“Where?”
“Northline Real Assets.”
My father became very still.
I noticed.
“What?”
“Say his full name.”
“Adrian Cole.”
Dad looked away for a moment.
Then back.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“Northline is a Vale Meridian portfolio company.”
I stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“He never told me.”
“Does he know you’re my daughter?”
“No.”
My late mother’s surname was Bennett.
After she died, I legally returned to it.
When Adrian and I met, I was Claire Bennett.
I never hid my father in some elaborate deception.
