“If the Europeans pull out, we lose billions,” the man with glasses said.

Ethan finally stood up, his tall frame dominating the room.

He walked to the window, looking out at the white city below.

“The merger is sound,” Ethan said, his back to the room.

“Not with you at the helm,” Vance said, stepping closer to the table.

“You are distracted, Ethan,” Vance said. “You are compromised.”

“You are spending your days in a charity hospital instead of the boardroom,” Vance added.

“She is the mother of my child,” Ethan said, not turning around.

“A child you didn’t know existed until forty-eight hours ago,” Vance said.

“A child you left in a slum while you built this tower,” Vance added.

The room went completely silent.

I saw Ethan’s shoulders tense under his dark suit.

He turned slowly, his blue eyes burning with a cold, quiet rage.

“Be very careful, Richard,” Ethan said.

“I am being careful, Ethan,” Vance said, pulling a document from his leather briefcase.

“I am protecting the company we built,” Vance added.

He slid the document across the long mahogany table.