Victoria's expression changed slightly.
"Perhaps the investigation is incomplete."
Michael looked toward the large screen.
"There's something else."
The screen displayed a video.
It showed the lobby earlier that morning.
Everyone watched as Thomas entered the building.
They heard him politely ask to see his son.
Then they watched Victoria approach him.
Her voice echoed through the conference room.
"Do you honestly believe someone dressed like you can simply walk in and demand to see the CEO?"
The video continued.
"Your son is a busy man. He has more important things to do than entertain someone like you."
One executive lowered his eyes.
Another shook his head.
Victoria sat motionless.
Then came the moment when she ordered security to remove Thomas.
The video ended.
Silence filled the room.
Michael stood.
"I want to ask everyone here a simple question."
He looked around the table.
"If that man had not been my father, would what happened this morning have been acceptable?"
Nobody answered.
Michael continued.
"If he had been the father of a cleaner, a delivery driver, or an ordinary employee, would we have allowed him to be humiliated?"
Victoria spoke quickly.
"I admit my choice of words may have been inappropriate, but the situation was handled according to security procedures."
Michael turned toward her.
"Security procedures do not require insulting people."
"Michael, I was protecting the company's reputation."
"No. You were protecting your ego."
Victoria's face flushed.
He placed another folder on the table.
"Now let's discuss the anonymous complaint."
James opened the folder.
"Our preliminary review identified several suspicious transfers involving subsidiary accounts."
The room became tense.
Victoria immediately sat straighter.
"What transfers?"
James displayed a list of transactions.
"Over the last eighteen months, approximately 8.4 million dollars were transferred to consulting firms with no clear business justification."
Victoria shook her head.
"Those transactions were approved by the finance department."
"That is what we are investigating."
Michael looked directly at her.
"Did you authorize any of these transfers?"
Victoria hesitated.
"I oversee operations. I approve many expenses."
"That wasn't my question."
She folded her arms.
"I would need to review the records."
James interrupted.
"Ms. Harrington, one of the companies receiving these payments is registered to a relative of yours."
The room erupted in whispers.
Victoria stood.
"This is outrageous."
Michael remained calm.
"Then I suggest you cooperate fully with the investigation."
She looked at him angrily.
"You're allowing your personal feelings about this morning to influence your judgment."
Michael shook his head.
"My personal feelings have nothing to do with eight million dollars."
He turned toward James.
"Place all relevant financial records under preservation. Suspend any unusual transfers until the investigation is complete."
James nodded.
"Understood."
Victoria gathered her papers.
"Are you accusing me of theft?"
Michael looked at her.
"I'm saying the evidence deserves an explanation."
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she turned back.
"You should be careful, Michael. Sometimes the people closest to you know things you would rather keep hidden."
Michael's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
Victoria smiled coldly.
"Ask your father."
Then she left.
Michael looked toward Thomas, who had been quietly sitting at the back of the room.
For the first time that day, his father looked genuinely worried.
That evening, Michael drove his father home.
Thomas lived in a modest house on a quiet street outside the city.
It was not the house where Michael had grown up. That property had been sold many years earlier.
But Thomas had filled the new home with familiar photographs, old books, and memories of Margaret.
Michael helped him carry the paper bag inside.
"Are you hungry, Dad?"
Thomas smiled.
"Only if you're cooking."
Michael laughed.
"After everything you've done for me, I think I can manage a meal."
They prepared dinner together.
For the first time in months, Michael did not check his phone every few minutes.
He listened as his father told stories about their old neighborhood.
They laughed about the time Michael had accidentally flooded the kitchen while trying to repair a broken pipe.
They remembered Margaret's habit of singing while cooking.
Then, after dinner, Thomas became quiet.
"Michael, there's something I should tell you."
Michael looked up.
"What is it?"
Thomas walked to a wooden cabinet and removed a small box.
Inside were several photographs, a wedding ring, and a folded letter.
He handed the letter to Michael.
"This was written by your mother shortly before she died."
Michael stared at the envelope.
"Why haven't I seen this before?"
Thomas looked away.
"Because I couldn't bring myself to give it to you."
Michael carefully opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakably Margaret's.
My dearest Michael,