He entered without knocking, carrying the confident smile of a man who had spent years believing he was untouchable.
“You wanted to see me?”
Daniel sat behind his desk.
A folder lay between them.
“Do you remember Emily?”
Michael’s smile faded.
“Of course. Why?”
“Did you know she was pregnant when she left?”
For the first time, Michael looked genuinely uncomfortable.
“Daniel, that was a long time ago.”
“Answer the question.”
Michael glanced at the folder.
Then he sighed.
“Yes.”
Daniel felt something inside him go still.
“You knew I had a son.”
“I knew she was pregnant. I didn’t know what happened afterward.”
“You hired an investigator.”
Michael’s expression hardened.
“I was protecting the company.”
Daniel rose slowly.
“No. You were protecting your position.”
“Your marriage was falling apart. You were making terrible decisions, and Emily was always asking you to slow down. You were distracted.”
