Chapter 8: The Price of Revenge
Chapter 8: The Price of Revenge
The photographs appeared online before sunset.
Billionaire CEO Reunites With Secret Daughter.
Within hours...
Mercer Technologies' stock dropped three percent.
Investors demanded explanations.
Board members demanded meetings.
By Monday morning...
Evan sat inside the executive boardroom.
Twelve directors watched him in complete silence.
Board Chairman Robert Gaines spoke first.
"Evan..."
"Why didn't we know about this?"
"Because I didn't."
Another director leaned forward.
"The media believes you've hidden a child for years."
"I haven't."
"Public perception doesn't care."
The room became tense.
One investor finally spoke.
"If this scandal continues..."
"We may have to reconsider your position as CEO."
Silence.
Evan slowly closed the folder in front of him.
Then stood.
"If any of you believe becoming a father makes me less capable of running this company..."
"...vote today."
The directors exchanged uncertain glances.
No one moved.
Evan continued.
"For four years I unknowingly missed bedtime stories."
"Doctor appointments."
"Birthdays."
"I will not miss another one because someone thinks it looks bad for business."
The room remained silent.
Finally...
Chairman Gaines smiled.
"I move that Mr. Mercer remain CEO."
One by one...
Every hand in the room went up.
Unanimous.
Outside the building...
A woman hiding inside a black sedan lowered her camera.
Sabrina.
She had hoped the company would abandon him.
Instead...
They had chosen him.
Again.
That evening...
Someone knocked on Leah's front door.
She opened it cautiously.
Standing outside...
Was an elderly woman holding a small blue box.
"My name is Margaret Mercer."
May you like
Leah's face turned pale.
Evan's mother.
