“I’m starting to,” he said honestly. “Because of you and Alex.”
Nina turned away, and he saw her wipe at her eyes.
“You’re probably exhausted,” Stanton said gently. “I’ll let you rest. Here’s my number.” He set a card on the table by the door. “Call anytime if you need anything.”
He was heading out when her voice stopped him.
“Mike.”
She had rarely used that name even back when they were together.
“Thank you. For everything.”
Stanton nodded and stepped out into the hallway. There he took a long breath, trying to steady himself. In less than a day his life had been turned upside down, and he still hadn’t fully absorbed it. Once downstairs, he told the driver to take him to the office. Tired or not, there were still things to handle.
Three months later, Stanton sat in his office reviewing the company’s quarterly reports. The numbers were strong. Despite everything, business was doing well. After the bank deal collapsed, he had shifted strategy and leaned harder into tech investments. The move had paid off. Several startups had done exceptionally well.
The phone on his desk rang, interrupting his thoughts.
“Yes?” Stanton answered.
“Mr. Stanton, you have a visitor,” his assistant said. “Alex Keller.”
Stanton smiled without meaning to.
“Send him in.”
The door opened and Alex walked into the office. Over the past few months the boy had changed noticeably. He had filled out some, grown taller, and the hunted look was gone from his eyes. The black gang mark on his hand had been removed, leaving only a faint trace.
“Hey,” the boy said, coming up to the desk. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all.” Stanton pushed the papers aside. “Always good to see you. How’s school?”
“Pretty good.” Alex shrugged. “Got an A in math. English teacher still thinks I rush my essays, but I’ve been working with that tutor like you said.”
“Good,” Stanton said with a nod. “I’m proud of you.”
Alex smiled, a little embarrassed, and sat down in the chair across from him.
“Mom asked me to tell you she’ll be late tonight. Some big project came up.”
Stanton nodded. Nina had been working in his company’s finance department for two months now, after completing a refresher program. To his relief, no one had treated it as a sentimental hire for long. Her competence had settled that question quickly.
“Yes, I know,” Stanton said. “Looks like all of us may be here late. But that doesn’t change the weekend plan.”
“Really?” Alex asked, brightening. “We’re still going fishing?”
“Of course,” Stanton said with a smile. “I said we would. And I keep my word.”
The phrase had become a kind of shorthand between them, a quiet callback to the day they first met at the Imperial.
The whole Samir Gazi business was long over. Thanks to testimony from Nina and Alex, plus the evidence gathered by Stanton’s security team, the gang members had received lengthy prison sentences. Gazi himself, convicted not only of kidnapping but also smuggling and using minors in criminal activity, had been sentenced to fifteen years in a maximum-security facility.
Stanton’s relationship with his son had not come easily. After leaving the hospital, Alex had kept his distance for a while, wary of every attempt at closeness. Stanton didn’t push. He understood that trust had to be earned. He simply showed up. Helped where he could. Asked about school. Listened. Gradually the ice began to thaw. First Alex agreed to a movie. Then a visit to Stanton’s office. Then a weekend trip outdoors. With each meeting, the bond between them grew a little stronger. Now, three months in, Stanton could see that his son was beginning to trust him.
Things with Nina were more complicated. She had accepted his help, but kept an emotional distance. Stanton understood that too. Fifteen years of hurt do not disappear in a season. Still, there had been movement. Sometimes he caught her looking at him in a way that suggested old feelings had not entirely died.
The divorce from his wife had gone surprisingly smoothly. Elena seemed almost relieved to be free of a marriage that had long since become ceremonial. Thanks to a well-written prenup, the financial damage was minimal. His daughter, studying in London, reacted to the news with complete indifference.
“By the way,” Alex said, pulling Stanton out of his thoughts, “I wanted to ask you something about college.”
“Sure. What about it?”
“Well…” The boy hesitated. “I’m not sure what I want to do yet. Mom says economics is practical. But I think I might like programming better. What do you think?”
Stanton considered the question. It mattered. The choice would shape the boy’s future.
“I think,” he said at last, “that a person ought to do work he actually cares about. If programming interests you, then that’s worth taking seriously. These days it’s every bit as practical as economics.”
Alex lit up.
“Really? You actually think so?”
