Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF STANDING BESIDE HER
By noon, photographers surrounded Belmont.
Emily couldn't work.
She couldn't take Noah to school.
Strangers online called her a gold digger.
Others claimed she'd invented Rebecca's story to seduce a billionaire.
Emily shut off her phone.
Daniel didn't have that luxury.
Whitmore Technologies lost hundreds of millions in market value before lunch.
His board wanted a statement denying any personal relationship with Emily.
Daniel refused.
“They're not asking you to lie,” Marcus said.
“They're asking me to make her sound suspicious.”
“They're trying to stabilize the company.”
Daniel looked through the conference-room glass at twenty executives.
“And I’m trying not to become the kind of man who protects himself by sacrificing someone with less power.”
Marcus sighed.
“You know they're considering temporary removal.”
“I know.”
At two, Daniel entered the boardroom.
Emily watched the live business coverage from her apartment.
Daniel's chairman spoke first.
“We need clarity. Did you offer Ms. Carter financial compensation before establishing the validity of her claim?”
“No.”
“Did you purchase Belmont because she worked there?”
“No. Negotiations predated our meeting.”
“Are you romantically involved?”
Daniel paused.
Emily's heartbeat changed.
“No.”
She didn't know why the answer hurt.
It was true.
Nothing had happened.
Still, it hurt.
Then Daniel added, “But my personal feelings toward Ms. Carter have no bearing on whether her mother was defrauded.”
Emily stared at the television.
Personal feelings.
The chairman frowned.
“What feelings?”
Daniel remained composed.
“That's personal.”
Within hours, the clip was everywhere.
That evening Daniel came to Emily's apartment.
She opened the door.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you?”
“Noah left his robot in my car.”
He held up the cardboard robot.
Emily stared at him.
“That is the worst excuse a billionaire has ever invented.”
“I panicked.”
She laughed despite herself.
He entered.
Noah was sleeping at Mrs. Alvarez's apartment to avoid the reporters.
For the first time, Emily and Daniel were alone.
She made coffee.
Daniel loosened his tie.
“You could lose your company.”
“No.”
“Your board—”
“Can remove me as CEO. They can't erase twenty-three years.”
“You built everything.”
“And your mother helped build what came before it.”
Emily sat opposite him.
“You barely know me.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I know you work until your feet hurt and still remember which customers take lemon.”
She looked down.
“I know you give children desserts and pretend it was a kitchen mistake.”
A smile tugged at her mouth.
“I know you refuse help when you think help comes with ownership.”
“That's annoyingly accurate.”
“I know you keep a paper bracelet your son made even though it's falling apart.”
Emily touched her wrist.
The blue-star bracelet was still there.
Daniel continued more softly.
“And I know the first time I saw you cry, you weren't crying because your life was difficult. You were crying because you thought you'd disappointed someone you loved.”
The room became silent.
Emily whispered, “That's still not enough to know someone.”
“No.”
Daniel stood.
“But I'd like the chance.”
He stepped toward her.
Emily's breath caught.
This time Noah wasn't there to interrupt.
Daniel touched her cheek carefully, giving her every opportunity to move away.
She didn't.
Their first kiss was gentle.
No dramatic music.
No sweeping declaration.
Just two tired people standing in a tiny kitchen while rain touched the windows.
When they separated, Emily smiled.
“That was a terrible idea.”
“Probably.”
“Your board is going to love this.”
“They don't need details.”
She laughed.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Marcus.
The warmth disappeared from Daniel's expression as he listened.
“What?”
Emily stood.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
Marcus explained that forensic specialists had discovered another document inside Rebecca's ledger.
A folded page had been stuck between the back cover and binding.
It contained a handwritten agreement.
Thomas Whitmore had intended to restore Rebecca's ownership once Walter's fraud was exposed.
But Thomas had died before he could do it.
The agreement included a witness signature.
Margaret Whitmore.
Daniel's mother.
Emily closed her eyes.
Daniel understood immediately.
His mother had spent years searching for Rebecca because she'd known.
She hadn't been trying to uncover the truth.
She'd been trying to fulfill a promise.
Marcus continued.
“There’s something else.”
The agreement established a trust.
Rebecca's share would pass to Emily.
And if Rebecca died before the correction could be completed, the Whitmore family was obligated to honor the agreement.
Daniel asked quietly, “How much?”
Marcus gave the estimate.
Emily sat down.
Approximately $31 million.
She stared at Daniel.
“This can't be real.”
“It is.”
But Marcus wasn't finished.
“The board has seen it.”
Daniel waited.
“And?”
“They've called another vote for tomorrow.”
“To remove me?”
“Yes.”
Emily stood.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“This is happening because of me.”
“No. It's happening because the truth is expensive.”
“Then let me give up the claim.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Absolutely not.”
“Daniel—”
“Your mother spent half her life protecting this.”
“I won't let you lose everything.”
He stepped closer.
“You're not taking anything from me.”
“What do you call losing your company?”
May you like
Daniel looked into her eyes.
“Finding out whether I deserve to lead it.”
