My father, Thomas Carter, worked for the state government until his retirement. My mother, Margaret, spent most of her career in public administration.
We weren’t wealthy, but we were comfortable.
My parents taught me to save money, pay my bills on time, and treat people with respect.
They also taught me to believe that honesty was the foundation of a successful marriage.
That last lesson was the one I carried with me when I met Adrian.
I was working as an accountant for a midsized construction company called Harrison Development Group. Adrian was a director at Blackwood Holdings, which was considering a joint investment in one of our commercial projects.
We met during a financial review meeting.
He was twenty-nine, tall, impeccably dressed, and effortlessly confident.
When I pointed out an inconsistency in the projected construction costs, he didn’t dismiss me.
He asked questions.
He listened.
And afterward, he approached me beside the conference-room coffee machine.
