Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT SOPHIA CAME TO THE OFFICE
The investigation lasted months.
Maria found temporary work through an independent staffing agency while BrightLine’s contract collapsed.
Daniel did not hire her directly.
She had asked him not to.
“I don't want every paycheck to feel like gratitude.”
He understood.
Mostly.
Then one evening Sophia came to Carter Financial with her mother.
Not midnight.
Six-thirty.
Maria was meeting Rachel with other workers to review restitution calculations.
Sophia sat in the lobby doing homework.
Daniel passed.
She looked up.
“Mr. Carter.”
“Still taller than the photographs?”
“Maybe they updated them.”
He sat across from her.
“What are you doing?”
“Fractions.”
“My condolences.”
She stared.
“You own a finance company.”
“That doesn't mean I enjoy fractions.”
“It literally should.”
Fair.
Maria appeared.
“Sophia.”
“What?”
Daniel stood.
“She was correcting my career.”
“She does that.”
Sophia asked:
“Why did you get rich?”
Maria closed her eyes.
Daniel thought.
“Combination of luck, work and being in the right industry at the right time.”
Sophia frowned.
“Mom says rich people always say work first.”
Daniel looked at Maria.
Maria looked toward the ceiling.
He almost laughed.
“Your mother is observant.”
Then Sophia asked:
“Were you hungry when you were little?”
Maria became still.
Daniel answered:
“Sometimes.”
“What did you eat?”
“Peanut butter crackers. Instant noodles. Whatever my mom brought home.”
Sophia considered.
“Then why don't rich people remember?”
That one landed harder than most board questions.
Daniel answered carefully.
“Some do.”
“And?”
“Remembering something happened to you doesn't automatically mean you notice when it happens to someone else.”
Sophia looked dissatisfied.
Good.
Children should be.
Maria said:
“We need to go.”
Daniel nodded.
As they left, Sophia turned.
“Your trophy was probably ugly.”
Daniel smiled.
“Finally, somebody understands.”
Maria laughed.
And Daniel realized he had begun looking forward to that sound.
He did nothing about it.
Not while her case remained open.
Not while Carter Financial was paying restitution connected to her employment.
May you like
Some desires are less important than timing.
That lesson had taken him forty-three years.
