"Mr. Harrison."
Alexander turned.
"Robert."
Robert glanced at Daniel.
"We need to discuss the situation."
Alexander folded his arms.
"What situation?"
Robert lowered his voice.
"The investigation is becoming dangerous for everyone."
Alexander stared at him.
"Then perhaps you should explain your involvement."
Robert's face tightened.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Alexander removed a document from his jacket.
It contained records of Robert's communications with Victor's companies.
Robert glanced at it.
Then he looked toward the hotel entrance.
"These records are incomplete."
"Then complete them."
Robert shook his head.
"You're making a mistake."
Alexander stepped closer.
"No. The mistake was trusting you."
Daniel watched the exchange.
He suddenly understood that his father had not come to the hotel simply to confront him.
Alexander had been following the investigation.
He had come to stop something much larger.
Robert looked at Daniel.
"You should tell your father what you know."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
Robert's voice became sharper.
"Tell him about the second transfer."
Alexander turned slowly.
"What second transfer?"
Daniel looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath his feet.
He had not told his father everything.
There was another payment.
A smaller amount.
But it had been transferred after the original investment collapsed.
Daniel had authorized it because Victor promised to return the missing money.
He had hidden that transaction from the investigators.
Alexander's expression became almost unreadable.
"Daniel."
His son lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
Alexander took a long breath.
"How much?"
Daniel whispered the amount.
Alexander looked away.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then he said:
"Now we tell them everything."
CHAPTER 13: THE LAST LIE
Robert attempted to leave.
Alexander instructed the hotel manager to preserve the security footage and contacted the legal team.
Daniel finally admitted that he had continued communicating with Victor after the first transaction.
He had received instructions to move another portion of the company's funds.
He believed the transfer would help recover the original investment.
Instead, it had made the situation worse.
Robert had encouraged him.
He had told Daniel that the company would eventually discover the missing funds anyway.
He had suggested that Daniel could quietly replace the money before anyone noticed.
Daniel had followed the advice.
He now understood that Robert had been manipulating him from the beginning.
The senior executive had provided Victor with confidential information.
He had also used Daniel's desperation to keep the scheme operating.
Daniel felt sick.
"Why me?" he asked.
Robert looked at him coldly.
"Because you were available."
The answer was devastating.
Robert explained that Daniel's insecurity made him easy to influence.
He had known that Daniel wanted his father's approval.
He had used that desire to make the investment appear like an opportunity for independence.
Daniel looked toward Alexander.
His father did not interrupt.
For the first time, Daniel understood how easily his personal weaknesses had become weapons in someone else's hands.
But understanding did not erase his responsibility.
He had signed the documents.
He had authorized the transfers.
He had concealed information.
He would have to face the consequences.
CHAPTER 14: THE SECURITY CAMERA
The hotel manager approached Alexander.
"Sir, we have preserved the relevant security footage."
Alexander nodded.
"Please provide it to the appropriate investigators."
Robert suddenly became agitated.
"You cannot use private hotel footage without proper authorization."
The manager answered calmly.
"We will cooperate with lawful requests."
Robert looked toward the entrance.
Two investigators who had been waiting outside entered the lobby.
They had been informed of the meeting.