Chapter 18 - “THIS ISN’T ABOUT MY SON”The question came from a reporter.
Aaron had hoped the incident would remain private.
But somebody eventually connected Whitcomb Capital's investment to the Beverly Hills confrontation.
A finance journalist called Dana.
Did Aaron Whitcomb investigate Barron Mobility after a personal dispute involving his son?
The language was careful.
The implication was not.
Dana entered Aaron's office.
“We need a statement.”
“Minimal.”
“Agreed.”
“Transaction diligence was conducted according to firm standards. I recused from the final investment vote due to a personal conflict.”
Dana nodded.
“That handles process.”
“What about Milo?”
“No comment.”
“Good.”
“But Chase's side may comment.”
Aaron looked up.
“What are they saying?”
“Nothing yet.”
At Barron Mobility, Gavin delivered the same warning.
“If asked, do not discuss the child.”
Chase looked annoyed.
“Then Whitcomb controls the narrative.”
“There should not be a narrative involving an eight-year-old.”
“He makes himself look ethical by saying he recused.”
“He did recuse.”
“After ordering the review.”
“Which found legitimate problems.”
Chase stood.
“You always come back to that.”
“Because the documents keep existing no matter how angry you are.”
Chase paced.
“What if they ask whether the incident happened?”
“Say it is a private family matter and you regret your conduct.”
Chase frowned.
“That's an admission.”
“You're on video.”
The first article appeared that evening.
It mentioned the investment.
Governance changes.
Executive expense controls.
Then, near the bottom, a paragraph stated that Whitcomb had recused himself because of “a previously undisclosed personal incident involving Barron and a member of Whitcomb's family.”
No details.
Yet social media filled the blanks anyway.
Speculation became increasingly ridiculous.
Business feud.
Secret lawsuit.
Romantic scandal.
Road rage.
Aaron ignored it.
Then a grainy still image appeared online.
From outside Bellavere.
Chase facing Aaron.
Milo visible behind him.
Aaron's stomach dropped.
“Where did that come from?”
Rebecca called the restaurant.
The restaurant denied releasing footage.
The image was not from their camera.
Probably a bystander.
Claire entered Aaron's office.
“Milo can't see this.”
“I know.”
Too late.
At school the next day, another child asked Milo whether his dad was the billionaire from TikTok.
Milo came home confused.
“Why do they care?”
Aaron and Claire sat with him.
“Someone posted a picture from the restaurant,” Aaron said.
“The slap?”
“Not the video. A picture.”
Milo looked anxious.
“Do people know?”
“Some people know there was an argument.”
“Do they know I broke the window?”
“Maybe.”
Milo stared at the floor.
Aaron felt the familiar anger.
Not because people knew.
Because Milo was embarrassed again.
“I don't want everyone thinking I'm the kid who broke a supercar.”
Claire sat beside him.
“Then don't let one mistake become your name.”
“But they'll say it.”
“For a while,” Aaron said.
Milo looked at him.
“Did you ever do something embarrassing?”
Aaron laughed.
“Many things.”
“Like?”
Claire smiled.
“Oh, I have stories.”
Aaron pointed at her.
“None legally admissible.”
Milo finally smiled.
The online attention faded after two days.
Then something unexpected happened.
Chase received a request for comment from the same journalist.
Gavin drafted the safe response.
Chase read it.
Mr. Barron regrets an unfortunate private interaction and will not comment on a minor.
Technically perfect.
Emotionally empty.
He stared at it.
Then wrote another sentence.
Gavin saw it.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you're admitting physical conduct.”
“It happened.”
Gavin looked surprised.
Chase continued.
“I slapped him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are we writing ‘interaction’?”
“Because legal language protects you.”
Chase looked at the draft again.
For the first time, protection felt like cowardice.
“What if I say I reacted inappropriately?”
“Better.”
“That's still vague.”
Gavin stared.
“Chase, are you trying to confess?”
“No.”
He rubbed his face.
“I’m trying to stop sounding like a machine.”
Gavin sat down.
“Then say you made a serious error in judgment and regret causing distress to a child.”
Chase read it.
“Did I cause distress?”
Gavin blinked.
“You slapped him.”
Chase looked away.
The words were obvious when someone else said them.
He thought of Milo's face.
Not crying loudly.
Not screaming.
Just stunned.
He had forgotten that image because remembering the broken window had been easier.
That night, Chase sent no statement.
Instead, he searched Aaron's public contact details.
He found Rebecca's office.
He wrote one email.
I want to apologize to Milo. No settlement discussion. No press. No conditions. If he does not want to see me, I will respect that.
Rebecca forwarded it to Aaron.
Aaron read it twice.
Claire looked over his shoulder.
“What do you think?”
May you like
Aaron put down the phone.
“I think this is the first message he's sent that doesn't mention the car.”
Related Stories
