Chapter 610
Elyse drove to the Lloyd Group headquarters. With Lanny incarcerated, the authorities had closed the business. By the time she arrived, employees had stripped the building of valuables, leaving only the shell of a once-thriving company. Papers littered the floor, and chairs were haphazardly strewn about the deserted office space.
Surveying the chaos, Elyse felt a pang of sadness. “My father built this company from the ground up,” she said, her voice tinged with melancholy. “It flourished in its early days, poised to make its mark in Watscar. I never imagined it would end like this after falling into Lanny’s hands.”
Morgan, who had accompanied Elyse, offered a calm assessment. “Lanny was never cut out for this. He lacked business acumen. When he took over, he relied on his capable employees. It didn’t take long for everyone to see him for what he was, and many talented individuals quit.”
Elyse nodded, her resolve firming. “I need to visit the CEO’s office. That’s where my father spent his days.”
Morgan nodded. “I’ll head to the archives. Maybe I can find the original meeting reports.” Those reports, all signed by Rickey, offered a glimmer of hope for finding something related to him.
Elyse offered no reply; her thoughts were too scattered. She doubted much remained in the ravaged company, especially records from so long ago.
In the CEO’s office, Elyse found it as barren as anticipated. She stepped on a sheet of paper, which emitted a sharp squeak. Only a solid wood desk remained—a hefty piece bearing the marks of years, rendering it practically worthless. Departing employees had left it behind.
Elyse circled the desk several times. Recalling childhood visits, she remembered always seeing it. It had been acquired by Rickey. Leaning on its surface, her mind went blank, her gaze hollow. She deeply missed her father.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Elyse crouched, clasping her knees as she fought to compose herself.
After ten minutes, her grief subsided, and she noticed the three drawers on each side of the desk. In a burst of emotional release, she yanked them open. Opening the second drawer on the right, she discovered a small hidden compartment.
Doubting her eyes, she leaned in for a closer look. She reached in, her fingers brushing against a small notebook. Suppressing her excitement, she carefully withdrew it. The notebook was old, its pages yellowed and brittle.
Elyse opened it cautiously. The contents startled her—her father’s diary. Realizing she had stumbled upon his personal writings, a wave of embarrassment washed over her. Yet, her curiosity about her father’s past beckoned. After a moment, she whispered, “I’m sorry, Dad. I need to understand you better. Please don’t hold this against me.”
She then read her father's diary. It took an hour. He possessed a remarkably sensitive mind, viewing the world with compassion. To him, no one was inherently evil; circumstances shaped actions.
The diary was less a daily account and more a collection of Rickey’s unrealized dreams. Elyse’s heart ached reading about his regrets, particularly concerning Morgan, someone he had hoped to share more of life with. Among the pages, Elyse discovered records of unique, unfulfilled desires.
Reflectively, she closed the notebook. A resolve settled within her—to make her father’s dreams a reality. Slipping the notebook into her purse, Elyse headed to the archives.
There, she found Morgan in tears on the floor, disheartened by her unsuccessful search. Elyse hesitated, then decided against offering comfort. Instead, she resolved to be there for Morgan silently.