offices, the cold air biting at his skin as he pulled his coat tighter. The past month had been grueling and filled with disappointment.He had visited every branch of his company, hoping to find someone who still embodied the values he had tried to instill. But each time, he was met with indifference, disdain, or outright rejection. This branch was his last hope. It was managed by Tom, a young man Richard had mentored since his university days.