"Have you lost your mind? What has Douglas done wrong? What gives you the right to fire him?"

She stormed toward me, jabbing a finger in my face. "You're being completely unreasonable!"

"Everyone can see how capable Douglas is. Who are you to dismiss him with a single word?"

That was when Douglas finally "couldn't hold it in" anymore.

He stepped out of the car with reddened eyes, moved behind Cheryl, and said softly, "Ms. Delgado, please don't fight with Mr. Dickerson because of me..."

"If my being here makes Mr. Dickerson uncomfortable, I... I can resign on my own..."

A second later, actual tears slid down his cheeks, and Cheryl's heart shattered on the spot.

She spun around and grabbed his hand. "Douglas, you've done nothing wrong. The only one at fault here is a certain petty, small-minded person!"

"The company needs you. I will never let you suffer this kind of treatment!"

I watched the whole performance unfold and found it so absurd I almost laughed.

"Mr. Dickerson." Douglas's voice cracked. "I know that from my very first day at the company, you've never liked me."

"But I truly want us to get along. If you'd just give me a chance, I promise I'll work twice as hard. I won't let you down..."

His acting was getting better by the day.

I let out a cold laugh.

When I still refused to budge, Cheryl was shaking with fury. "Drew, Douglas has already bent over backward for you. You still won't let him be?"

"Do you want to push him to his breaking point before you're satisfied?"

"You've gone too far! In what way is Douglas not your equal?"

"He works harder than you. He's more considerate than you. He cares more about this company than you ever have!"

"And you, as one of the company's founders, what do you do besides throw your weight around and bully him?"

I had no interest in continuing this circus. I turned and walked away.

But Douglas suddenly rushed forward and grabbed my wrist.

"Mr. Dickerson, please don't go! The Zenith Group deal can't happen without you!"

I shook his hand off. He used the momentum to tumble to the ground, letting out a sharp cry of pain.

Cheryl rushed over immediately, pulling him up, her eyes blazing with fury and heartbreak.

"Drew! You put your hands on him again?"

Douglas curled up on the ground, clutching his arm, tears rolling down his face in fat, heavy drops.

"Don't blame Mr. Dickerson... I just lost my balance..."

I left without looking back.