The Billionaire Left the Same $10 Tip Every Morning… Until She Finally Asked Why
Chapter 8
The investigation revealed more than Daniel expected.
Voss hadn’t acted alone.
Several executives had helped conceal the fraud.
Some were still working inside Mercer Holdings.
The discovery created a serious problem.
If Daniel exposed them, the company could collapse temporarily.
If he stayed silent, they could destroy the evidence.
Martin advised caution.
Daniel chose transparency.
But before he could act, someone broke into his office.
Nothing was stolen.
Only one thing was moved.
A photograph.
The photograph of Daniel’s father.
It had been placed on Daniel’s desk.
Under it was a note.
TEN DOLLARS WASN’T ENOUGH.
Daniel stared at the message.
He called security.
Then Clara.
She answered immediately.
“What happened?”
“Someone broke into my office.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing.”
“Then what did they want?”
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“I think they wanted me to know they’re not finished.”
That night, Daniel returned to the café.
He sat in the old booth.
Clara brought coffee.
She didn’t ask what he wanted.
She already knew.
He placed ten dollars beside the cup.
Clara looked at it.
“Still?”
“Still.”
She sat across from him.
“Are you afraid?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.”
She reached across the table.
“Good.”
He frowned.
“Good?”
“Fear means you understand what’s at stake.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“You’re becoming very wise.”
“No.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I’m becoming stubborn.”
For the first time, Daniel laughed during one of the worst weeks of his life.
Then the café door opened.
Martin entered.
He walked directly toward Daniel.
“We found the original ledger.”
Daniel stood.
“Where?”
Martin looked at Clara.
“Somewhere no one expected.”
“Where?”
Martin answered:
“Your father’s old apartment.”
Daniel froze.
The apartment had been sold twenty years ago.
Nobody should have had access.
Unless someone had been keeping it hidden.
