"I know emotions are running high after today's incident, but we need to think about the bigger picture here. Or employs 40,000 people. We have shareholders, investors, contracts worth billions of dollars. One unfortunate moment shouldn't one unfortunate moment. Malcolm's voice remained quiet, but something in his tone made everyone lean back slightly.
Is that what we're calling it now? He moved to the empty chair at the opposite end of the table from Graham. I want an independent ethics investigation, full audit of all discrimination complaints filed in the past 5 years. External investigators, not our internal legal team. Patricia Coleman cleared her throat.
Mr. Reed, with respect, launching an investigation now would only generate more negative publicity. It would look like we're admitting wrongdoing. Maybe because we are. Graham stood up, spreading his hands in a gesture meant to look reasonable.
Malcolm, I understand you're upset. What happened on that plane was inappropriate, and Vanessa knows that. But destroying one of our most senior executives over a single incident isn't justice. It's revenge. Vanessa looked up for the first time, her eyes filling with calculated tears.
Mr. Reed, I made a mistake. I was wrong and I'm sorry, but I've given 15 years of my life to this company. I've built programs, mentored employees, delivered results. I don't deserve to have my entire career destroyed because I had a bad day.
Malcolm studied her face with the intensity of a scientist examining a specimen. Miss Whitmore, how many employees have you fired in the past 3 years? I don't see how that's 37, Malcolm answered for her. I've been reviewing the files. 37 People lost their jobs under your direct supervision.
28 Of them were people of color. Care to explain that statistical anomaly? The room temperature seemed to drop 10°. Vanessa's mouth opened and closed without sound. Graham stepped forward, his diplomatic mask beginning to slip.
Those were performance-based decisions. We have documentation for every termination. Suggesting anything else is is what? Malcolm stood slowly, his calm exterior finally showing cracks. Is the truth is uncomfortable is going to cost us money.
He looked around the table at faces that suddenly couldn't meet his gaze. Let me explain something to all of you. Hiding abuse doesn't make it go away. It makes it grow. It makes it spread.
And when it finally comes out, and it always comes out, the cost is 10 times higher than dealing with it honestly from the beginning. Graham's face flushed red. You're talking about destroying careers, Malcolm. You're talking about damaging a company that your own father helped build. My father built this company to create opportunities, not to protect people who destroy them.
Malcolm's voice carried a finality that made several executives shift uncomfortably in their seats. The room fell into tense silence. Outside the glass walls, employees moved through the hallway, unaware that the future of their company was being decided just feet away. Graham walked slowly to the window, his back to the room. When he turned around, his expression had changed completely.