The Clash of Values

Deacon Walters sat in his office, pouring over financial documents with a frown on his face.

His son Conrad's coma had been stretching on for months now. It was coming up on a full year since the incident had taken place. He flipped through his reports, focused, ensuring that the results aligned correctly with the major expenditures that his company had committed to recently. He absolutely had to ensure that everything was accounted for correctly, lest new financial problems pop up due to his negligence.

There was a knock at the door. Deacon responded briskly. "Come in."

Nicholas Auberstein entered, Deacon's dinner prepared for him. Ever the dutiful butler, regardless of who it was he was currently tending to, Nicholas placed the CEO's dinner at the edge of his desk and gave a short nod. Deacon hummed back without looking up, absorbed in his fanatical number-crunching. Only when he was about to reach his office door, did he extend Nicholas the courtesy of using his voice.

"How have you been?"

Nicholas glanced back, slightly surprised, and responded.

"My condition is satisfactory enough, sir. And your own?"

"I have a quality dinner ahead of me, enough work to give me purpose, and a team that is willing to be directed by me. All things considered, Nicholas, I would say that life is treating me fairly well."

Nicholas nodded. "I am pleased to hear it."

Deacon shot him a questioning look. "Are you? Or is that simply the response that you've conditioned yourself to give me?"

Before Nicholas could stop himself, he laughed in response, before raising his hands in a somewhat defensive manner.

"Apologies, sir. I didn't expect you to ask me that."

Deacon grumbled. "Ironically, Mr. Auberstein, I feel you've become more casual without my son around. Is it the fact that you no longer feel stressed out about being a perfect role model for him?"

Nicholas blinked. "So you were aware your son saw me as a father, sir."

"It didn't take a genius to see it. Either way, don't let it concern you. It doesn't bother me."

Nicholas frowned. "If I may be so bold, sir, shouldn't it bother you? You are the boy's father. Shouldn't you want him to look at you as someone to appreciate?"

"He will appreciate me, Nicholas. Maybe he doesn't as he is now. Maybe he still won't once he gets back from whatever fairy tale adventure this goddess has sent him on. But at the end of the day, my sole interest has been the process of getting my son ready to succeed me. He doesn't need to smile when he sees me in order to achieve that. I'm perfectly satisfied with leaving that feel-good sort of relationship to you."

Nicholas was still. He stared at the floor, unblinking. Everything that he understood about what a father is supposed to be for their son contradicted Deacon's statements. Regardless of how ill-advised it was to question a man like Deacon, he was overcome with a feeling of obligation to do so. Nicholas glanced back at his employer, forcing himself to speak his mind.

"I miss your son terribly, sir. He is on my mind every day. And it bothers me that you don't seem to miss him too, in spite of him being your blood. He is a good, earnest young man, and more than just the boy that you plan to have succeed you."

Deacon turned to stare at Nicholas. He stared stared into Nicholas, so still that he could have been a statue etched from marble at that moment. Nicholas had absolutely no idea if he was about to scream, fire him, walk away, or all of the above in that order. Then, after a moment of consideration, Deacon Walters raised his hand and gestured at the chair across from his desk.

"Please sit, Nicholas Auberstein."

Immediately, Nicholas moved around the desk and did as instructed, sitting and facing Deacon. Deacon steepled his fingers and addressed Nicholas.

"Mr. Auberstein. I am giving you absolute freedom to speak your mind, here and now, without any consequences to you or your station. In return, I am instructing you to address any and all concerns you have regarding my actions in this meeting. I would prefer to hear any outstanding complaints now, so there is no need to repeat this conversation any time soon. My time, after all, is of tremendous value."

Nicholas nodded. "As you say, sir. I accept your terms."

"Very good. Now, let me ask you. After combining all of this company's assets, do you know how much Walters Solutions is actually worth, Mr. Auberstein?"

"All assets combined, this company is worth approximately three-hundred billion dollars, sir. Walters Solutions is one of the most valuable brands in the world, let alone within our industry."

"Correct, Nicholas. Now, were you aware that we were supposed to be worth significantly more by this point?"

Nicholas' eyes widened. "From what evidence are you drawing this conclusion, sir?"

"From the fact that we lost a number of high-profile clients immediately before I took over as CEO. My own father, the previous CEO, was an excellent software developer. But his skill as a leader was relatively lacking. The company was also overspending in areas it had no reason to. The success that we ARE experiencing now, I firmly believe, has come from both the decisions I have made, and the steadfast effort of our employees."

"Very considerate of you to give credit to all relevant parties, sir."

"I'm just being fair. The bottom line is, while it may seem heartless on the surface to focus on profits, and the resources I've invested into my son, I consider it to be for the best. Once I am gone, all individuals working under our banner need job security. And I cannot promise that job security if the successor I choose is not up to par. I have no interest in setting up this company for failure. I will NOT hand over this company to someone who would make the same errors my father did, so for the sake of everyone's welfare, I choose to focus on Conrad's performance."

Nicholas shook his head. "What performance, sir? I understand that you are thinking in the best interests of all of our employees. However, we have been without Conrad for the past year. Have you not come to miss conversations with your son even slightly in that time?"

"I respect my son a great deal, Nicholas, but it isn't heartwarming conversations I crave. I have invested eighteen years worth of finances into ensuring his potential is fulfilled. I want him back, and we need him back, for the sake of everyone. That is the bottom line."

"He is worth more than a return on your investment, sir! He is a human being! The value of his existence is not tied to money!"

"Tell that to the people throughout history who have lost their jobs due to the companies they worked for getting shut down, Mr. Auberstein. I am not so cold as to claim good will and kindness are pointless. But good will and kindness do not put food in your stomach and a bed underneath you."

Silence. Nicholas' face hardened as he stared at the floor.

"True. Point made, sir. I will excuse myself now."

Nicholas stood and left without another word.

Deacon sighed, learning back in his chair, hands on his forehead. "Where are you, Conrad?"