Chapter 11 - The Offer
One year after the gala, I received a letter from Daniel.
He wanted to surrender all claims against the company.
In exchange, he asked me to remove the ballroom recordings from the internet.
His daughter would eventually grow old enough to find them.
For the first time, Daniel was asking for something that was not entirely about himself.
Naomi placed the letter on my desk.
“What do you want to do?”
The recordings had already spread beyond my control.
Removing the original files would not erase the copies.
But it would mean something.
It would show that I was willing to close the public spectacle.
“Tell him I’ll remove them from every platform I control.”
Naomi raised an eyebrow.
“That’s more generous than I expected.”
“It isn’t for him.”
I signed the agreement.
Daniel surrendered every civil claim.
He also agreed that his future income would help repay the stolen charitable funds.
The next morning, our official website removed the gala video.
Critics said I was rewriting history.
Supporters said I had shown mercy.
Neither side understood.
I had never wanted to watch Daniel suffer forever.
I had wanted him stopped.
There was a difference.
Sloane wrote to me too.
Her letter contained no apology.
She accused me of stealing her daughter’s father.
She said I had destroyed a family.
I read the letter twice.
Then I placed it in a drawer.
I did not answer.
May you like
Some arguments are not invitations to communicate.
They are attempts to make you defend your right to survive.
