Alexander looked uncomfortable.
Daniel continued.
"And every time my father saw your company name on television, he would turn it off."
Alexander looked down.
"That's enough."
"No. It isn't."
Daniel took a breath.
"He died believing that nobody would ever know the truth."
CHAPTER 6: THE WOMAN WHO KNEW THE WHOLE STORY
Olivia stepped forward.
"Mr. Whitmore, there's something else."
Alexander looked at her.
"What now?"
Olivia glanced at Daniel.
"Michael gave me a copy of the original report before he was fired."
Alexander stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
Olivia looked toward the guests.
"At the time, I was working in your company's property management division. I had a family. I had a mortgage. I knew what happened to Michael after he reported the fraud."
Alexander's face became pale.
Olivia continued.
"I was one of the employees who witnessed the altered records. I knew the accusation against him was false."
Alexander looked at her.
"Why are you bringing this up now?"
"Because I recognized his son."
Olivia turned toward Daniel.
"Your father trusted me with those documents."
Daniel nodded.
"He mentioned you in his letter."
Olivia's eyes filled with tears.
"He was a good man."
Alexander looked between them.
"Who was responsible for the investigation?"
Olivia answered.
"Victor Hayes."
Alexander's expression changed immediately.
Victor Hayes had been the company's chief financial officer for nearly twenty years.
He was one of Alexander's closest advisers.
He had retired two years earlier after a long and successful career.
"Victor?" Alexander asked.
Olivia nodded.
"He handled the investigation. He approved the termination documents. He signed the report that accused Michael of stealing confidential information."
Alexander shook his head.
"Victor would never do something like that."
Daniel placed another document on the table.
"Then perhaps you should read this."
CHAPTER 7: THE NAME ON THE TRANSFER
The document contained a series of financial transfers.
Daniel pointed toward a highlighted section.
"This is the original transaction record."
Alexander leaned closer.
The figures were substantial.
Several million dollars had been transferred between companies connected to the development project.
The receiving company was registered under a different name.
But its directors were connected to Victor Hayes.
Alexander read the document twice.
"Where did this come from?"
"My father's personal archive."
"Are these originals?"
"Copies. The originals are with an attorney."
Alexander looked up.
"An attorney?"
Daniel nodded.
"An independent attorney who has been helping me review everything."
Alexander looked suspicious.
"Why didn't you bring him?"
"Because I wanted to give you the opportunity to do the right thing before this became a public legal matter."
Alexander stared at him.
Daniel continued.
"My father didn't want revenge. He wanted his name cleared."
Alexander sat down.
For the first time that evening, he looked much older than seventy-one.
CHAPTER 8: THE BUSINESSMAN WHO HAD FORGOTTEN
Alexander returned to his chair.
His guests remained silent.
He looked at the documents again.
The name Victor Hayes seemed to become darker with every passing second.
He remembered the investigation.
He remembered being told that Michael had stolen confidential information.
He remembered Victor explaining that the matter was serious and that the company needed to protect its reputation.
Alexander had signed the termination order.
He had not read every document.
He had trusted Victor.
That decision had destroyed a man's life.
"Why didn't your father contact me directly?" Alexander asked.
Daniel answered immediately.
"He tried."
Alexander looked up.
"What?"
"He wrote you letters."