Decade of the Fool

"The company had just taken off when a project my wife, Lenora Peterson, was in charge of ran into trouble.To ease her mind during her pregnancy, I went overseas in her stead, spending ten perilous years abroad before finally returning home, barely alive.Instead of the joyful reunion I had imagined, she greeted me with cold detachment and thinly veiled disgust."Why are you back?" Lenora asked."Today is Nathan’s housewarming party," she added. "Let’s head there first—we’ll talk later."We rode in silence the entire way.When we arrived, a ten-year-old girl came dashing over and clung to Lenora affectionately.“Mommy, why did you take so long? Daddy’s been waiting for you forever!”Daddy?My eyes burned with rage—until I saw my old friend Nathan Grant stepping out to greet us with a smile."Lily, come to Daddy. Mommy’s tired—don’t bother her now."When I met Lenora’s eyes, the guilt I saw there told me everything I needed to know.I turned away and texted my assistant, Morgan Williamson, to begin acquiring the company that, by right, had always belonged to me.He soon reported back."Mr. Brooke, the acquisition process will be completed in three days.""