Toward Sandra.
“People who had made mistakes and were willing to admit them.”
Then she touched the CEO badge on her jacket.
“This badge tells you what position I hold.”
She removed it.
“But it doesn't tell you whether I'm worth listening to.”
She placed it on the podium.
“Neither does a suit.”
“Neither does a salary.”
“Neither does a job title.”
She looked across the room.
“Character is revealed by how you treat people who cannot give you anything in return.”
The room became silent.
Victoria remembered the restroom.
The marble floor.
The cleaning supplies.
Sandra's voice.
Get on your knees.
She had walked into that room as a CEO.
But she had walked out with something more valuable than anger.
She had walked out with information.
One year after the acquisition, Victoria returned to the executive restroom.
The room looked exactly the same.
Polished marble.
Large mirrors.
Chrome fixtures.
White porcelain.
But something was different.
A small framed card had been mounted near the entrance.
It wasn't a corporate slogan.
It wasn't a diversity statement.
It simply said:
EVERY JOB HERE MATTERS.
Victoria stared at it.
Then she noticed someone cleaning the sink.
It was Denise.
Denise looked up.
“Oh.”
Victoria smiled.
“Hi.”
Denise smiled back.
“Checking the corners?”
Victoria laughed.
“Yes.”
Denise handed her a cloth.
“You want to help?”
Victoria took it.
“Sure.”
They both laughed.
Then Denise became serious.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“I almost quit.”
Victoria looked at her.
“After what happened?”
“Before.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought nothing would change.”
Victoria nodded.
“That makes sense.”
Denise looked around the room.
“It did change.”
“Not enough.”
“Maybe not.”
Victoria handed back the cloth.
“But enough to keep me.”
Victoria smiled.
They walked out together.
At the end of the hallway, a young intern nearly collided with them.
“Sorry!”
He stopped.
Looked at Victoria.
Then Denise.
Then the CEO badge.
His eyes widened.
“Oh.”
Victoria smiled.
“It's okay.”
He hurried away.
Denise laughed.
“People still don't know what to do when they see you.”
Victoria shrugged.
“Neither do I sometimes.”
They continued walking.
As they reached the elevator, Victoria looked back.
The restroom door closed quietly.
She remembered Sandra's words.
People like you always miss the corners.
CHAPTER 14
Victoria smiled.