Chapter 9 - James Returned to the Boardroom Where He Nearly Lost Everything—and Brought Elena With HimTen years after the board meeting that nearly destroyed his company, James returned to the same conference room.
The table was still there.
The windows were still there.
But the people were different.
The company was worth over two hundred million dollars now.
Yet James had changed.
He no longer sat at the head automatically.
He sat beside Elena.
She had joined the board years earlier.
The newest proposal was simple.
The company would donate a percentage of every development's profits to community housing.
One director objected.
James smiled.
“I know what you're going to say.”
“You're risking margins.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
James looked at Elena.
Then back at the board.
“Because once, I thought protecting a company meant protecting its money.”
He paused.
“Now I understand that a company's value is measured by what remains better because it existed.”
The board approved it.
After the meeting, James and Elena walked downstairs.
Morning Light had opened a location in the building.
A barista handed James a cup.
He turned it.
Still showing up?
He smiled.
“Always.”
Elena laughed.
They walked outside together.
A reporter asked,
“Mr. Whitfield, what is the secret to your success?”
James looked at Elena.
She smiled.
May you like
He answered,
“Pay attention.”
