The company director fired me in front of everyone. Two hours later, he called and said, “Dress nicely and meet me by the lake. Don’t tell anyone we’re meeting.” When I arrived, he asked me to take a photo with him… and the next morning, that photo was hanging on the door of his office

“I… may I ask why?” I finally managed to say.

Our director didn’t even look me in the eyes.

He was seventy-eight years old, strict, cold, and extremely private. He had been with the company since before I was even old

enough to go to school.

“You’ll understand the reason later,” he said. “For now, go.”