company's long-term succession pla

ocument lying on the table in front of me. I didn't need t

age matters, Mr. Dhark. You're thirty-six and inves

calm and composed. "My marriage and my f

ers exchanged

"It's been five years since your marriage to Claire Moreau... yet s

As if Claire was a failing business asse

ife, He continued. "Of cour

art beat louder than us

tirred inside me. She was a memor

craping sharply against the polished flo

over. I

Dha

was harsh and unquestionable.

m before my temper exploded, but t

ability, pu

felt suffocating

ouldn't fix, things I didn't know how to approac

et trapped by the world's expectations.

he back of my mind

rget -Eva. Her green eyes, her t

uried who refus

oke up to sunlight sp

bed, still dressed in yesterda

immediately felt pity for her. She had seen the photos, confr

membered a differe

me tea when I worked late, and I would

I realized how dangerous my em

lled, sittin

ending she hadn't been crying, the

es were red and swollen. "We should go t

instructed my secretary to schedule an appointment wi

uld have call

up for it? I asked,

hat's wrong with me." Her voice

I hated it when she spoke l

o tell her-things I should have said

h her. That the photos meant less than she

ed my mouth, no

disinfectant and lavende

o the surface: my mother's failing body, the machi

seat, ready to finally leave t

disbelief. "After w

o home

I needed to leave before the hospital walls su

way politely, but t

t the window, with tears sliding down her

reach for her and hold her. I couldn'

useless, while she cried. I had hurt

f the car and into the house withou

ked through the front door and into

rozen. Unsure of whether I shou

e the

o be the man she ne

than a man who couldn

e, my phone buzzed. I glanced at t

ed a beat when I saw

Ster

then curiosity... weakness

ed to

the photo

xt. I knew Eva too well. And I knew leake