Arthur finally raised his head.
“A disagreement?”
Graham looked toward him.
“Yes.”
Arthur slowly stood.
The movement caused a sharp pain in his knee.
He ignored it.
“Your son shoved me into a chair.”
Graham opened his mouth.
Arthur continued.
“He punched at my face. He grabbed me. He attacked me again after I told him to stop.”
“You’re a former professional fighter,” Graham snapped. “Don’t pretend you were helpless.”
Arthur stared at him.
“Nobody said I was helpless.”
That answer silenced the room.
Arthur continued.
“I could have hurt your son.”
Derek looked down.
“I knew exactly how to do it. I’ve spent most of my life training for situations where people make dangerous choices.”
Arthur stepped away from his chair.
“But knowing how to hurt somebody isn’t the same as having a reason to do it.”
He looked toward Derek.
“Your son was angry. Embarrassed. Desperate to prove something.”
Derek’s jaw tightened.
Arthur turned back toward Graham.
“I gave him every opportunity to stop.”
“Then why fight back at all?” Graham challenged.
Arthur answered quietly.
“Because he wasn’t giving me the same choice.”
The room fell silent.
Arthur looked around the table.
“I didn’t come here to make anybody admire me. I didn’t come here to talk about championships or trophies.”
He paused.
“I came because my wife started a program that helps children who don’t have much.”
His voice softened.
“She’s been gone four years.”
Nora looked toward him.
Arthur swallowed.
“For four Christmases, I’ve worn that ridiculous red suit because it lets me keep one small part of her promise alive.”
He turned toward Graham.
“And you tried to take that away because you wanted the space.”
Nobody moved.
Arthur looked at Renee.
“Three hundred and twenty-seven children.”
His voice was steady.
“That’s all I’m asking you to remember when you make your decision.”
He returned to his chair.
For a long moment, there was no sound except the hum of the projector.
Then Jonah stood.
“Madam Chair?”
Renee looked toward him.
“Yes?”
“I have one more thing.”
Brett, who had been sitting near the back, suddenly straightened.
