Chapter 2 - The Name Worth Six Billion Dollars
Brian Walker had expected a criminal.
A fugitive.
Maybe a married man hiding from another family.
He had not expected Adam Collins.
He sat inside his truck staring at the photograph sent by the investigator.
Same jaw.
Same eyes.
Same small scar near the left eyebrow.
But the photograph online showed a different man.
Custom tuxedo.
Private gala.
A woman on his arm.
Behind him, the Collins Global logo covered an entire wall.
Estimated net worth: $6.2 billion.
Brian whispered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The investigator continued.
“Founder and executive chairman of Collins Global. Technology, investments, property. His office has apparently told reporters he’s taking private time.”
Brian looked through the windshield.
Across the field, Adam walked beside Emma.
Their shoulders nearly touched.
“Why would he be here?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
Brian’s anger became something colder.
He had spent five years trying to convince Emma that marrying him would give her security.
Adam Collins could buy Mill Creek.
The entire town.
Probably the county.
Yet he was pretending to be homeless.
Why?
Then Brian understood.
Emma.
He smiled again.
Not because Adam was rich.
Because Adam was lying.
And Emma hated lies.
The next morning Adam woke before sunrise.
He smelled coffee.
When he entered the kitchen, George was sitting at the table.
“You sleep?”
“Better than I used to.”
George pushed a mug toward him.
“City?”
Adam froze.
“What?”
“You’re from one.”
“Yes.”
“I figured.”
“How?”
“You hold a hammer like it insulted you personally.”
Adam smiled.
George did not.
“What happened?”
Adam stared into the coffee.
“I spent too long around people who wanted things from me.”
“Money?”
Adam looked up.
George shrugged.
“You don’t have to be rich to be used.”
The words hit closer than George knew.
Adam asked, “How did you know Emma’s mother loved you?”
George leaned back.
“I didn’t.”
Adam frowned.
“Not at first.”
George looked toward the hallway where a framed photograph of his late wife hung.
“Love isn’t something you know because somebody says the words once. You know because they keep choosing you after life stops being convenient.”
Adam thought about Vanessa.
Then Emma.
“What if you made a mistake before they had the chance?”
“Then you tell the truth.”
“What if it costs you them?”
George’s expression became serious.
“The longer you wait, the more expensive the truth gets.”
Adam swallowed.
Everyone in this house seemed determined to tell him exactly what he did not want to hear.
At the market, Emma handed him a crate of tomatoes.
“You’re distracted.”
“I’m thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
“Emma.”
She smiled.
“Yes?”
Adam stared at her.
He could tell her now.
He should.
My name is Adam Collins.
I own Collins Global.
I have more money than you could spend in several lifetimes.
I came here pretending to have nothing because I wanted to see whether kindness existed without money.
I used your goodness as evidence in an experiment you never agreed to join.
The confession formed perfectly.
Then a customer approached.
“Emma, you got any sweet corn?”
The moment disappeared.
Adam hated himself for being relieved.
At noon, Brian returned.
No roses.
No polished smile.
Just a folder beneath his arm.
Emma sighed.
“Brian.”
“I owe you an apology.”
That surprised everyone.
George looked over.
“For what?”
“For pushing.”
Emma crossed her arms.
“And?”
“And judging your choices.”
Brian looked directly at Adam.
Adam felt something shift.
Brian knew.
He did not know how.
But he knew.
Brian smiled.
“I realized I may not have had all the information.”
Adam’s stomach tightened.
Emma said, “What information?”
Brian glanced at the customers nearby.
“Nothing that needs discussing here.”
Adam stepped forward.
“Then leave.”
Brian’s smile widened.
“That sounded almost like an order.”
“Consider it a suggestion.”
“Funny.”
Brian tapped the folder against his palm.
“You sound different when you’re angry.”
Emma looked between them.
“What is going on?”
“Ask Adam.”
Adam felt the air leave his lungs.
Brian walked away.
Emma turned immediately.
“What did he mean?”
“I don’t know.”
She studied his face.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
“You are.”
Adam lowered his voice.
“Emma, I need to tell you something tonight.”
“Why not now?”
“Because you deserve the whole explanation.”
Her expression changed.
Not angry.
Worried.
“Is someone looking for you?”
“No.”
“Are you married?”
“No.”
“Did you commit a crime?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Tonight.”
She stared at him for several seconds.
“All right.”
Adam spent the afternoon preparing.
Not words.
Evidence.
He needed Daniel.
That was the one problem.
His phone was still in Manhattan.
At closing time, he borrowed George’s ancient desktop computer.
Internet access took nearly a full minute.
Adam logged into a private Collins Global account.
Three security warnings appeared.
Then twenty-seven messages from Daniel.
ADAM, CALL ME.
WHERE ARE YOU?
THIS HAS STOPPED BEING FUNNY.
YOUR BOARD THINKS YOU ARE HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
VANESSA HAS CONTACTED THE PRESS.
CALL ME BEFORE I HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.
Adam almost smiled.
Then he saw the newest message.
Sent seven minutes earlier.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM. SOMEONE RAN FACIAL RECOGNITION ON YOUR PHOTO IN MILL CREEK. I’M COMING.
Adam closed his eyes.
Too late.
Emma entered the room.
“What are you doing?”
Adam closed the browser.
“Checking something.”
“On Dad’s computer?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes moved toward the screen.
“Who is Daniel?”
Adam froze.
A notification had appeared.
DANIEL REED — COLLINS GLOBAL.
Emma read the company name.
“Collins Global?”
Adam stood.
“Emma.”
She laughed uncertainly.
“The giant company?”
“Yes.”
“Why are they emailing you?”
Before Adam could answer, headlights filled the front windows.
A black SUV entered the Parker driveway.
Then another.
Then a third.
George appeared from the kitchen.
“What in God’s name?”
Doors opened.
Men in dark suits stepped out.
Emma backed away.
One walked toward the porch carrying a garment bag.
Daniel Reed followed.
His suit probably cost more than the Parker truck.
Adam closed his eyes.
Daniel opened the front door without knocking.
He saw Adam.
Relief crossed his face.
Then anger.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve put us through?”
Emma looked at Adam.
Then Daniel.
“Who are you?”
Daniel stopped.
Adam whispered, “Daniel, don’t.”
But the assistant was already speaking.
“I’m Daniel Reed.”
He looked at Emma.
“Mr. Collins’s executive assistant.”
Silence.
Emma’s eyes slowly returned to Adam.
“Mr. Collins?”
Daniel’s face fell.
He finally understood.
Emma stepped backward.
“No.”
Adam moved toward her.
“Emma—”
She shook her head.
Brian’s truck pulled into the driveway.
He stepped out holding the same folder.
“You should probably let her see this too.”
He threw it onto the porch.
Photographs spilled across the boards.
Adam at corporate events.
Adam beside private aircraft.
Adam with presidents, celebrities, investors.
Adam on the cover of Forbes.
Emma stared down at them.
Then at the man she had fed because she believed he could not afford lunch.
Her voice was barely audible.
“Who are you?”
Adam answered.
“My name is Adam Collins.”
“I know your name.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m asking who you are.”
He had no answer that could save him.
Then Emma noticed one photograph inside Brian’s folder.
She bent down.
Picked it up.
It was not from the internet.
It had been taken that morning.
Adam entering their farmhouse.
And written across the back were five words.
THIS WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT.
Emma looked toward Brian.
“Where did you get this?”
Brian frowned.
“I didn’t put that there.”
A second black vehicle appeared at the end of the driveway.
Daniel turned pale.
“That isn’t ours.”
May you like
The vehicle stopped.
Someone inside opened the door.
