His face turned white.
“Security!” he shouted. “Remove this man.”
Emily turned toward me.
“Dad? What are you doing here?”
I continued walking.
The crowd moved aside.
Vernon took the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am the building manager. This event is concluded immediately. The unit is being reclaimed because of severe lease and occupancy violations, unauthorized commercial activity, and unpaid building charges.”
Tyler pushed through the guests.
“You work for us. Get out of my house.”
Vernon regarded him calmly.
“This is not your house, Mr. Crawford.”
I stopped in front of Tyler and Emily.
Then I removed a business card from my jacket.
It was made from heavy black stock with gold lettering.
I dropped it onto the table.
**HAROLD BENNETT
CHAIRMAN
BENNETT HOLDINGS**
“You believe you rent from a faceless corporation,” I said.
Tyler stared at the card.
“I am Harold Bennett. I own this building.”
The room became silent.
“I also own this unit and four other residential towers in Chicago.”
Emily stared at me.
“Dad?”
“I built them with the money I made doing the work you were too embarrassed to mention at your wedding.”
I turned toward Vernon.
“Play the recording.”
Tyler’s voice filled the room through the sound system.
*The old man is basically a wallet with legs. He has no life.*
*He’s terrified Emily will leave him, so he pays whenever we ask.*
*Look at the clothes he wears. We did the right thing keeping him away from the wedding.*
Emily covered her mouth.
“Tyler, that’s your voice.”
A man near the bar stepped forward.
I recognized Philip Brennan, a venture capitalist who had invested in several legitimate technology companies.
“Harold Bennett?” he asked. “The developer behind the South Loop projects?”
I nodded.
Philip looked at Tyler.
“You told me your father-in-law was a handyman.”
Then he walked out.
The other potential investors followed quickly.
Within two minutes, the penthouse had nearly emptied.
When only Emily, Tyler, Vernon, the security team, and I remained, Tyler looked toward me.
“You said you would send the money.”
“I did.”
“You promised.”
“I promised to give you exactly what you deserved.”
Vernon held up the official notice.