Chapter 4 - Christopher Tells the World
The press conference lasted eleven minutes.
It changed everything.
Christopher stood alone at the podium outside Pierce Global headquarters.
No lawyers beside him.
No public relations team.
No family representatives.
Only cameras.
He looked directly into them.
“Emma Monroe is my biological daughter.”
The reporters erupted.
Christopher continued.
“I have known since shortly after her birth.”
More shouting.
“I kept that truth private because I believed privacy would protect her.”
He paused.
“I was wrong.”
The statement was expensive.
Personally.
Legally.
Financially.
Within minutes, Pierce Global shares dropped.
Within an hour, commentators were questioning whether Christopher had concealed an heir to manipulate trust distributions.
By noon, three board members demanded an investigation.
Christopher expected all of it.
What he did not expect was Emma's question that night.
“Are people mad because I'm your daughter?”
He looked at her across the dining table.
“No.”
“They said my name on TV.”
Christopher turned the television off.
“That was my mistake.”
Emma lowered her eyes.
“Juliette said people would hate me if they knew.”
Christopher moved beside her.
“Juliette lied.”
“She said I ruin things.”
“You don't.”
“She said Grandma wished I had never come here.”
Christopher's voice broke.
“You didn't ruin this family.”
He knelt.
“You revealed what was already wrong with it.”
Emma didn't fully understand.
She didn't need to.
She put her arms around his neck.
That was enough.
Later that night, Naomi called.
“We found P-317.”
Christopher stood.
“What is it?”
“Pierce Storage Archive, Unit 317.”
“Where?”
“An old company records facility outside Philadelphia.”
Christopher looked at the brass key.
“Who owns it?”
“Technically?”
“Yes.”
“Pierce Global.”
Christopher almost laughed.
His father had hidden evidence inside the company itself.
“Can Estelle access it?”
Naomi hesitated.
“Yes.”
May you like
Christopher grabbed his coat.
“Then we're going now.”
