ed past Olivia, directly at Mr. Miller. "I

at Olivia and Alex, but he knew my value. He knew I was the one who

avoiding my gaze. "This is a family matter. W

ter' s happiness, but he also valued his r

out," I said. "Olivia mad

on back to Alex, wh

integration for the new operating system is complete and d

t OS. This time, I had completed it in six months, working with a

hat that project was worth. It was the future

nt to understand. To him, thi

ycheck you' ve been earning?" he sneered. "You came to

watch on your wrist? A gift from Mr. Miller. You owe everything to them. You should w

petty, cr

shut Alex down. To show some semblance of l

silent, hi

moment that mirrored the one from my

ngth. "Give it all back, Ethan. The watch. The car keys. Everything

ther. She was siding with the man who had just publicly humiliated

y I' d seen as she held the gasoline can. This wasn' t just about her love fo

e spread ac

f a man who had seen the absolute worst of h

I said

om wen

dically, I be

iller had given me when we closed the first big deal.

any-provided Mercedes from my pocke

might actually care. I removed my personal ID and a single twenty-dollar

my cufflinks, my

egan to unbu

iller finally spoke, a hint of panic

I said without looking at him.

ershirt and trousers. The tuxedo, the symbol of my

ef. Even he hadn't expected me to call his bluff so completely. O

aterial possessions they had given m

ey were taking

they were se

ds the door, n

d out, his voice desperate now.

hreshold, but I d

"You have your daughter. She has h

sound of Mr. Miller shouting my name fading behind me