Part 3
Part 3
Daniel didn't chase me.
He didn't beg.
He simply stood in the middle of the kitchen as if the floor beneath him had disappeared.
Patricia found her voice first.
"You can't fire him!"
I turned back calmly.
"I already did."
She laughed nervously.
"My son practically is that company."
"No," I replied. "He worked for it."
"There has to be a contract—"
"There is."
I looked at Daniel.
"You signed it."
His eyes stayed fixed on the table.
He remembered every page.
The non-compete clause.
The confidentiality agreement.
The termination provision.
He had signed all of them without reading carefully because he trusted me.
Ironically, it was the only time he ever had.
By nine o'clock that morning, the executive board was gathered in the conference room downtown.
Daniel wasn't invited.
His security badge had already been deactivated.
When he tried to enter the building, the scanner flashed red.
Two security officers approached politely.
"Mr. Brooks," one of them said, "we've been instructed to escort you to reception."
Employees nearby stopped talking.
Whispers spread across the lobby.
"What happened?"
"Is he quitting?"
"I thought he ran the company."
Daniel kept his head down.
"I just need to get to my office."
"I'm sorry, sir."
The officer held out a small box.
"We've packed your personal belongings."
Inside were framed family photos, a coffee mug, two notebooks, and a paperweight he'd received after closing his first major account.
Nothing else.
The company laptop had already been wiped remotely.
His access to every system had been revoked.
Upstairs, I addressed the executive team.
"I know rumors are already circulating," I began. "I'd rather give you the facts."
Every eye was on me.
"As of this morning, Daniel Brooks is no longer employed by this company."
No one looked surprised.
In fact, several people looked... relieved.
"Our clients deserve stability," I continued. "Operations will continue without interruption."
My CFO, Linda, nodded.
"We're prepared."
After the meeting, she lingered behind.
"I've wanted to say something for a long time."
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"We all knew Daniel had changed."
She hesitated.
"But we didn't realize how bad it had become at home."
I didn't answer.
She sighed.
"He'd been taking credit for your ideas in meetings."
That didn't surprise me.
"He introduced your expansion plan as his own."
"I know."
"You knew?"
"I approved the presentation."
Linda blinked.
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to see whether success would make him grateful... or arrogant."
"And?"
"You already know the answer."
That afternoon, my attorney called.
"The divorce petition has been filed."
"And the property damage?"
"We've attached photographs, repair estimates, security footage, and witness statements."
"Witnesses?"
"The neighbors."
Apparently, Patricia's screaming had echoed through the entire street.
Three neighbors had heard her yelling that everything belonged to her son.
One had even recorded part of the outburst on a phone after hearing glass break.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, Daniel was discovering just how much of his life depended on me.
His company credit card stopped working.
The luxury SUV he'd been driving was registered to the business.
It was collected before sunset.
His corporate phone was disabled.
His health insurance ended with his employment.
Even the country club membership Patricia loved to brag about had been paid through the company.
Canceled.
By evening, mother and son sat in the same kitchen where Patricia had destroyed my clothes.
Only now, the silence terrified them.
Finally, Patricia slammed her hand on the table.
"This is all your fault!"
Daniel stared at her.
"My fault?"
"You let her control everything!"
He laughed bitterly.
"No, Mom."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"You told me she was lucky to have me."
Patricia crossed her arms.
"She was."
"No."
He looked around the beautiful house—the house that had never belonged to him.
"I was the lucky one."
For the first time, Patricia had no argument.
May you like
Because the illusion she'd built for years had finally collapsed.
And in its place stood the truth neither of them had ever wanted to face.
