Ethan read it carefully.

It was a customer profile.

His name was listed at the top.

Underneath were notes.

"High performer. Loyal to management. Easily influenced."

Ethan felt a chill.

"What does this mean?"

Michael looked at him.

"They were watching you."

"Why?"

"Because they thought you could be useful."

Ethan stared at the page.

The final line read:

Potential future management candidate.

Monitor closely.

He remembered Richard telling him he had potential.

He remembered being given access to certain customer accounts.

He remembered promotions.

Suddenly, some of his career milestones looked different.

Had he been rewarded because he was good?

Or because he was useful?

Samuel saw his expression.

"Don't blame yourself."

Ethan looked at him.

"What if I helped them without knowing?"

"You didn't know."

"But I judged customers."

"That's why they liked you."

Ethan flinched.

Michael shook his head.

"They didn't need you to be corrupt."

He pointed to the document.

"They needed you to believe their system was normal."

The words hit Ethan hard.

Then the hotel room phone rang.

Everyone froze.

The receptionist said there was a visitor downstairs.

A man asking for Samuel Harrison.

"Who?" Samuel asked.

The receptionist gave a name.

Samuel's face changed.

"Robert."

Nobody moved.

Michael stood.

"He's here."

Samuel looked at him.

"How did he find us?"

Michael didn't answer.

Eleanor quietly closed the files.

"We need to decide whether to meet him."

Samuel looked toward the door.

"I will."

"No," Victoria said.

Samuel shook his head.

"If Robert believes he can control this conversation, he may reveal something."

Michael stepped forward.

"He's dangerous."

Samuel looked at his son.

"So are secrets."

They went downstairs.

Robert Hale stood in the hotel lobby.

He looked calm.

Almost relieved.

When he saw Michael, that calmness disappeared.

For the first time, Ethan saw fear in Robert's eyes.

"You."

Michael stared at him.

"Hello, Robert."

Robert looked at Samuel.

"You found him."

Samuel answered,

"He found us."

Robert laughed softly.

"You don't understand what you've uncovered."

Samuel stepped closer.

"Then explain it."

Robert's expression hardened.

"You think this is about money."

"Isn't it?"

"No."

Robert looked directly at Michael.

"It's about what happened fourteen years ago."

Michael's jaw tightened.

Robert continued.

"You were never supposed to survive."

Chapter 12

The lobby went silent.

Samuel stared at Robert.

"What did you say?"

Robert's face remained expressionless.

Michael didn't move.

Ethan felt the air leave the room.

Robert looked at Samuel.

"You should have stayed out of this."

Samuel's voice became cold.

"Explain yourself."

Robert shook his head.

"Not here."

He turned toward the exit.

Samuel grabbed his arm.

Robert immediately pulled away.

"Don't."

For a moment, the two old friends stared at each other.

Then Robert said,

"You don't know what your brother did."

Samuel froze.

"My brother?"

"David."

Robert's voice dropped.

"He wasn't trying to steal your company."

"Then what was he doing?"

"Trying to destroy it."

Michael stepped forward.

"That's a lie."

Robert looked at him.

"You still believe your father was innocent."

"He was."

Robert laughed bitterly.

"Your father made deals he couldn't afford."

Samuel's face hardened.

"What deals?"

Robert didn't answer.

Instead, he looked at Michael.

"Tell him."

Michael remained silent.

Robert continued.

"Tell him why you disappeared."

Michael finally spoke.

"Because I discovered the accounts."

"No."

Robert shook his head.

"That's only part of it."

He looked at Samuel.

"Your son discovered that someone had been moving money through the company."

Samuel nodded.

"Yes."

"But he didn't know where the money came from."

Michael's eyes narrowed.

Robert said,

"Your brother David was receiving payments."

Samuel stared.

"What?"

"David was taking money from outside investors."

"Why?"

"Because he wanted to buy enough shares to force you out."

Samuel looked stunned.

Robert continued.

"David was preparing a hostile takeover."

Ethan listened carefully.

"But how does that explain the customer scheme?"

Robert's eyes moved toward him.

"It doesn't."

Ethan frowned.

"Then why are we talking about it?"

Robert smiled.

"Because you still don't understand."

He looked at Samuel.

"The customer scheme came later."

"Who started it?"

Robert remained silent.

Michael answered.

"Charles."

Robert looked at him.

Michael continued.

"Charles realized they could make money by controlling financing."

Robert shook his head.

"Charles wasn't the mastermind."

"Then who?"

Robert looked directly at Samuel.

"Someone you trusted."

Samuel's expression changed.

"Who?"

Robert said one word.

"Victoria."

Everyone turned.

Victoria stared at him.

"What?"

Robert smiled.

"You're surprised."

Ethan immediately shook his head.

"No."

Robert looked at him.

"You should be."

Ethan turned toward Victoria.

She looked genuinely shocked.

"This is absurd."

Robert continued.

"Victoria has been feeding information to Charles for years."

Samuel's face hardened.

"Do you have proof?"

Robert laughed.

"Of course."

He reached into his coat.

Ethan immediately stepped forward.

But Robert pulled out a small flash drive.

"Everything is on this."

Victoria stared at it.

"Where did you get that?"

Robert looked at her.

"You know exactly where."

The accusation hung in the air.

Samuel took the drive.

Robert stepped back.

"You wanted the truth."

He pointed at the device.

"Now you have it."

Then he turned and walked away.

Ethan looked at Samuel.

"Don't open it here."