At the end of the technical review, the procurement director gathered the proposal documents.
"We'll complete comparative scoring within two weeks," she said. "If your firm advances, we'll schedule site-validation interviews."
Richard thanked her.
The executives began leaving.
Margaret stopped at the door.
Harold looked at her.
"Give us ten minutes."
She nodded and closed the door behind her.
Richard remained seated.
Harold removed his glasses and set them on the table.
The room felt much larger without the others.
"Now," Harold said, "we can talk about the part that isn't business."
Richard looked down at his hands.
"I owe you an apology."
"Yes."
Richard looked up, surprised by the directness.
Harold waited.
"I should have stopped Diane," Richard said. "At the country club. During planning. At the wedding. I kept telling myself it was her thing, her standards, her relationship with Chloe. I didn't want another fight."
"So you outsourced your conscience to your wife."
Richard winced.
"That's harsh."
"Is it inaccurate?"
Richard considered the question.
"No."
Harold leaned back.
"Diane's behavior was obvious. Yours was easier to miss because you were polite. You shook my hand. You asked about work. You never called me anything insulting."
Richard stared at him.
"But every time she treated Martha and me as less valuable, you found somewhere else to look."
"I know."
"Do you?"
Richard nodded.
"Chloe said something yesterday. Silence is a decision."
"Smart woman."
"Smarter than both of us lately."
Harold smiled faintly.
Richard exhaled.
"I spent two years trying to get this meeting. Then I sat across from you at dinner and talked about landing your company like you were some anonymous prize."
"That part was funny."
Richard laughed despite himself.
"You asked if the owner was fair."
"I did."
"I said profitable was better."
"You did."
"I sound like an idiot."
"You sounded like a contractor. I've heard worse."
Richard became serious.
"What happens now with the families?"
Harold looked toward the window.
"That's not mine to decide. Chloe and Ethan set the terms of their own marriage. Martha and I will be civil. We are not interested in punishing Diane."