The morning sun was barely cresting the horizon when I made my way to meet Preston Caldwell. Part of me regretted not telling Alex about this meeting, but another, more stubborn part of me wanted to handle Preston on my own. After all, we had a history, and I wasn't about to let him think he could bulldoze over Mayer Financial – or me.

I chose The Willow Inn for our meeting, a quaint but elegant spot in town known for its privacy and excellent coffee. It seemed like a neutral ground, ...