“Sir,” Marcus said, “you need to move the stand to the public sidewalk.”
Daniel nodded.
“All right.”
He stood.
Victoria looked irritated.
“The public sidewalk is still directly outside our building.”
Marcus replied:
“It's public property.”
“I don't want him at our front door.”
Daniel waited.
Victoria looked at Marcus.
“Move him farther.”
“I can't control public sidewalk use unless he's obstructing access.”
Victoria stared.
“So we're just letting random people set up outside?”
Daniel spoke calmly.
“I can move around the corner.”
Victoria looked at him.
“You're not welcome here.”
Daniel felt the sentence settle.
Not welcome.
He glanced at Marcus.
Marcus said nothing.
That was his test.
Not cruelty.
Cowardice.
Daniel slowly folded the chair.
Then a voice behind them said:
“Leave it.”
Everyone turned.
James Porter, the security guard from the first morning, stood near the doors.
Marcus frowned.
“James.”
“He hasn't caused any trouble.”
“This isn't your decision.”
“I know.”
James looked at Victoria.
“But she keeps saying he's bothering employees.”
“He hasn't.”
Victoria’s face darkened.
“Are you challenging me?”
James hesitated.
That hesitation told Daniel everything.
Job.
Mortgage.
Family.
Hierarchy.
Finally James said:
“No, ma’am.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“Good.”
Daniel lifted the stand.
James looked ashamed.
Daniel did not blame him.
Not yet.
He moved toward the sidewalk.
And the experiment entered its second stage.
Chapter 7: The Call from His Father
Daniel's phone rang during lunch.
He stepped around the corner before answering.
“Dad.”
Thomas’s voice came immediately.
“I heard security moved you.”
Daniel frowned.
“How?”
“I own the building.”
“That's not an answer.”
Thomas laughed.
“I still know people.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Daniel leaned against the brick wall.
Thomas became serious.
“How bad?”
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
“Mixed.”
“Meaning?”
“Most people are fine.”
“Some are excellent.”
“And?”
“Victoria is worse than I expected.”
Silence.
Thomas knew what that meant.
“She said something?”
“A lot of things.”
“What?”
Daniel hesitated.
He did not want his father interfering.
“Nothing that requires you to come down.”
“That means something definitely requires me to come down.”
“Dad.”
“I’m listening.”
“I need to finish.”
Thomas sighed.
“How long?”
“One more day.”
“Daniel.”
“You promised.”
Long pause.
“All right.”
Daniel relaxed.
Then Thomas said: