More nods. More approval.
I watched from where I stood, not annoyed, not surprised, just observing.
He didn’t even glance in my direction.
Not once.
Jocelyn tilted her head slightly, soaking it in.
“Just doing my job, sir.”
Always professional. Always polished. That was her brand.
Trent stood just behind her, one hand casually in his pocket, the other holding a drink he didn’t need.
He wasn’t military, but he fit in well enough. Tailored suit. Confident posture. The kind of guy who knew how to stand close to power without earning it.
Our eyes met for half a second.
He gave me a small smile, not friendly, measured, like he was already planning something.
I looked away first.
No point playing that game in the middle of a crowd.
The speech wrapped up and the room shifted back into smaller conversations. People laughed. Glasses clinked. Someone started talking about procurement delays like it was entertainment.
I stayed where I was.
Then Jocelyn started moving toward me.
Trent followed.
Of course.
She didn’t stop until she was standing just a little too close.
“Enjoying yourself?” she asked, tilting her head.
I took a small sip of water.
“It’s exactly what I expected.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You should try talking to people. That’s kind of how these things work.”
“I’m good.”
Trent stepped in smoothly, like he’d been waiting for his cue.
“Actually,” he said, lowering his voice just enough, “we were hoping to talk to you.”
I didn’t move.
Jocelyn glanced around the room, then gestured subtly toward a quieter corner near the hallway.
Somewhere private.
I followed them.
Not because I had to.
Because I wanted to hear how they were going to say it.
We stopped near a service corridor where the noise dropped just enough to matter.
Trent pulled a folded document from inside his jacket and handed it to me.
Straight to the point.
I unfolded it.
Power of attorney. Transfer of control.
Same structure as the one sitting in front of me right now.
Jocelyn crossed her arms.
“Grandfather’s trust needs to be restructured. Quickly.”
“Quickly,” Trent repeated. “We’ve got an opportunity window.”
I skimmed the document once, then again.
No hesitation.
“No.”
Jocelyn blinked once like she didn’t hear me right.
“Excuse me?”
I said it again.
“No.”
Trent’s smile tightened just a little.
“You haven’t even heard the plan.”
“I don’t need to.”
He took a step closer.
“This isn’t personal. It’s strategic. We’re moving funds into a procurement channel.”
“Medical equipment. High demand, high return for the military,” Jocelyn added quickly. “This is about supporting operations.”
I looked at her, then at him, then back at the paper.
“Medical equipment,” I repeated.
Trent nodded.
“Exactly.”
I let a small pause hang there, just long enough.
Then I looked him straight in the eyes.
“You sure it’s medical equipment? And not covering a $4 million gambling debt in Macau?”
