I stopped to help a woman who was dy//ing on the side of the road and lost my job because I arrived late

She glanced toward Gavin.

“But apparently not what everyone would have done.”

Gavin cleared his throat.

“Mrs. Halston, I think there has been a misunderstanding.”

Mrs. Halston.

The name struck me.

I looked at her again.

Then at the executives.

Then everything clicked.

Eleanor Halston.

Founder and chairwoman of Halston Capital.

Her photograph had appeared in business magazines for decades, although the photos I remembered showed darker hair and a younger face.

She had built a regional manufacturing company with her late husband and transformed it into an investment empire worth billions.

I actually laughed from shock.

“You’re Eleanor Halston?”

She smiled.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Gavin moved forward.

“Christopher, Eleanor was just explaining what happened, and obviously we didn’t have all the information when—”

She raised one finger.

Gavin stopped talking instantly.

“I have already explained this to Mr. Mercer,” Eleanor said. “But I would like to hear something from you.”