“You're destroying my career over a misunderstanding.”
Elijah shook his head.
“No.”
Luke waited.
“You made decisions.”
Elijah's voice remained quiet.
“Careers are built from them.”
Security waited outside.
Luke gathered nothing except his phone.
His credentials would be collected.
Corporate property inventoried.
He left without another word.
Harold remained at the table long after the door closed.
Finally he said:
“I almost handed him the floor.”
Elijah looked at him.
“Yes.”
Harold rubbed both hands over his face.
“Twelve years.”
“I know.”
“I built that room.”
“I know.”
“And I nearly turned it over to him.”
Renee said:
“You didn't know.”
Harold looked at her.
“I should have.”
Elijah answered:
“Maybe.”
Harold looked toward him.
Elijah continued:
“But guilt isn't useful unless it changes a procedure.”
Harold nodded.
“What do you want done?”
Elijah stood.
“First, Destiny.”
At 9:17 that morning, Destiny received a phone call.
She was sitting at her kitchen table in sweatpants with the cardboard box from Ashcombe still unopened near the wall.
Malik was at school.
She had already updated her résumé.
She had not slept much.
The caller ID showed Ashcombe.
She almost ignored it.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Okafor?”
“Yes.”
“This is Harold Bennett.”
She sat straighter.
“Mr. Bennett.”
“I'd like to ask you to come to corporate.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“We need to talk about yesterday.”
“I don't think there's much to talk about.”
“There is.”
Destiny stared at the box.
“Am I being accused of something?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Harold paused.
“Please come.”
She almost refused.
Then thought about the final paycheck.
Maybe paperwork.
Maybe a formal termination meeting.
“All right.”
An hour later, Destiny entered the Ashcombe corporate lobby wearing the same simple black trousers she wore to work and a blue blouse she normally saved for job interviews.
Harold met her downstairs.
That alone was strange.
He looked nervous.
“Thank you for coming.”
Destiny folded her arms.
“Mr. Bennett, after yesterday I wasn't expecting a call back.”
“I know.”
He led her upstairs.
When the conference-room door opened, Elijah was inside.
Destiny stopped.
“The man from the table.”
Elijah stood.
“Yes.”
She looked at Harold.
Then at Renee.
Then back at Elijah.
Something clicked.
Her eyes widened.
“No.”
Elijah smiled.
“Good morning.”
Destiny stared at him.
“You own this place.”
“Technically, the group owns it.”
She did not laugh.
“You own the group.”
“Yes.”
Destiny took a step backward.
“Oh my God.”
Elijah gestured toward a chair.
“Please sit.”
She did.
Then immediately stood again.
“I called you brave.”
“You did.”
“I told you the meal wasn't worth what you paid.”