Chapter 25 - Daniel’s apology
Daniel took longer.
Of course.
He wrote first.
Badly.
I am sorry the situation outside the tower has been interpreted in the worst possible way.
Trash.
Second:
I regret stepping too close to your hand.
Trash.
Third:
Nothing.
Six months.
Then, nearly three years after the heart attack, he asked for a mediated meeting.
Evelyn’s office.
He looked different without CEO armor.
Still wealthy.
Still sharp.
Less certain the room belonged to him.
He said:
“I stepped on your hand.”
“Yes.”
“I knew it was your hand.”
There.
“I wanted you to let go of me.”
“Yes.”
“I called you a bankrupt embarrassment because I was ashamed people might see you looking weak outside my building.”
My building.
He caught himself.
“The building.”
Better.
“I got in the car knowing you had chest pain.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself employees would call someone.”
“They did.”
“That doesn’t make leaving right.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I don’t know why I became that person.”
I answered:
“You didn’t become him in thirty seconds.”
He flinched.
True.
Entitlement is rehearsed.
He continued:
“I also treated your voting shares like something you were temporarily holding for me.”
“Yes.”
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I still think Thomas becoming stewardship protector is a bad corporate decision.”
I almost laughed.
Honesty.
“Good.”
He blinked.
“You’re allowed to think that.”
“I am?”
“Yes. You are not allowed to own the answer because you are my son.”
May you like
He nodded.
That was enough for one day.
