outdoor seating. The afternoon sun was warm but not oppressive, and the street was busy with lunchtime crowds. They settled at a table under an umbrella, and Raymond ordered for both of them—apparently he was a regular.
"So," Raymond said once their drinks had arrived, "I have to ask. You appeared out of nowhere with significant wealth, making major purchases without hesitation. Most of my wealthy clients inherited money or built businesses over decades. You're clearly neither. What's your story?"
Nathan had known this question would come eventually. He'd prepared an answer that was true enough without revealing too much. "I had some
