“All true.”
“And created a culture where people were terrified to admit they had personal problems.”
I said nothing.
The irony did not need help.
“The first morning Mia came to work,” he said, “I saw you running down that hallway with terror on your face.”
“I was fairly certain you were going to fire me.”
“I know.”
“You looked angry.”
“I was angry.”
“At me?”
“At myself.”
I stared.
He continued.
“My mother lost a career because someone decided caregiving made her less committed. Decades later, I owned the same company, and one of my best executives believed bringing her child to work during an emergency could end her career.”
My throat tightened.
“I realized I had changed the ownership and preserved the fear.”
The kitchen became very quiet.
“So that’s why you’re stepping back.”
“Partly.”
“And the new family-care policy?”
“You noticed.”
“Priya nearly cried when HR announced backup childcare reimbursement.”
