JULIAN

David called me at eight thirty in the morning. "Adrian's lawyers confirmed," he said. "They're ready to sign."

I sat back in my office chair. "When?" I asked.

"This afternoon," David replied. "Two PM, my office."

"Adrian will be there?" I pressed.

There was a brief pause. "His lawyer is representing him," David said carefully.

I almost laughed, almost. "He's not coming," I said flatly.

"No," David confirmed. "He's sending Derek Webb. His lead attorney."

"Of course he is," I replied, because that was Adrian all over, even in defeat, he couldn't face things directly, couldn't look me in the eye while he signed away everything he'd tried to...