Chapter 11 - The ChoiceSix months later, Richard Vale went to trial.
Reed Global shares fell eleven percent in two days.
Reporters camped outside the mansion.
Every news network repeated the same questions.
How much did Charles Reed know?
Did Alexander Reed conceal family crimes?
Had Reed Global been built partly on stolen charitable money?
Alexander’s board demanded an emergency meeting.
One director told him to distance himself publicly from Charles.
Another advised attacking Richard’s credibility.
A third suggested Sophie and Lily should be moved out of Reed House before reporters discovered the maid’s connection to the evidence.
Alexander slowly closed his folder.
“Excuse me?”
The director shifted.
“I’m thinking strategically.”
“You’re suggesting I throw a woman and her child out of my home because their presence might inconvenience our public relations team.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s exactly what you said.”
The room became silent.
Alexander stood.
“For thirty years, this company has protected powerful men by deciding ordinary people were expendable.”
He looked around the table.
“That ends today.”
He announced an independent investigation into every financial transaction connected to Charles and Richard.
He waived confidentiality restrictions where legally possible.
He pledged Reed funds to repay any charitable losses.
The board hated it.
The public did not.
For the first time, Alexander stopped managing appearances and simply told the truth.
Charles watched the press conference from his apartment.
Later, he came to Reed House.
Alexander met him in the library.
“I saw your statement,” Charles said.
“And?”
“You did what I should have done thirty years ago.”
Alexander said nothing.
Charles looked at Katherine’s writing box.
“I loved her.”
Alexander’s face hardened.
“Love without respect is possession.”
Charles absorbed the words.
“I know that now.”
“Too late.”
“Yes.”
Charles’s voice broke.
“Yes, it is.”
Alexander had waited most of his life to see his father humbled.
It gave him no satisfaction.
“Did you know Richard cut the brake line?”
“No.”
“Would you tell me if you did?”
Charles met his eyes.
“I don’t know how to prove that I would.”
At least it was truthful.
Charles took an envelope from his coat.
“What is that?”
“My resignation from the Reed Foundation board.”
Alexander accepted it.
“And I’ve instructed my attorneys to transfer nearly all my remaining personal holdings into a restitution fund.”
Alexander stared at him.
“That won’t bring her back.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because apology without cost is just noise.”
Alexander looked at his father for a long time.
It was the first thing Charles had said that sounded like repentance.
Not redemption.
Not forgiveness.
A beginning.
Meanwhile, Sophie faced another problem.
Her connection to Margaret became public.
Reporters waited outside her former apartment.
One tabloid called her “the billionaire’s mystery maid.”
Another claimed she had seduced Alexander to gain access to family secrets.
Sophie was furious.
“I haven’t even seduced you.”
Alexander nearly choked on his coffee.
She stared at him.
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant.”
“Good.”
A dangerous silence followed.
Lily sat at the breakfast table coloring.
She looked up.
“Mommy’s face red.”
Sophie covered her face.
Alexander laughed.
The sound startled one of the servants walking past.
Nobody had heard Alexander laugh like that before.
Sophie pointed at him.
“Do not encourage her.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You are enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
Lily grinned.
For a moment, they resembled something dangerously close to a family.
That frightened Sophie more than any newspaper story.
Later that evening, she asked Alexander to talk.
“I need to move out.”
His expression changed.
“Why?”
“The investigation is almost over.”
“That has nothing to do with where you live.”
“I’m your employee.”
“You don’t have to be.”
She exhaled.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep using employment as a wall.”
Sophie looked at him.
“And what happens if I remove it?”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Then maybe we figure out what this is.”
Her heart hammered.
“This?”
“You know.”
“No. Say it.”
Alexander Reed could negotiate acquisitions worth ten billion dollars without blinking.
But standing in front of Sophie Carter, he looked almost nervous.
“I think about you when you’re not in the room.”
She said nothing.
“I worry about you.”
He continued.
“I hear Lily running down the hall and the house feels less empty.”
Sophie’s eyes filled.
“When you laugh, I want to know what caused it. When you’re sad, I want to fix it even though I know you hate when I try to fix everything.”
A tear escaped down her cheek.
Alexander touched it gently.
“And when I thought Richard had taken Lily from us…”
“Us?”
Alexander paused.
“Yes.”
Sophie’s breath caught.
“I realized there isn’t a version of my life I want anymore that doesn’t include both of you.”
He did not kiss her.
He waited.
Sophie stepped closer.
“Alexander.”
“Yes?”
“You talk too much for a man who barely used to speak.”
Then she kissed him.
It was gentle.
Uncertain.
Real.
Alexander touched her face.
When they separated, Sophie whispered, “This is complicated.”
“Everything worth having seems to be.”
From the hallway came a small voice.
“Mommy kissed Alex.”
They turned.
Lily stood there holding her rabbit.
Sophie closed her eyes.
“Oh, no.”
Lily grinned.
“I saw.”
Alexander crouched.
“This information is confidential.”
Lily whispered loudly, “Okay.”
Then she ran down the hall shouting, “Mommy kissed Alex!”
Sophie looked at him.
“Your confidentiality agreement failed.”
Alexander laughed.
May you like
For perhaps the first time in his life—
He did not care who heard.
