Chapter 2

Back then, my father was hit by that truck. Kind passersby called the police and got him to the hospital. He was still breathing.

The doctor asked me for Paige James's phone number, and several doctors and nurses took turns calling her more than fifty times before they finally got through.

They politely urged her to come quickly and pay so he could be admitted to the ICU for emergency treatment.

Mom said, "I can't get there that fast. I've made plans to see a movie with a friend, and I have to wait until it's over."

Chad Sanchez's voice came through the receiver. "Paige, who's calling?"

"It's my kid. Says his father got hit by a car and needs the ICU. Probably wants me to pay for it again."

I cried and begged her, "Mom, the doctor said Dad is still alive, he just needs to get into the ICU. If you can't come, can you transfer the money to Dr. Sears's account?"

Mom flatly refused. "How could I do that? What if it's a scam?"

"Mom, I'm begging you, please come within half an hour. I won't ask for allowance anymore, and I'll give you all my New Year's money too."

"So annoying. We'll talk after I finish the movie!" Mom muttered, and hung up.

When I called back, the phone was switched off.

I had no choice but to call my grandparents, and they were frantic!

Then I begged Dr. Sears, and out of consideration for me, he and his colleagues quickly pooled together some funds to save my father.

Dad was brought back.

But there was no money for follow-up care, and by the time Grandpa rushed over early that morning, Dad had become a vegetable.

Mom didn't drift in until the afternoon of the next day.

She looked him over, and contempt showed in her eyes.

On the third day, Mom signed the papers to take Dad off the ventilator.

The moment I heard, I cried until my heart broke, and my grandmother fainted on the spot.

Paige James did not attend Dad's funeral.

After that, she sent me to a group home.

I was bullied all day long.

It wasn't until six months later that my grandfather took me to live in the countryside.

I gathered up my now-heavy heart and walked toward the conference room.

In the conference room, Chairman Ronnie Lawrence sat there, watching me.

"Egbert, I hear you have some personal history with the Sanchezs?"

Ronnie poured me a cup of tea and spoke politely.

I smiled. "Mr. Lawrence, please believe that I'm a professional. This has nothing to do with any personal grudge."

Ronnie nodded. "The Sanchezs are a large enterprise, twenty years of a solid reputation, never a single problem. Plenty of brokerages rate them A-plus. Our company worked hard to land this high-quality piece of business with them. If this secondary offering goes through, the company stands to profit!"

He looked at me. "You do your work seriously, you're a real professional. I've already put your name before the board as a key candidate to groom. Next month you could take up the role of Chief Risk Officer, and within the next two years you might even make vice president."

I was stunned!

This was the company recognizing my ability!

But all I said, mildly, was, "Thank you for your trust, Mr. Lawrence."

Seeing that I offered no promises and gave no reaction, he looked a little disappointed. "They'll be here shortly to confront you."

"I hope your starting point is the duty of your position, not a personal grudge."

"Don't let irrational behavior or personal factors cost the company a major deal."

Turning his words over, you could hear his displeasure at my going my own way.

After we finished our tea, someone pushed the door open and came in.

Among the group filing in, I saw that woman.

My biological mother, and also the accomplice who caused my father's wretched death—Paige James.

She wore designer clothes, her hair done in big permed waves. She'd put on some weight, but you could still make out the lovely features she'd had when she was young.

She sat down amid the crowd fussing around her like she was the center of the universe.

Seated beside her were her husband, Chad Sanchez, and Mamie Sanchez.

Paige James looked at me, and I looked at her too.

Twenty years, and mother and son were meeting under circumstances like these.

"Manager Hughes, I hear you sent our company's listing materials back for review. On what basis?"

Mamie asked.

I said, "Financial fraud."

"Financial fraud?"

Everyone froze.

Paige James spoke, her voice without feeling. "Since our company went public, we've never had a single financial issue exposed, and our profitability is strong. We have never once delayed employee salaries or supplier payments!"

"Your two sponsoring staff in the business department and the internal review panel of experts all signed off, and yet you want it sent back for re-review?"

I ignored her aggressive questioning. "In my opinion, your company has serious financial problems, so it will not be approved."

Mamie said, "Mom, I think this man is coming after us specifically."

Paige James smiled. "Just as spineless as his father—only able to play his little tricks on petty things like this."

At that moment, Secretary Walker and several experts walked in. She handed me a stack of documents. "Manager Hughes, the internal review meeting has once again approved the Sanchezs' offering plan."

Mamie looked at me smugly. "The second review turned up no problems. If you keep obstructing us, it can only be a personal grudge—you taking revenge on us."