Daniel froze.
There it was.
The first lie breaking open without me saying a word.
“That’s basically what happened,” he said.
James finally spoke.
“No.
It isn’t.”
Daniel’s face darkened.
“This is inappropriate.”
“Then correct me,” James said.
“Tell Carmen why your employment ended.”
Guests nearby had begun watching.
Carmen’s cheeks flushed.
“Can someone please tell me what’s happening?”
Daniel set down his glass.
“I had a disagreement with the company.
James is making it sound criminal because Whitmore lawyers don’t like anyone challenging them.”
James opened the leather case he had carried from the airport.
Daniel stepped forward.
“You cannot show her confidential company documents.”
James stopped.
The room went quiet.
Carmen stared at Daniel.
“How do you know what’s in his case?”
Daniel realized his mistake.
“I don’t.”
“You just said he couldn’t show me company documents.”
“Because that’s obviously why he’s here.”
Carmen turned toward James.
“Is Daniel in trouble?”
James answered carefully.
“Whitmore terminated Daniel after an internal investigation found undisclosed conflicts involving contractors he supervised and false disclosures he submitted to the company.
Additional financial matters were referred for outside review.”
Carmen’s face went pale.
“Daniel?”
He shook his head.
“It’s corporate politics.”
“Did you get fired?”
“Technically.”
She flinched as though he had struck the table.
“You told me you resigned.”
“Because I knew you’d overreact.”
That sentence changed her.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Her shoulders straightened.
“What else did you lie about?”
“Nothing.”
My phone vibrated.
I looked down.
It was a message from James’s attorney, whom he had introduced to me briefly before we entered.
James read it over my shoulder.
His expression sharpened.
Daniel saw that too.
“What now?” he snapped.
James looked at him.
