Thursday morning, I arrived at headquarters earlier than usual.
Rebecca had already arranged the boardroom.
There were printed reports at every seat.
A glass pitcher of water stood in the middle of the table.
I noticed the familiar blue folder containing the employee complaints.
It had become thicker over the past week.
I took my seat and opened it.
"Is everyone confirmed?" I asked.
Rebecca checked her schedule.
"Yes. The board representatives are here, James is attending, and the independent review team has completed its preparation."
"And Richard?"
"He's waiting outside."
I nodded.
"Please invite him in."
A moment later, Richard entered.
He looked different from the man who had laughed at me over dinner.
His shoulders were stiff.
His expression was serious.
He carried a leather folder and placed it carefully in front of him.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Mr. Whitmore."
He sat down.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he cleared his throat.
"I appreciate the opportunity to address these concerns."
I nodded.
"Please go ahead."
He opened his folder.
He began by discussing his eight years with the company.
He mentioned the improvements in production.
He talked about the division's revenue growth.
He described the difficult decisions he had made during periods of expansion.
Some of what he said was true.
The division had performed well in several areas.
I didn't intend to ignore that.
But good performance did not make someone exempt from questions.
Richard continued.
"I've always put the company's interests first."
The finance director looked at his notes.
The independent reviewer remained silent.
Richard moved to the employee complaints.
He described them as misunderstandings.
He said that managing a large team required firmness.
He explained that some employees struggled with change.
I listened.
Then I asked him a question.
"Do you believe employees should be able to question a management decision without fearing retaliation?"
He looked at me.
"Of course."
"Then why did several employees describe a different experience?"
He shifted in his chair.
"I can't speak for every employee."
"That's fair."
I opened the blue folder.
"But you can explain your own decisions."
He nodded.
Rebecca presented the interview findings.
She didn't reveal confidential employee identities.
Instead, she summarized the repeated concerns.
Richard listened.
Occasionally, he shook his head.
When she finished, he spoke again.
"Some people simply don't like being held accountable."
I looked at him.
"Accountability works both ways."
He said nothing.
The finance director then presented the unresolved reporting differences.
Richard tried to explain each one.
Some answers were supported.
Others required more information.
The independent reviewer asked about the missing approval records.
Richard said he would locate them.
The reviewer asked about the differences between the submitted reports.
Richard described them as administrative errors.
"Can you demonstrate that?" the reviewer asked.
Richard looked through his folder.
"I'll need additional time."
I glanced at Rebecca.
She wrote down his response.
The meeting continued.
Nobody shouted.
Nobody made accusations.
It was a formal discussion about the operation of a major division.
That was exactly what it needed to be.
When Richard finished, I folded my hands.
"Mr. Whitmore, I want you to understand something."
He looked at me.
"This company has employees who have worked here longer than you have. Some have spent their entire careers helping it grow."
He nodded.
"They deserve a workplace where they can raise concerns without being made to feel that their jobs are at risk."
"I agree."
"Then your actions need to reflect that."
He lowered his eyes.
I continued.
"The board will consider the findings when the review is complete. Until then, you are expected to cooperate fully."
Richard nodded.
"Understood."
The meeting ended.
He collected his folder and left.
James remained behind.
He looked at me.
"That was difficult."
"Necessary."
Rebecca gathered the papers.
"We'll prepare the next report."
I nodded.
Before leaving, I looked at the empty chair where Richard had been sitting.
I remembered Friday evening.
His wineglass.
His laughter.
His question about the toilets.
I had wondered whether he would ever understand how inappropriate his behavior had been.
But the larger question now was whether he understood his responsibility to the people working under him.
I didn't have that answer yet.
That afternoon, I reviewed several other company matters.
I approved a warehouse maintenance budget.
I spoke with a regional manager about a delivery schedule.
I also received an update about the staffing transfers in Richard's division.
The company was managing the changes.
That was important.
I didn't want ordinary employees paying the price for an executive dispute.
Around five, Daniel called.
"Mom, are you home?"
"Not yet."
"Can I come by later?"
"Of course."
He sounded unusually quiet.
When I arrived home, he was already waiting outside.
We went inside together.
He sat at the kitchen table.
"Vanessa hasn't called me today."
I poured him some water.
"Have you called her?"
"No."
He looked at the floor.
"I keep thinking about our conversation."
I sat beside him.
"What have you decided?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing yet."
I placed my hand over his.
"Then don't rush."
He nodded.
For once, he didn't try to defend her.
We ate a simple dinner.
And when he left, he seemed a little more certain of himself.
I hoped that would last.
Click here to continue reading: PART 14: The Records That Richard Had Promised to Deliver Finally Arrived, and the Finance Director Found More Questions Than Answers
The Evening My Future Daughter-in-Law’s Father Mistook My Quiet Life for a Reason to Humiliate Me
Part 13 of 24
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