They thought he was just a rising name. He was hunting for a gun.

“If success means Wall Street has to study you, then we’re close.” Vera laughed softly. “That will make people uncomfortable.” “Good. Then they’re listening.” Her piece went live the next morning with a blunt headline: **The Man Who Went from Bank Clerk to Acquirer**. It stayed restrained, but it cut. After that, the calls multiplied. Regional funds, startup founders, M&A advisors, even PR firms that normally only took giant retainers started testing whether Iron Curve might be a fit. Darren knew it was not trust. It was the market smelling money. The pressure arrived too. Two old clients suddenly delayed renewals. Then people inside Northbridge Capital started hinting in industry chats that Iron Curve’s methods were “too aggressive.