"Mom, you were too hasty last night," Maverick said, his tone a mix of irritation and restraint. "Zaina’s still holding onto an investment that hasn’t matured yet—over ten million dollars. If I burn this bridge now, I won’t see a single cent of it. She owns the majority of the company’s shares and keeps a close eye on the financial reports. Every time I move money, I have to take the longest, most circuitous route just to keep her from noticing something’s off."

His ...