Daniel approached their table again.
"Listen, I don't know what kind of little performance you're trying to organize, but I have an important meeting this afternoon. I don't have time for this."
Michael looked up.
"Then perhaps you should leave."
Daniel's face reddened.
"You cannot tell me what to do."
"You're right. I can only suggest that you stop making this situation worse."
Arthur gently placed his hand on Michael's arm.
"Let him speak."
Michael stepped back.
Daniel smiled triumphantly.
"See? At least the old man understands how business works."
Arthur looked at him.
"No, Mr. Whitmore. I understand something you have apparently forgotten. Business is conducted between people. And people deserve respect."
Daniel shook his head.
"Respect is earned."
"Indeed," Arthur replied. "And that is why it should never be demanded through intimidation."
Daniel turned away.
He returned to his table, but his confidence was beginning to weaken.
Meanwhile, Michael opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
Inside were photographs, legal documents, financial statements, and several printed emails.
Arthur looked at the folder.
"You brought everything?"
"Everything I could retrieve."
"Good."
Michael lowered his voice.
"The board has been waiting for this evidence. They suspected something was wrong with the Riverside project, but nobody could prove it."
Arthur studied the documents.
"How much money?"
"Approximately twelve million dollars in questionable transfers. Possibly more."
Arthur closed his eyes.
For a moment, the noise of the restaurant seemed to disappear.
Twelve million dollars.
That money had been intended for the redevelopment of a neighborhood where hundreds of families lived.
It was supposed to fund affordable housing, a public library, a community medical center, and a new building for the children who attended the neighborhood learning program.
Instead, it had disappeared into a complicated network of companies.
Arthur looked at Michael.
"Are you certain the documents are authentic?"
"I checked them three times. The payments were approved through Daniel's department."
Arthur sighed.
"I had hoped I was wrong."
Michael shook his head.
"You gave them every opportunity to correct their mistakes."
Arthur looked through the window.
Outside, people hurried along the sidewalk, unaware of the battle unfolding inside the restaurant.
"Your generation deserves better than this," Arthur said quietly.
Michael smiled sadly.
"Our generation also needs people like you to remind us what matters."
Arthur said nothing.
He simply folded his hands.
Twenty minutes later, a black luxury car stopped outside the restaurant.
A distinguished man in his early sixties stepped out.
His name was Richard Whitmore.
He was the chairman and founder of Whitmore Development Group.
Richard had built the company over thirty-five years, beginning with a small construction business and gradually transforming it into one of the largest property development firms in the region.
He was known for being demanding but fair.
Employees respected him because he remembered their names, listened to their concerns, and rarely made decisions without examining the consequences.
When Richard entered the restaurant, he immediately recognized Arthur.
His expression changed.
He walked quickly toward the table.
"Arthur!"
Arthur stood.
"Richard."
The two men shook hands.
Richard looked at his old friend with genuine concern.
"What happened? Michael sounded extremely serious on the phone."
Arthur glanced toward Daniel.
Richard followed his gaze.
His face became pale.
"Daniel?"
Daniel stood up immediately.
"Mr. Whitmore! I can explain."
Richard ignored him.
He pulled out a chair and sat beside Arthur.
"Tell me everything."
Arthur calmly described the incident.
He explained the altered documents, the pressure surrounding the land transfer, and the way Daniel had grabbed his jacket.
Richard listened without interrupting.
When Arthur finished, Richard turned toward his employee.
"Is this true?"
Daniel straightened his suit.
"Sir, this is a misunderstanding. Mr. Bennett has been refusing to cooperate with a perfectly legitimate acquisition."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Did you put your hands on him?"
"I was simply trying to make him understand the urgency of the situation."
"That wasn't my question."
Daniel hesitated.
"I may have touched his jacket, but it wasn't aggressive."
Michael placed his phone on the table.
"I recorded the entire interaction."
Richard looked at him.
"May I see it?"
Michael nodded and played the recording.
The restaurant remained quiet as the video showed Daniel grabbing Arthur's jacket and speaking to him with open contempt.
Richard watched until the recording ended.
He did not say anything immediately.
Then he slowly turned toward Daniel.
"Do you know who this man is?"
Daniel swallowed.
"He's the property owner."
Richard shook his head.
"No. He is the reason this company exists."
Daniel looked confused.
Richard continued.
"Thirty-five years ago, when I had almost nothing, Arthur Bennett designed our first major housing project. He refused to charge me the full amount because he believed the project could help struggling families."