Chapter 37: The Payoff of Mercy
Day 155, my phone rang while I was reviewing Meridian Tech's quarterly compliance documents.
Robert Chen.
"Scott. Got a minute?"
"For you? Always."
"Remember I mentioned my company's investors?"
I did—he'd brought in seed funding three months ago, Series A still pending.
"One of them is Richard Whitmore. His family just sold their manufacturing business for over three hundred million."
Whitmore. The family whose merger I handled. Where I found Marcus's embezzlement and chose mercy over exposure.
My pulse kicked up.
"He's looking for estate planning counsel. Tax optimization, trust structures, charitable foundation work. Asked if I knew any trusted lawyers."
[BLACKMAIL ARCHIVE: ALERT]
[WHITMORE FAMILY - MARCUS EMBEZZLEMENT]
[PRIVATE RESOLUTION: $850K REPAID QUIETLY]
[RELATIONSHIP STATUS: BUILT ON DISCRETION]
[NEW OPPORTUNITY: ESTATE PLANNING ENGAGEMENT]
[TEST: WHETHER MERCY APPROACH CREATED LASTING TRUST]
"I mentioned you. He wants to meet."
"When?"
"This weekend? His estate in Connecticut. Informal consultation, see if you're a good fit for the family."
This tests everything. Whether choosing private resolution over public exposure was actually the right call.
"I'll be there."
Day 157, Saturday morning, I took Metro-North to Greenwich.
The Whitmore estate was exactly what you'd expect from old Connecticut money—sprawling grounds, house that was technically a mansion but called itself "the cottage," the kind of understated wealth that didn't need to announce itself.
Richard Whitmore answered the door himself—early seventies, elegant suit even on a weekend, sharp eyes that missed nothing.
"Mr. Roden. Thank you for coming."
Marcus was in the study, standing when we entered.
He looked nervous.
"Robert speaks highly of you," Richard said, gesturing me to sit. "Says you handled our merger with exceptional thoroughness. My son Marcus mentioned the same."
Marcus met my eyes briefly—gratitude and residual fear in equal measure.
He hasn't told his father. Good.
"The merger went smoothly. I'm glad it worked out well for your family."
We discussed estate planning for ninety minutes—trust structures for Richard's grandchildren, charitable foundation establishment, tax optimization strategies for the sale proceeds.
Throughout, Marcus was unusually quiet, deferring to me on every technical question.
Richard noticed.
"Marcus, you're being unusually subdued."
"Just respect for expertise, Father."
After the formal meeting, Richard excused himself to take a call.
Marcus pulled me aside immediately.
"Thank you for not... I've repaid everything. Quietly, through consulting fees to the family foundation like you suggested. No one knows."
"I know. That's why we're having this conversation instead of a different one."
Relief flooded his expression.
"If you need anythingâ€""
"I need you to be better than you were. That's all."
He nodded seriously, and I believed he meant it.
Day 158, Richard Whitmore called my direct line at the office.
"Mr. Roden. I don't know what happened between you and Marcus, but my son trusts you completely. That's rare."
He suspects something but isn't pushing.
"Marcus and I have a professional understanding."
"I'm sure you do. Which is why we'd like to hire Pearson Hardman—with you as primary counsel—for all family legal matters. Estate planning, foundation work, ongoing business consultations. Retainer basis, one hundred eighty thousand annually."
I kept my voice professional despite the adrenaline.
"I'd be honored to represent your family."
"Excellent. I'll have my office send the engagement letter today."
After the call ended, I sat staring at my phone for a full minute.
$180,000 annual retainer. Because I chose mercy over exposure.
I went to Louis's office, knocked.
"Come in."
"Just landed another client. Whitmore family. Annual retainer, estate planning and business work."
Louis set down his pen.
"The same Whitmore family from the merger case?"
"Yes."
"How do you do this? You just keep building client relationships that turn into major engagements."
I thought about how to answer honestly without revealing the embezzlement.
"I treat people well when no one's watching. Apparently it compounds."
Louis studied me for a long moment.
"That's either the most ethical thing I've heard or the most calculated. I can't tell which."
"Can't it be both?"
He smiled slightly.
"With you? Probably."
That evening, Donna's apartment, I told her about the Whitmore engagement.
"Remember when I asked you about withholding information that could hurt someone?"
She looked up from her wine.
"When you found something during a case?"
"It was Marcus Whitmore. Embezzlement. Eight hundred fifty thousand over three years. I found it during due diligence but resolved it privately instead of exposing him."
Donna's expression shifted—surprise, then calculation, then understanding.
"And now his family hired you."
"Because I earned trust through discretion."
"So you did the right thing and got rewarded for it. That's supposed to happen, even if it rarely does."
I swirled wine in my glass, not drinking.
"But I calculated that private resolution might create relationship value. Does that make the mercy less genuine?"
Donna set down her wine, took my hand.
"Only if you regret it. Do you?"
"No."
"Then stop overthinking. You can be strategic and ethical. Stop treating them as mutually exclusive."
She's right. Why do I keep assuming calculation negates morality?
"You're getting better at this," Donna continued. "Integrating who you are with who you want to be. That's growth."
I pulled her closer, and we sat in comfortable silence.
Mercy paid off. Not because I calculated it would, but because it was right and smart simultaneously.
Maybe that's the goal. Finding where ethics and strategy align.
MORE POWER STONES And REVIEWS== MORE CHAPTERS
To supporting Me in Pateron .
with exclusive access to more chapters (based on tiers more chapters for each tiers) on my Patreon, you get more chapters if you ask for more (in few days), plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $6/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [ In The Witcher With Avatar Powers,In The Vikings With Deja Vu System,Stranger Things Demogorgon Tamer ...].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!