"They’ve kept the invitation private to avoid speculation. If the public knew the White House was quietly meeting a private citizen with your profile, the press would have a field day," Daniel continued.
"I can imagine the headlines," Liam said dryly. "’The Ghost of Bellemere Invited to Washington.’"
"Exactly," Daniel said. "They want to keep control of the narrative. And, more importantly, control of you — or at least the illusion of it."
"That will be difficult," Liam chuckled inwardly.
"Which is why I’m here," Daniel said simply.
He tapped the tablet again, and a set of concise notes appeared. "Your objective today is simple: reassure them without revealing anything. Make them believe you’re anchored here — that your wealth and operations are tied to American stability. It will calm them."
"And if they ask questions I can’t answer?"
"Redirect," Daniel said smoothly. "Be vague, but not evasive. Let them fill the blanks with their own assumptions. The less they know, the safer you are. And the safer Bellemere remains."
"They’ll ask about the A380," Liam nodded slowly.
"They will. Definitely. It’s one of the priorities of the meeting" Daniel said. "They’ll praise it first — the engineering, the luxury, the scale — but beneath that flattery will be curiosity. They want to know everything about it; like the features you asked to be integrated into it. Pretend it’s just money, nothing else."
He continued, as he switched to another file. "They’ll also probe into your investment structures. Treasury wants to confirm that your assets aren’t concentrated offshore. Their real fear is capital flight — that you’ll pull everything out of the U.S. if tensions rise. You don’t have to promise anything, just imply long-term commitment. Words like ’growth’ and ’domestic innovation’ are safe anchors. Bureaucrats love hearing those things."
Liam gave him a sidelong glance. "I take it we’re no longer pretending I’m a regular citizen of the country."
Daniel allowed himself a small smile. "You stopped being that the moment you bought a private A380, sir."
The silence that followed was brief but thoughtful. Morning light spilled further across the floor, glinting off the edge of the coffee table.
After a moment, Liam asked, "What do they know so far?"
"Not much," Daniel said. "Nothing on Lucid, or on Nova. To them, you’re just an eccentric billionaire with an invisible supply chain and an untraceable fortune. The Bellemere Family Office appears legitimate, the audits are spotless, and the legal structures all tie back to JP Morgan’s custody network. Every line ends clean."
Liam tilted his head. "And what if they dig deeper?"
Daniel’s tone didn’t waver. "They won’t find anything. As of last night, the Swiss Trust charter went live. All Bellemere transactions now route through Zurich. Even if Treasury requests a full audit, it stops there. JP Morgan will verify confidentiality."
Liam smiled faintly. "Marianne does good work."
"She does," Daniel said. "And she knows when to keep her mouth shut."
"There’s something else, sir," Daniel added. "They’ll be watching how you react, not what you say. Don’t underestimate how many behavioral analysts will be in that room. They’ll look for signs of aggression, deflection, even pride."
"I understand, Daniel. I’ll give them calm," Liam said.
"Good," Daniel said, relaxing slightly. "That unsettles them the most. You have to remember — people in those rooms spend their lives measuring others. They understand power only when it fits inside their rules. You don’t."
Liam’s gaze drifted toward the window, where sunlight shimmered against the lawn. "And what happens when they realize that?"
Daniel hesitated. "Then they’ll stop trying to measure you and start trying to contain you."
A quiet smile touched Liam’s lips. "I’d like to see them try."
"Just remember," Daniel said carefully, "containment doesn’t always come with handcuffs. It comes with policy, with regulation, with silent chatters in boardrooms. They can’t control what they can’t define — but they can still make life inconvenient."
Liam looked back at him. "Then we’ll make it inconvenient for them, too."
Daniel gave a soft, almost resigned sigh. "You sound like Whitlock."
"Is that so?" Liam smiled.
Daniel smirked, as he reached for another folder on the table — this one physical, sealed with a simple black clasp. "These are your briefing cards. Names, faces, and a few notes on each participant. Read them if you like, or don’t. Just remember who’s who."
Liam took the folder, flipping through it briefly before setting it aside. "Anything else?"
"One more thing," Daniel said, lowering his tone. "Be careful how much you let them think they know. The moment they believe they understand you, they’ll start building a plan around you. Keep them guessing. It’s safer that way."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
Daniel straightened, glancing toward the Mason, who had appeared at the door then.
"The car is ready, sir,* Mason said, with a small nod.
Liam rose, buttoning his jacket. The morning light caught the edge of his watch, scattering a brief flare across the wall.
Liam nodded. "Thank you, Mason."
As he reached the doorway, Daniel stepped forward and handed him a slim black envelope.
"What’s this?" Liam asked.
"Just in case they ask for a business card," Daniel said.
Liam gave him a look, amused. "And what if they call the number?"
"They’ll reach me," Daniel said simply. "And I’ll tell them you’re unavailable."
"Always reliable," Liam gave a small laugh and it broke the last bit of tension.
"Someone has to be," Daniel replied.
Liam and Mason left the study together. Outside, the Rolls-Royce waited at the foot of the steps, with Nick already at the driver’s seat.
Before Liam stepped inside, Daniel spoke again, his voice lower, meant only for him to hear what he was about to say.
"They think they’re calling you to understand you," he said. "But they don’t realize you’re the one studying them."
Liam’s gaze met his. "I intend to learn a lot today."
Daniel smiled faintly. "So will they. Though not what they expect."
Liam stepped into the car, and Mason closed the door behind him. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝘯𝘦𝘵
As the vehicle rolled down the long drive, Daniel watched it disappear beyond the gates, the morning sun catching on its polished surface.
He adjusted his cufflinks again, the ghost of a smile on his face.
"They’re going to try to read him," he murmured quietly to himself. "But how do you read someone who doesn’t play by your alphabet?"
He turned back toward the mansion. The day had only just begun but it wasn’t going to be fun for a certain group of people. He wonder how they are going to react to the anomaly called Liam.
Daniel had no idea to any of the questions in his head but he could sense the tsunami of change on the horizon.