“I don’t think parties have winners.”
His daughter looked skeptical.
“Then why go?”
The Single Dad laughed.
The CEO nodded.
“That is exactly what I’ve been wondering.”
The girl seemed to approve.
Then she noticed the envelope.
“Is Dad in trouble again?”
Everything changed.
The Single Dad crouched.
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He took the audit letter.
Showed her.
“You remember when I told you sometimes adults need time to find out what really happened?”
She nodded.
“They found out.”
“And?”
“Dad didn’t do anything wrong.”
The girl stared.
Then:
“I told you.”
The Single Dad closed his eyes.
The Female CEO looked away, smiling.
“Yes.”
“You did.”
The child crossed her arms.
“Did they say sorry?”
The CEO’s smile disappeared.
The Single Dad looked at her.
Then back at his daughter.
“Some people did.”
“Not everybody?”
“Not yet.”
The Female CEO stepped forward.
“I should.”
The Single Dad looked up.
The girl looked at her.
The CEO crouched to her level.
Not easy in that dress.
She managed.
“I run the company your dad worked for.”
The girl’s expression changed.
Not impressed.
Suspicious.
The CEO continued:
“I approved something before I had all the correct information.”
“That hurt your dad.”
The Single Dad opened his mouth.
The CEO continued before he could stop her.
“I’m sorry.”
The girl stared.
“Are you his boss?”
“Not right now.”
“Were you?”
“Yes.”
The child thought.
Then:
“Did you fire him?”
The Single Dad almost intervened.
The CEO answered.
“Yes.”
The girl’s eyes narrowed.
“You shouldn’t do that.”
“No.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
The Female CEO did not explain audit process.
Did not defend evidence.
Did not talk about corporate responsibility.
She accepted the nine-year-old version of accountability.
Simple.
The girl nodded.
“Okay.”
The CEO blinked.
“Okay?”
“You said sorry.”
The child yawned.
“Dad says sorry doesn’t fix things but you still have to say it.”
The CEO looked toward the Single Dad.
He shrugged.
The girl returned to the hallway.
Then stopped.
Turned.
“Are you staying for Christmas?”
The Single Dad froze.
The Female CEO looked surprised.
“No.”
The girl frowned.
“Why?”
The CEO glanced toward the Single Dad.
“Because your dad and I are still figuring some things out.”
The child nodded with profound seriousness.
“Adults are slow.”
She disappeared down the hallway.
The Single Dad listened until the bedroom door closed.
Then turned toward the CEO.