Page 34 of Billionaire Corruption

“I don’t think she needs to worry about Dad,” I said sarcastically. “He always looks out for himself.”

“I know.”

Then, without really knowing why, I told her what I’d learnt about my father’s involvement with the firm in Mexico.

She frowned. “And you didn’t know about it?”

“He must have landed that deal shortly after I became CEO. It’s only in the South American offices, which was least under my control,” I said. “Almost as if he knew I wouldn’t pay too much attention.”

“But someone must have facilitated it?”

“Someone at the company knows,” I said. “I’ll find out who.”

“Maybe he didn’t want you thinking he needed Ladden?”

“Don’t be naïve. Father has never cared what I think. He knew I wouldn’t approve of it. It’s unethical and irregular, hiding his identity behind multiple companies like that.”

She was quiet for a while.

“But he’s a lawyer.”

I gave her a look. “He’s always known how to bend the rules. Remember how he got you into Brown?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t even want to go! But he insisted, and the next thing I knew, the admission papers arrived by mail!”

I nodded. “A few calls were made, some strings were pulled, favors done for someone somewhere.”

“That’s how he rolls,” she said.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” I said darkly.

“What do you mean?” she sounded anxious. When I didn’t respond, she put her hand on my forearm. “Paul, what do you mean? You can’t seriously think of reporting him or something. He might go to jail. Think about what that would do to mom, to us! They would automatically look at everything we’ve ever done.”

“And we’re not so clean, are we?” I said bitterly.

Elise looked at me, her face pale.

“What does that even mean?” she asked.

“Listen to yourself!” I barked at her. “Do you hear how it sounds? Like you don’t know the difference between right and wrong!”

“I know the difference,” she said sulkily. “But this will break Mom.”

That silenced me.

I might not have cared about my father, but I cared about my mother. She had always been affectionate and loving, as nurturing as my father allowed her to be. She never contradicted him openly but behind his back, she would do what she could to help us. When I told her that I had to leave the private school where I was enrolled for high school, she convinced my father to move me to another school.

After Elise left, I took a shower and paced up and down my apartment. I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation we’d had. Despite my workout, I was feeling wide awake and started thinking about Grace. After I’d seen her the last time, I’d tried to respect her wishes and kept away from her, not contacting her.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

She was the only person I really wanted to talk to, or whose opinion I cared about. I didn’t feel I could trust anyone else.

When I had seen the report on the news online about the elevator falling in Kansas, killing those people inside, I’d immediately thought of our shared experience. We could have died, but we had not. I found the story online and sent it to her, knowing it would affect her as it had affected me.

She’d responded, but her tone was detached, and I didn’t pursue it.

I looked for her at work today, but she wasn’t in.

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