Chapter 4 - The Corporate Threat
Before Daniel could process the sheer magnitude of Maria’s confession, the heavy oak doors of the study were thrown open.
"Daniel! Thank God you're back!" a sharp, arrogant voice boomed.
It was Richard Vance, the Chief Financial Officer of Whitfield Tech and Daniel's late wife's cousin. Richard was a greedy, status-obsessed executive who had spent the last three years trying to push Daniel out of the CEO chair so he could take control of the family trust. He was flanked by two corporate attorneys carrying legal tablets.
Richard stopped, his eyes darting from the weeping Maria on the floor to the toddler on the sofa, and finally to Daniel’s pale, shocked expression.
"What is going on in here?" Richard sneered, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Maria. "Daniel, don't tell me you're letting the domestic staff disrupt your merger briefing. The Singapore board is waiting on the secure line for your signature."
"Leave us, Richard," Daniel said, his voice dangerously low. "Now."
"I can't do that, Daniel," Richard said, stepping further into the room and tossing a document onto the desk. "Our security team flagged a highly unusual medical database query from your private account this morning. It seems someone has been looking into the Saint Jude Clinic logs from three years ago. And then I see this..."
Richard pointed a mocking finger at Sophia, a cruel, calculating smile slowly creeping across his face.
"I'm not stupid, Daniel. I know Claire’s medical history. And I know about the frozen embryo," Richard whispered, his eyes gleaming with malicious triumph. "If this illegal, off-the-books child is indeed the biological product of that clinic, then the entire trust structure Claire left behind is compromised. You violated federal cryogenic disposal laws to bypass estate taxes. If the board hears about this 'miracle' baby, you'll be removed as CEO by tomorrow morning for gross ethical misconduct."
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Maria let out a sharp gasp, rushing to the sofa to wrap her arms protectively around Sophia. "No... please. She has nothing to do with the company! Don't hurt my baby!"
"It's not your baby, maid," Richard spat, looking down at Maria with absolute contempt. "It’s a corporate liability. And I'm going to ensure it's erased from the Whitfield legacy."
