Chapter 7 - The Ledger of GreedArthur’s knees weakened, and he gripped the back of an office chair to stay upright. The veneer of corporate invulnerability had shattered completely.
"I made this branch profitable," Arthur stammered, attempting to appeal to the bottom line. "I brought in sixty million in underwriting last fiscal year! You can’t tear down the entire leadership structure over an administrative dispute! Business is brutal—everyone knows that! If you run a multi-billion dollar hedge fund like a charity, you will be eaten alive by Wall Street!"
Frank walked over to Clara’s abandoned desk. He picked up the baby onesie that Arthur had kicked into the dirt earlier that morning. With deliberate care, he smoothed out the small cotton folds, brushing off the grey floor dust.
"You call it brutal business, Arthur. I call it moral bankruptcy," Frank said evenly. "You believe profit gives you permission to strip other human beings of their dignity. You believe power is the ability to inflict suffering without facing consequences."
Frank turned around, holding the small white garment in his hand.
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"True power is stewardship. It is the responsibility to shield the people who trust you with their livelihood. You did not build this branch, Arthur. Clara Hayes built it with her tireless analysis. Elena built it with her client management. The young interns you work eighty hours a week built it. You merely skimmed off the top, bullied the vulnerable, and called yourself a king."
Ward stepped forward, handing a formal document to Arthur. "Effective immediately, by unanimous order of the principal board of trustees, your employment is terminated with cause. Your stock options are frozen pending criminal investigation, and federal marshals are waiting in the lobby to execute an arrest warrant for grand larceny and securities fraud."
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