Chapter 12 - THE OFFER
The documents showed ownership stakes in foreign companies, investment accounts, and property holdings.
More than three hundred million dollars on paper.
Andrew stared at the figures.
Thomas watched him carefully.
“You thought Mariana made you wealthy.”
“She made you comfortable.”
“I can make you independent.”
Mariana said nothing.
This choice belonged to Andrew.
Thomas continued.
“Walk away from Whitmore International.”
“Let Mariana keep her little victory.”
“Withdraw cooperation from the investigation.”
“Come with me.”
“And Margaret?”
“She will join us.”
Andrew looked at his father.
“And Brenda?”
Thomas almost laughed.
“Brenda is disposable.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened.
Thomas leaned closer.
“You need to understand something.”
“Mariana never respected you.”
“She financed you.”
“She managed you.”
“She let you pretend to be powerful because it amused her.”
Andrew looked toward Mariana.
She did not defend herself.
Thomas noticed.
“See?”
“Not even a denial.”
Andrew asked quietly.
“Did you save the company?”
Mariana answered.
“Yes.”
“Did you hide it from me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because when we met, you were ashamed that your company was failing.”
“I thought anonymous investment would give you room to rebuild without feeling like you owed me.”
Andrew looked down.
“And later?”
“Later, I should have told you.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because every year you became more obsessed with proving you had done everything alone.”
“And I was afraid the truth would destroy you.”
Thomas smiled triumphantly.
“There.”
“She admits it.”
Andrew kept looking at Mariana.
“You thought I was too fragile for the truth.”
“Yes.”
Andrew absorbed that.
Mariana continued.
“And I was wrong to hide it.”
“You were also wrong about something else.”
“What?”
“I thought protecting your pride was an act of love.”
“It wasn’t.”
“It was fear.”
“I was afraid that if you knew how much help you had received, you would resent me.”
Andrew looked at her cheek.
“And instead I became exactly the man you were afraid I might become.”
Mariana did not answer.
Thomas stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Andrew turned toward him.
Thomas tapped the folder.
“Choose.”
Andrew looked down at the inheritance.
Then he closed the folder.
Thomas smiled.
Andrew handed it back.
“I already chose last night.”
Thomas frowned.
“What?”
“When I hit my wife instead of asking for the truth.”
Andrew looked toward Mariana.
“I chose who I was.”
“I don’t get to erase that because I’m ashamed now.”
He looked back at Thomas.
“But I can decide who I’m going to be next.”
Thomas’s face hardened.
Andrew continued.
“So here’s my answer.”
“No.”
Thomas stared at him.
“You would choose humiliation?”
“I choose consequences.”
“You sound weak.”
“Maybe.”
Andrew’s voice remained steady.
“But at least the decision is mine.”
Thomas stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you just rejected.”
Andrew looked at him.
“I rejected becoming you.”
Thomas’s face went completely still.
Then he smiled.
It was not a kind smile.
“Very well.”
He placed the folder back inside his coat.
“You’ll learn.”
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned to Mariana.
“Ask your father what happened in Prague.”
Then he disappeared into the hallway.
Mariana slowly looked at Gabriel.
Her father’s expression had changed.
“What happened in Prague?”
Gabriel did not answer.
May you like
And that frightened her more than Thomas’s threat.
*
