"What happens if the money isn't recovered?"
Richard smiled.
"Then we make sure the problem belongs to someone else."
The footage ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Bennett broke the silence.
"This recording does not establish every legal detail, but it is important evidence of the discussions between the two parties."
Daniel looked toward his father.
"I didn't know he was planning to blame me for everything."
Arthur replied:
"Did you know that you were making decisions without my permission?"
Daniel lowered his head.
"Yes."
"Did you know the company could suffer?"
"Yes."
"Then you knew enough to stop."
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
He looked at Arthur.
"I was wrong."
Arthur did not immediately respond.
Daniel continued.
"I thought I could fix everything before you found out. Every time something went wrong, Richard told me the next project would solve it. I kept believing him."
Arthur asked:
"And when did you plan to tell me?"
Daniel could not answer.
The silence was more painful than any explanation.
Arthur slowly sat down.
"That is what I cannot understand. You were willing to risk everything, including the trust of your own family, rather than admit that you had failed."
Daniel covered his face.
"I know."
Arthur looked at him for a long moment.
"Failure is not what destroys a person, Daniel. Refusing to accept responsibility is."
CHAPTER 15: OLIVIA'S FINAL CONFESSION
Olivia had remained silent throughout the confrontation.
Now she stood.
"There is something else."
Daniel looked at her.
"Olivia, don't."
She ignored him.
"I need to tell the truth."
Arthur gestured for her to continue.
Olivia explained that Richard had approached her privately several months earlier.
He had told her that Daniel was facing serious financial difficulties and that the family business might be at risk.
He presented himself as someone who could solve the problem.
At first, Olivia refused to become involved.
But Richard knew how to pressure people.
He reminded her that Daniel's career could collapse, that their financial position could become unstable, and that Arthur might remove Daniel from the business.
Olivia became frightened.
Instead of speaking honestly with Arthur, she chose to remain silent.
Then Richard made another promise.
He said that if the situation became difficult, he could help them protect their personal assets.
Olivia eventually discovered that the promises were not what they appeared to be.
She found documents showing that Richard had been arranging transactions that benefited his own companies.
She also discovered that some of the information Daniel had received was incomplete.
But by then, she had already become part of the deception.
"I was wrong," Olivia said.
She looked directly at Arthur.
"I knew something was happening, and I chose to protect my comfort instead of protecting the truth. I kept telling myself that I was helping Daniel. But I was helping him avoid responsibility."
Arthur listened quietly.
Olivia continued.
"I don't expect you to forgive me. I only want you to know that Emily had nothing to do with any of this. She never knew."
Emily stood.
"Why didn't you come to me?"
Olivia's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was ashamed."
Emily shook her head.
"You should have trusted us enough to tell the truth."
Olivia nodded.
"You're right."
Arthur looked at both women.
For a moment, he remembered Eleanor.
His wife had always believed that honesty was most important when it was difficult.
He finally spoke.
"Nobody in this room can change what happened. But everyone in this room can decide what happens next."
CHAPTER 16: THE MAN WHO THOUGHT HE HAD WON
Richard Hale was not expecting a phone call from Arthur Whitmore.
When the call came, he answered confidently.
"Arthur! What a pleasant surprise."
"I want you to come to my office tomorrow morning."
Richard paused.
"Is everything all right?"
"We need to discuss some business matters."
"Of course. I'll be there."
Arthur ended the call.
Richard stared at his phone.
He suspected something was wrong.
He immediately contacted Daniel.
Daniel did not answer.
Richard tried again.
Nothing.
For the first time, Richard became nervous.
He reviewed his private records and realized that several pieces of evidence could now be in Arthur's possession.
He had underestimated the security system.
He had also underestimated Olivia.
But he still believed that he could negotiate his way out.
The next morning, Richard arrived at the Whitmore headquarters.
He wore an expensive suit and carried a leather briefcase.
Arthur was waiting in the conference room with Bennett and two independent financial investigators.
Richard smiled.
"Arthur, I hope this isn't about those accounting misunderstandings."