It stopped right in front of Ethan’s empty chair.

“This is a voluntary resignation,” Vance said.

“You step down as CEO,” Vance added.

“You hand over voting control of your shares to the board,” Vance said.

“And in exchange?” Paul Raskin asked, stepping between them.

“In exchange, we do not release the full police report to the press,” Vance said.

“We do not tell the papers about the child in the slum,” Vance added.

“We let Ethan retire quietly to tend to his personal matters,” Vance said.

He looked at me, a cruel smile touching his lips.

“We will even keep paying for the hospital room,” Vance added. “Under the table.”

I felt a cold wave of anger wash over me.

“You are using a dying woman to steal his company,” I said.

Vance didn’t look at me; his eyes were fixed entirely on Ethan.

“It’s called leverage, my dear,” Vance said.

“And in this city, leverage is the only thing that matters,” Vance added.

Ethan walked back to the table, his eyes locked on the resignation paper.

He reached out and picked up his heavy gold pen from the holder.