He stopped.
“I did not agree to this meeting for that.”
Charles glanced toward Natalie.
She said nothing.
Denise continued.
“You can apologize if you need to.”
“I do not need to receive it as the purpose of my afternoon.”
Charles nodded slowly.
“Fair.”
“Good.”
She folded her hands.
“What does Whitaker want from Gateway?”
Charles looked toward Malcolm.
Malcolm did not answer for him.
Charles adjusted.
“Pathways needs redesign.”
“Yes.”
“I would like Gateway involved.”
“Paid involvement?”
Charles almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Faculty time?”
“Yes.”
“Student stipends?”
“Yes.”
“Transportation?”
“We can include.”
“Tools?”
“Yes.”
“Guaranteed interviews?”
Charles hesitated.
Denise noticed.
“Not jobs.”
“Interviews.”
“We can guarantee qualified completers an interview.”
“Define qualified.”
Charles smiled.
Now he understood what Malcolm had grown up around.
They spent two hours designing a pilot program.
At the end Charles said:
“One more thing.”
Denise looked annoyed.
“Fine.”
He took out a copy of Malcolm’s 2009 appeal denial.
Her face changed.
“I signed this.”
Charles said.
“I know.”
“I did not review the underlying investigation.”
“I know that too.”
“I should have.”
“Yes.”
No comforting him.
Charles continued.
“My signature told a nineteen-year-old that the company had considered his side when it had not.”
Denise stared.
Charles swallowed.
“I am sorry.”
She looked toward Malcolm.
Then Charles.
“Thank you.”
That was all.
Charles seemed almost relieved by how little he received.
Denise continued.
“I also spent years telling Malcolm you were just another executive protecting the company.”
Charles listened.
“That was too simple.”
He looked surprised.
She continued.
“The supervisor made the report.”
“HR rushed it.”
“The technician waited too long to speak.”
“I yelled at everybody.”
“I probably made some managers more defensive.”
“Your process failed.”
“You signed it.”
“There was enough blame for a committee.”
Charles almost smiled.
Denise did.
“Do not look relieved.”