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His grip on me faltered as his mouth dropped open. “You what?”
The words spilled out in rapid fire. “I’m sorry. At the time, I didn’t know you weren’t responsible.”
He let go of my hands. His words came out slowly and deliberately. “Slow down. You’re not making any sense. Are you saying you provided the leaks to that Sigurd asshole?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He sat back, and his eyes went wide with disbelief. “Why?”
“I didn’t know,” I repeated.
The room was suddenly cold.
The kindness in his eyes skipped through disbelief on their way to anger. “Didn’t know he would write what he did? Didn’t know it would hurt the company? Didn’t know it would hurt me, and all the people you work with?”
The accusation that I’d wronged not just him but everybody at the company hung over me like a guillotine.
“I thought you killed my dad.”
That set him back even farther in his chair as he cocked his head. “I don’t go around killing people,” he spat. “I don’t even know your father. You’re the only Hanley I’ve ever met.”
“It’s complicated. This was all before I knew you.”
“And you thought it was okay to attack me because you didn’t know me? That’s a stupid-ass thing to believe. Do you have any idea how many people’s lives you’ve hurt?”
I felt even worse. “Do you remember Robert Davis?” I shivered, having to say Dad’s name out loud.
His eyes narrowed for a second as he tried to recall. “Yes. But what does that have to do with you?”
“He was my stepfather.”
He nodded as the memory registered. “He died in an accidental fire at the company. How could you possibly think I killed him?”
It sounded stupid now, but I had no choice. “My mother was sure it was your fault. You wouldn’t let us see the accident report. I promised her I’d get to the bottom of it.”
“And because you thought the company was responsible, you thought you’d take it out on all of us? That’s stupid, and frankly, mean.”
I deserved the criticism. “I’m here to apologize.”
“Do you want to know what really happened? Or do you and your mother not care about the truth?” The words were tinged with anger.
“I know the truth now.”
“I’m not sure you do. I spared your mother the knowledge that your stepfather caused his own death. And do you want to know why?”
He continued when I didn’t say anything.
“I did that to maximize the insurance settlement she got. If it had been ruled his fault, your mother would have gotten almost nothing.”
“We didn’t know that.”
He rubbed it in. “I didn’t do it because I had to. I insisted on it because it was the decent thing to do for her.” He shook his head. “How could you?”
I didn’t have an answer. There was no way for me to repent for the sin I’d committed. “I judged you without the evidence, and that was wrong. I was wrong. I’m so sorry.”
He stood. “I think you should leave.”
I got up, pulled my employee badge from my pocket, and put it on the table. “I really am sorry.”
