Pleasure

The presentation was a huge success.

The company "executives" praised his work and thanked him for the brilliant presentation. He turned to Karl Holz. "Well, what do you think of our new platform?"

All eyes turned to the head of the table where Karl sat, leaning back comfortably. He remained quiet for several seconds. Some of the executives shared uncomfortable looks before he finally spoke.

"I like a man who knows the value of his work and who knows his place in the world." He said simply. Before any of the puzzled faces in the room could raise a question, he continued. "And I disapprove of women who don't know theirs." He looked directly at Kate, whose eyes got huge with shock.

She blushed furiously and looked down at the table, jaw clenched.

John couldn't see her hands but he was sure they were balled into fists on her lap. It amused him how she **** herself to remain quiet. The company desperately wanted Karl's money. He held a lot of power in that room.

Karl continued, turning his attention back to the CEO. "I would like very much to do business with you. But I will pay double if you punish the woman for her outburst."

The room got deathly quiet. No one so much as breathed. He was serious.

The CEO finally broke the silence, genuinely perplexed. "Excuse me?"

"The woman. She needs to learn her place in a man's world. It is good that you have her dress so appealingly, but she should hold her tongue until her opinion is asked. Do you not agree?"

John jumped in before anyone else could process what he was saying. It was too good a moment not to participate. "You're absolutely right, sir. She does good work but she has quite a mouth on her."

Karl nodded and gestured to the CEO. "So. Double our agreed price for the same stake in your company if you do this. Any punishment will do. I want to know those I do business with share my... ideals."

More silence. The mixture of visible emotions was all over the board. Anger, disbelief, shock, amusement. Kate looked ready to explode in indignation.

Just as Kate was about to speak, the CEO opened his mouth. "Kate, go stand in the corner."

She stared at him. "WHAT?!"

Karl lifted an eyebrow and the CEO stood up, taking Kate by the arm. "Don't raise your voice in here... woman." his tone faltered over the word woman, but he was trying. He hauled her to the corner of the room. "Stand here and be quiet." he said loudly. He then leaned closer and whispered something that only turned Kate's expression sour, but she jerked her head away from him to face the corner like a sullen child.

Karl smiled. "Good. Very good. Let's order lunch and discuss the contract. John, come join me." He gestured to the seat beside him where Laura sat. She immediately stood to offer her chair to me with a warm smile, moving to stand meekly at Karl's shoulder.