Alexander slammed his hand against the desk.
"You're here to sign an agreement, not to lecture me about compassion!"
Richard remained seated.
"Perhaps you should listen before deciding that you already know everything."
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Alexander made a mistake that he would remember for the rest of his life.
Chapter 5: The Moment Everything Changed
Alexander stood up so quickly that his chair rolled backward.
"That's enough!"
Richard slowly closed his folder.
"I think we should take a break."
"You're not going anywhere until we finish this."
Richard looked at him.
"I am seventy-two years old, Mr. Reed. I have spent more than forty years building businesses. I don't need permission to leave a conversation."
Alexander stepped closer.
"You're acting as if you're above everyone."
Richard rose carefully.
"No. I'm simply asking to be treated with basic respect."
Alexander pointed toward the door.
"You came here looking for attention. Maybe you should remember who runs this division."
Richard's expression hardened.
"I remember very well who runs it. The question is whether you remember who made it possible."
Alexander moved closer.
"Don't threaten me."
"I'm not threatening you."
"Then stop talking to me like I'm a child!"
Richard tried to walk past him.
Alexander grabbed his arm.
Richard pulled away.
"Please let go."
"You're going to listen!"
The movement happened quickly.
Alexander shoved Richard backward.
The elderly man lost his balance.
His shoulder struck the marble wall, and his face hit the edge of a decorative stone surface.
A sharp sound echoed through the office.
Richard staggered.
For a moment, he seemed unable to understand what had happened.
Then he raised his hand to his cheek.
When he pulled it away, there was blood on his fingers.
Alexander froze.
The anger in his face disappeared.
But only for a moment.
"Well, maybe you should have watched where you were going."
Richard stared at him.
He did not shout.
He did not threaten to destroy his career.
He simply looked at the young man with an expression of profound disappointment.
"Is this how you treat people who disagree with you?"
Alexander swallowed.
"Don't exaggerate."
Richard touched his cheek again.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Outside the office, Emily heard the noise.
She immediately rushed toward the door.
"Mr. Harrison?"
She entered and stopped.
Richard was standing against the wall, holding his injured cheek.
Alexander was a few feet away.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Alexander answered quickly.
Emily looked at Richard.
"Sir, you're bleeding!"
She moved toward him.
"Please sit down. I'll call the medical team."
Richard tried to speak.
"I'm all right."
"You're not all right. Your faceโ"
Alexander interrupted.
"Emily, stop making a scene."
She turned toward him.
"Mr. Reed, he needs medical attention."
"He's fine."
"He's bleeding!"
"I said he's fine!"
Emily stared at Alexander.
For the first time since joining the company, she was no longer afraid of him.
She took her phone from her pocket and called building security.
Then she called the medical department.
Richard slowly lowered himself into a chair.
He looked at Emily.
"Thank you."
She knelt beside him.
"Please don't speak, sir. Help is coming."
Alexander paced across the room.
"This is ridiculous."
Emily looked up.
"Mr. Reed, you pushed him."
Alexander stopped.
"Watch your words."
"I saw what happened."
"You saw nothing."
"I was standing at the door."
He stepped toward her.
"Do you want to lose your job?"
Emily's hands trembled.
But she did not look away.
"No, sir. I want people to stop being hurt."
The room fell silent.
Richard closed his eyes.
He had come to the building hoping to save a company.
Instead, he had discovered something much more dangerous than a bad business plan.
He had discovered a culture of fear.
Chapter 6: The Woman Who Refused to Look Away
The medical team arrived within minutes.
A nurse examined Richard's cheek while another employee brought a first-aid kit.
The injury was painful, but thankfully it did not appear life-threatening.
"Sir, we should take you to the clinic for a proper examination," the nurse said.
Richard nodded.
"All right."
Alexander stood near the window.
He looked annoyed rather than concerned.
A security officer approached him.
"Mr. Reed, we need to understand what happened."
Alexander immediately changed his tone.
"Mr. Harrison lost his balance. I tried to help him."