“My father founded this company.”
Melissa said nothing.
Ethan turned the paper over.
There was another line.
Ask him about the land.
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Who?”
Melissa looked confused.
“Who are you supposed to ask?”
Ethan folded the paper.
“I'm supposed to ask myself.”
He left the archive.
That afternoon, Ethan returned to his office.
He ordered his legal department to retrieve every historical land acquisition document connected to Harrison Global's headquarters.
The files arrived two hours later.
There were dozens.
He read them one by one.
Then he found something strange.
The original property had not been purchased by Harrison Global.
It had been purchased by a company called Mercer Development.
Ethan stared at the document.
Mercer Development had sold the land to Harrison Industries in 1982.
The price was absurdly low.
Far below market value.
There was also a handwritten note attached to the contract.
Payment deferred until completion.
Ethan's heart began pounding.
He called the company's oldest surviving attorney.
His name was Walter Price.
Walter arrived forty minutes later.
He was eighty-two.
He had worked for Harrison Global since before Ethan was born.
Ethan placed the document on the table.
“Explain this.”
Walter looked at it.
His face became serious.
“Where did you find that?”
“In our archives.”
“You shouldn't have.”
“Why?”
Walter sat down.
“Because some histories are buried for a reason.”
Ethan leaned forward.
“Who was Daniel Mercer?”
Walter looked toward the window.
“Your father knew him before Harrison Global existed.”
“What happened?”
Walter sighed.
“Daniel had the money.”
Ethan frowned.
“What money?”
“The original investment.”
Ethan stared.
Walter continued.
“Your father had the vision. Daniel had the land, the engineering plans, and most of the financing.”
“So my father didn't start the company alone.”
“No.”
“Who did?”
Walter looked him directly in the eyes.
“Two men.”
“Richard Harrison and Daniel Mercer.”
Silence filled the room.
Ethan stood.
“Why was Daniel erased?”
Walter didn't answer.
“Tell me.”
“He wasn't erased.”
“Then why was he declared dead?”
Walter lowered his voice.
“Because he disappeared.”
“Why?”
“Your father said Daniel stole company money.”
Ethan stared.
“Did he?”
Walter's eyes were full of regret.
“I never believed it.”
“Then why didn't you say anything?”
“Because I was thirty-two years old, Ethan. Your father had hundreds of employees, investors, politicians, lawyers, and enough money to destroy anyone who challenged him.”
Ethan looked at the documents.
“And Daniel?”
“Daniel had none of those things.”
“What happened to him?”
Walter shook his head.
“I don't know.”
A knock sounded.
The door opened.
Claire stood there.
“Mr. Harrison?”
Ethan looked up.
“What?”
“There is a man downstairs.”
Ethan's face tightened.
“Daniel?”
“No.”
“Who?”
Claire swallowed.
“He says his name is Samuel Mercer.”
Walter suddenly stood.
“What did you say?”
“Samuel Mercer.”
Walter's face had gone white.
Ethan noticed.
“Walter?”
The old attorney whispered:
“That's Daniel's son.”
THE BOY WHO REMEMBERED
Samuel Mercer was fifty-one.
He stood in the lobby wearing a navy jacket and carrying a small cardboard box.
Unlike his father, he looked directly at people.
He had no hesitation.
When Ethan entered the lobby, Samuel turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Samuel said:
“You look like your father.”
Ethan stopped.
“You knew him?”
“I hated him.”
The lobby became silent.
Ethan motioned toward a private conference room.
“Come with me.”
Samuel followed.
Inside, Ethan closed the door.
“Where is your father?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“That's not your concern.”
“It is if he has company property.”
Samuel laughed.
“Still using that story?”
Ethan's jaw tightened.
“My father believed Daniel stole from Harrison Industries.”
“Your father lied.”
Samuel opened the cardboard box.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Letters.
And a small metal key.
He placed them on the table.
“My father didn't steal anything.”
Ethan looked at the papers.
“What are these?”
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That Harrison Global was built on stolen work.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You expect me to believe my father stole an entire company?”
“No.”
Samuel leaned forward.
“I expect you to discover it yourself.”
He opened a folder.
Inside was a handwritten engineering plan.
Ethan recognized the signature immediately.
His father's signature appeared in the corner.
But beneath it was another.
Daniel Mercer.
The date was 1979.
Samuel pointed to the bottom.