“You’ve been living in my building for three years,” Alexander said, voice filled with realization, “watching me struggle with problems you could have solved in minutes, while staying silent about your abilities.”
“I wanted to help,” Mia said softly. “But Mommy made me promise not to show off. She was afraid people would think she was using me.”
Elena was crying now. “I was terrified of losing the only stable job I could find. Mia needed medical monitoring, specialized programs, therapy…”
Alexander walked to the windows, staring at the glittering city lights. For three years he had treated them as invisible while they quietly observed his life.
He turned back. “Mia, would you like to help me save the remaining fifteen million and catch the other criminals?”
Mia grinned. “Yes, please. But after we catch them… can we talk about a much better job for Mommy? Cleaning offices is a terrible waste of her incredible brain.”
Alexander looked at Elena with completely new eyes. “Dr. Ramirez, how would you feel about becoming my new head of international operations with full authority over all foreign partnerships?”