Sean reached for his wine and took a sip without once taking his eyes off of Lawson. It was a simple business tactic his father had taught him—silence always made people uncomfortable. After just a few minutes of cold, uninterrupted silence, most people were willing to offer almost anything. He fought the urge to smile as Lawson shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

As far as he understood it, Lawson’s company was on the verge of a massive financial crisis. There had been issues with the ...