Charlotte Monroe had been with me since she graduated from college. She wasn't just my secretary; she was also my personal assistant.
Now in her late thirties, Charlotte had never been married. There were always rumors flying around the office about us, but we kept things professional—nothing more.
The moment I stepped out of the office, I looked at her calmly and asked, "How many so far?"
"Twenty-eight confirmed," she replied without missing a beat. "A few more just submitted their paperwork, and some came straight to us with their info. I'm handling it."
I gave a thoughtful nod.
"Hm, good. Please make sure they are all fed and housed. When the time's right, bring them all over."
...
In the following days, I remained at the office, reviewing the accounts to ensure everything was prepared for the company's future.
When I finally returned home, the first thing I noticed was the empty fish tank.
Laughter and chatter drifted from the kitchen. Wearing an apron, Hector stepped out with a big smile on his face, holding a dish of fish.
On the plate was my koi, Lilo, valued at twenty million dollars.
Our eyes met. I'd seen his face in photos before.
I knew it was Hector.
I glanced over at the two kids, lounging on the sofa with their legs up, glued to their phones.
And then, from the kitchen, Melanie's cheerful voice floated in, "Hector, come here to the kitchen!"
My rage hit me like a flood. "Who told you to cook my fish? You don't take what isn't yours. Don't you understand that basic principle?"
From the kitchen, Melanie called again, "Hector, come taste this soup. Does it need more salt?"
The two kids immediately jumped up, both defensive.
Noelle retorted, "What are you trying to say? What do you mean, stealing?"
"Exactly," Archie chimed in. "This is Mom's house, which makes it ours too. Everything here belongs to us now. What's the big deal about eating a fish?"
I let out a disdainful laugh.
"That koi, Lilo, was something I bought at an auction for $20 million. And you're asking me what the big deal is?"
The girl still didn't seem to get it.
She let out a gleeful "Wow! A $20 million fish? Quick, take a picture! I can show it off to my friends. Let's see them try to upstage me now."
Melanie peeked out from the kitchen.
When she saw me, a flicker of guilt flashed across her face.
"Zach, you're back! You hadn't been home for days, so I invited them over for a meal…"
I sneered. "So, Melanie, you ate my koi, Lilo? You knew what it was worth."
She faltered, mumbling, "Zach, Hector didn't do it on purpose. The kids wanted braised fish, and we didn't have any at home. By the time I realized, the fish was already cleaned. What were we supposed to do? Waste it? It's not like we were feeding strangers."
Staring at the empty tank, a sharp ache hit my chest. I had cared for that fish for five years, investing at least $200,000 each month.
Now, suddenly, it was gone, dismissed with a casual 'it was already cleaned.'
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "He can pay for the fish or get out. Or else, I'm calling the police."
Archie sprang to his feet. "Old man, who are you telling to get out? Call the cops? Try it—I'll break your legs."
Then, Noelle stepped forward, glaring at me.
"You'd better show some respect to my dad. He's our birth father. If this is how you're going to act, don't expect any of us to care for you when you're old!"
I looked up at them, and sure enough, they were just as shameless as Hector.
Hector stood between them, raising an eyebrow with a smug grin, like an aging street thug.
I didn't want to waste any more time on them.
I turned to Melanie and said, "Melanie, you and I need to talk."
I walked over and sat on the sofa. Melanie glanced at Hector and her twins, and then hesitantly sat across from me.
The four of them looked like they were holding a tribunal. Archie and Noelle glared at me with malice. Meanwhile, Hector wore a smug, indifferent expression.
And so, I got straight to the point.
