Chapter 11 - THE SLAPS
Victoria’s slap became a problem too.
Jackson filed a complaint.
Correctly.
Grant’s general counsel told Victoria:
“You assaulted a vendor executive in his workplace.”
“He hit Daniel first.”
“That does not authorize you to hit him.”
Victoria stared.
Then nodded.
She issued a written apology to Jackson for the physical act.
Not for confronting him.
Jackson used it publicly.
“Even Ms. Grant admits misconduct.”
True.
He tried to convert that into:
therefore Daniel’s termination was justified.
False.
Separate issues.
Victoria accepted an internal conduct review from her own board.
No special immunity because she was powerful.
Daniel respected her more after that.
Not because she slapped Jackson.
Because she admitted it was wrong.
Jackson’s complaint about Victoria’s slap created awkward symmetry.
Daniel initially thought:
Good. Let him feel it.
Then he saw the problem.
If Jackson hitting Daniel was wrong because status did not create permission, Victoria hitting Jackson did not become right because her motive felt better.
Daniel told her later:
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
Victoria looked at him.
“I know.”
“That’s it?”
“What do you want, a defense?”
He almost laughed.
“No.”
May you like
“Good. I don’t have one.”
That answer stayed with him.
